NATIONAL DIRECTOR

Andrew has been the National Director of RE-Alliance since 2013, including the period until 2019 when the organisation operated as the Australian Wind Alliance. In that time, Andrew has built the organisation to become the leading voice advocating for regional communities in issues around the energy transition, especially transmission, community benefit sharing and addressing impacts on local communities. In 2021, Andrew was awarded the Clean Energy Council's Outstanding Contribution to Industry Award for his long standing work in these areas. Based in one of New South Wales' prime wind districts, the Southern Tablelands, Andrew is passionate about the contribution renewable energy can make to rural and regional economies while helping Australia transition to a cleaner future. 

ADVOCACY MANAGER

In her work bringing civil society together to make the renewable energy transformation fantastic for regions and the environment, Lu brings advocacy strategy and systems thinking developed over ten years as an activist, campaigner and policy communicator. Growing up in regional Victoria, Lu has an instinct for fairness and for bridging political divides. Lu is based in Far North Queensland and enjoys long bike rides to the beach. Lu holds an MA in International Development and a BA in Psychological Science. 

VICTORIA/TASMANIA COORDINATOR

Tony comes from Ballarat, Victoria where he lives with his young family. Tony has extensive experience in advocacy, community education and engagement experience throughout Australia and is passionate about action on climate change and championing wind energy. He is currently conducting research at University of Melbourne and has previously obtained a Bachelor of Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies with Honours in Sociology from University of Tasmania. His side passion is beekeeping which saw him spend time in the Northern Territory, assisting the Thamarrurr Rangers experiment with Australian stingless beekeeping.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Padmapriya is a communications professional with a keenness for climate solutions delivering just outcomes. In the past, she has worked in communications roles in the corporate sector and founded a farm-to-table food business. She entered the climate movement as a volunteer with not-for-profit organisations and civil society movements. She believes that climate solutions aligned with people’s values lead to the best possible outcomes for the present and the future. New to Australia, she is fascinated by the country’s cultures and the beauty of the bush. She regularly writes about her experiences in her new home.

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Cait is a communications professional, and is passionate about using these skills to empower people to bring about the change they want for their future. She has a variety of communications, copywriting, marketing, project management and fundraising experience across different sectors, notably in climate and mental health. Having grown up in regional Victoria, Cait is thrilled to be able to support regional communities to engage in the transition to renewable energy. She is a Bachelor of Arts graduate.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, CENTRAL-WEST ORANA

Kate brings extensive experience in community and stakeholder engagement in regional areas, particularly Central West NSW, where she lives and has raised four children on a small farm.
From local environmental campaigns to complex policy research and most recently, engaging with communities on a range of issues as an independent candidate for the federal election, Kate is a natural communicator and networker.
Kate is passionate about climate action and ensuring that regional communities thrive and truly benefit from the massive opportunities presented by the transition to renewable energy. Her role is to build knowledge, trust, communication and transparency between local people and the renewable energy industry, to achieve best practice and optimal outcomes for everyone involved.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, TASMANIA

Toby is a dedicated community leader and sustainability advocate, residing in regional Tasmania. His passion for community and its well-being has been the driving force behind his work in building capacity and opportunity for sustainable initiatives with young people around the world. He has been dedicated to ensuring that everyone's voice is heard and that the needs of the community are met, and was recently elected the youngest Deputy Mayor in Tasmanian history at the Huon Valley Council. He believes that sustainability and economic development go hand in hand and has worked tirelessly to advocate for transition to renewable energy sources. Toby's experience in developing a community-owned renewable energy centre, as well as his work in engaging with the community, makes him a valuable asset to the team.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, QUEENSLAND

Based in South East Queensland, Brent has a background in wildlife management, construction and the public service. These experiences are behind his passion for sustainable economic and social development, renewable energy and environmental stewardship.

He is dedicated to supporting rural and regional communities through the transition to renewable energy by working to maximise social and economic benefits while minimising environmental impacts. Brent is committed the principal that everyone, regardless of perspective, position or political persuasion should be included in these discussions. 

DONOR RELATIONS MANAGER

Kuda is a creative and competent digital marketing, data analytics and communications professional with experience in both public and private sector organisations. He is from Zimbabwe and has worked in the non-for-profit sector across four countries. He brings with him experience managing relationships with major donors, foundations and corporations. He is particularly passionate about driving sustainability and the transition to renewable energy with local communities at the heart of those efforts. He has a BA in international Business and a MSc in Digital marketing and Data Analytics.

POLICY AND INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Bridget grew up in Canberra, spent time in Japan, settled in Melbourne in the early 2000s and lives in Meri-bek on Wurundjeri country. She has deep experience on renewable energy issues and advocacy with roles spanning stakeholder engagement, advocacy, communications and project delivery in the private sector, government and peak bodies. Bridget is passionate about accelerating the renewable energy transition to address climate change and about the need for this to occur in partnership with people and communities. With the aim to keep making her home as efficient and sustainable as possible, she is slowly getting this done as funds allows. Bridget is a keen small space gardener and also enjoys cooking, cycling, hiking, running and yoga.

Dr Madeline Taylor is a Senior Lecturer in Energy Law at Macquarie University, Deputy Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Innovation and Transformation (CENRIT) at Macquarie University, and Honorary Associate at the Sydney Environment Institute.

Her research advances the novel examination of transitioning energy regulation and energy policy from comparative and socio-legal perspectives. Madeline has published widely in energy regulatory frameworks and policy across complex and multiple land uses, with her current research focusing on the law concerning renewable energy development and energy justice. She is passionate about a just and equitable transition for regional communities and has advised government, industry, and NGOs on issues relating to the energy transition, energy regulation, and policy.

Susan Findlay Tickner is based in Horsham in regional Western Victoria, and has worked in Communications and Stakeholder Engagement for 25 years across the agricultural and renewable energy sectors. With a background in Agricultural Research and Development, she has also worked in Agricultural Policy with the Victorian State Government and is a former member of the Grains Research and Development Corporation Southern Panel. Susan works with renewable energy developer, RES, in communications and engagement.

Dimity is a Physio, farmer and mother, who just happens to live very contentedly next door to a wind farm.  She sleeps well and finds the turbines an aesthetic bonus to her landscape.  Dimity is passionate about supporting other people in wind communities to navigate the fear-mongering around wind farms so they too can enjoy co-locating with these magnificent structures.  Dimity has experienced the benefits a wind farm has brought to her community and would like others to be able to enjoy similar benefits.

Richard is one of the most experienced people in the Australian wind industry, having worked in the industry since 1994 as a project and business development manager. Richard agreed to give his time to be Treasurer of AWA because he believes Australia is missing out on great benefits in regional areas. Richard has a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and an engineering Masters degree and an eMBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management. He is currently the Managing Director of Advanced Energy Consulting.

Luke has been a leading voice in the wind energy industry for over a decade. He entered the industry as a landholder and subsequently played a leading role in the growth of wind energy company Windlab. He advocates strongly for improved wind energy development models and more inclusivity of neighbouring landholders in wind farm development.

Luke now works at Reposit, seeking to employ home batteries en masse in the wholesale energy markets. This technology allows wind and solar to work in a complementary fashion to deliver affordable and reliable power.

Peter is a corporate and projects Partner at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers and leads the firm's National Renewable Energy Group.

Peter has been a lawyer in the renewables sector since 1999 and has advised in over 50 renewable energy projects in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. Most of these projects were in wind energy. His expertise is in corporate, commercial and construction and electricity law.

Jonathan is a senior manager with over 14 years experience in the renewable energy industry. He has worked in a variety of roles, including Project Development, Government Affairs and Energy Markets.

Trini is a Coatings Inspector with Keppel Prince Engineering, an Australian Manufacturer of Wind Tower Sections, managing the quality requirements of Surface Treatment to completion. She has a strong belief that wind towers play an essential role in a cleaner future.

Linda is a local grazier and host of the prospective Rye Park Wind Farm. She has worked hard to rally supporters and encourage them to speak up in support of the project and is excited about the boost to the local economy. Linda is passionate about renewable energy and can’t wait for the turbines to spin at Rye Park to progress the region as a stable clean energy contributor in NSW.

Troy is the General Manager and a second-generation operator of Eureka Concrete. Eureka has experience in the production of quality concrete to wind turbine projects for over five years. Each project creates work directly and indirectly to over 1000 people while construction build is in process.