This is your invitation to enable your region to better participate in and benefit from the shift to renewable energy underway.
Too often, the vital role that rural and regional leaders play in the energy shift is under-resourced and under-appreciated. The Regional Leaders Summit is an opportunity to gather with with your peers from across Australia, equip yourself with knowledge, skills and new connections to better navigate, negotiate and land the best outcomes for your community.
Over two days, 70 rural and regional leaders working in or alongside local government, regional development and communities will gather in Newcastle NSW. They'll share stories, lessons and experiences to help create and maximise opportunities and limit risks.
We can’t wait to see you there.
The Summit is a workshop-orientated event for rural and regional leaders wanting to learn more about leading communities through significant large-scale renewable energy planning and development. You might be involved in:
- Local Government, including elected representatives, executive leadership team or staff from economic development, strategy, planning, community development.
- Associated local government organisation such as a joint organisation of councils or a regional development organisation.
- Community-based group active in the shift to large-scale renewables and involved in local decision-making or leadership around renewable energy development.
We're aiming for a diverse mix of 70 rural and regional leaders from a range of locations and organisations.
In addition, we're inviting a small and strategically selected group of trusted "observers" from government, industry bodies and active not-for-profits. Having observers hear first hand from rural and regional leaders on issues, barriers, creative workarounds and practical solutions will increase awareness, understanding and open the door for changes in engagement, policy and behaviour.
If you’re interested in being an observer, get in touch.
In addition to a daily plenary session, there will be a series of concurrent sessions offered that you can choose from.
These sessions will be a mix of practical workshops, case studies and open discussions led by people like you – rural and regional leaders who are willing to share their stories of experimentation, success, lessons from failures, and everything in between. There will also be a number of expert presentations weaved into the program.
View the indicative program for the Summit here. Please get in touch if there is something you think should be on the agenda.
Tickets include all Summit activities and fully catered meals:
- Tuesday 5 August 2025, 9am-5pm
- Tuesday 5 August 2025, evening canapes and drinks 5-8pm
- Wednesday 6 August 2025, 9am-5pm
To keep the event as affordable as possible, we have created a tiered ticket pricing structure. Ticket categories should be selected based on:
- The balance of your organisation's ability to purchase tickets
- Local government area size and population, and
- The number of full time equivalent staff at your organisation.
Tiers are exhaustible, so we appreciate your honesty with regards to appropriate ticket selection. The terms and conditions outlined below explain our policies around monitoring ticket selection and purchases.
Where possible, we recommend bringing 2 people from your organisation to the event to build your organisation's capacity. This is also the maximum number (2) from each organisation we can accommodate.
The lack of recognition and support for rural and regional leaders is a material issue and in some places, hindering the delivery and local value created in the shift to renewables.
It’s not uncommon for rural and regional leaders to express feelings of overwhelm and isolation. The sheer volume of information to digest and work to implement, on top of business as usual, is massive.
We have designed the Summit in collaboration with a network of rural and regional leaders in the energy shift, alongside an advisory committee of experts in the shift and regional development. Our hope is the Summit will build confidence, networks, skills and understanding among this essential cohort of practical, solutions focused individuals.
This in turn will lead to regions that are stronger, more networked and better equipped to support their communities through the challenges and opportunities brought about by the energy shift.
We will synthesize and share general Summit themes to demonstrate the need for a better approach moving forward that centers regional leadership in local energy shifts. No individual Council will be identified, without prior consent, in discussions with media and other external parties, post event. The synthesis produced will be shared widely, including with attendees.
Newcastle City Hall is an iconic and accessible venue located in the heart of Newcastle NSW. For more information, visit the following websites:
RE-Alliance is offering financial support packages to a select number of rural and regional leaders, as we don't want cost to be a barrier. These packages can cover, or contribute to, accommodation, travel and ticket expenses. Please contact us if you would like to be considered for support to attend the event by emailing [email protected].
To ensure the Summit's purpose is fulfilled, RE-Alliance reserves the right to:
- Monitor and query ticket purchases.
- Refuse participation and refund tickets where we choose to do so. This could be for a number of reasons including ensuring a balanced geographic representation of participants or allowing more space for an underrepresented stakeholder.
We know many stakeholders are interested in the event's outcomes and insights. We will synthesize and share these freely and broadly post event.
Host organisation
The Renewable Energy Alliance (RE-Alliance) is hosting the Summit, supported by an Advisory Committee made up of members from leading organisations in regional development, local government and energy shift.
