PROGRAM & SPEAKERS
The Climate Investor Forum 2025 will once again host an impressive, influential line up of speakers.
2025 World Class
speakers include
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
18 MARCH 2025
International Climate Investor Roundtable
Invitation only
VIP Pre-Event Cocktails - Melbourne Town Hall
19 MARCH 2025
FULL DAY PROGRAM
Olympic Room, MCG
Welcome and opening address
Peter Castellas, CEO & Founder, Climate Zeitgeist and Climate Investor Forum
Opening Plenary I - Global trends, developments and opportunities in climate investing
Investments in climate technologies, projects and infrastructure to drive the net zero transition continue to gather pace across all major sectors and geographic regions. What are the policy, regulatory and market factors that investors and corporate leaders consider when looking to deploy capital into this domain? As governments, corporations, and investors increasingly accelerate the deployment of climate solutions, where are the key geographic and sectoral hotspots? Decarbonizing complex industrial sectors entails transforming entire value chains, what kind of collaboration and co-investment will be required to meet emission reduction targets and the low carbon/energy transition?
Keynote:
Kobad Bhavnagri, Global Head Strategy. BloombergBNEF
Moderator:
Peter Horn, Deputy CEO (Acting), Trade and Investment, Austrade
Panelists:
- Ben O’Donnell, Chief Investment Officer, Climate Asset Management
- Marigold Look, Executive Director- Infrastructure, IFM Investors
- Dr. Valerie Speth, Managing Director Private Equity Markets, Blackrock
Opening Plenary II - Defining the global role for Australian climate solutions
What are the investment, policy, technology and market forces and trends that make Australia an attractive place to invest? What is Australia ’s comparative advantages, where do we play and how do we win? Can Australia attract global private capital to meet the Future Made in Australia strategy? What role does Australia have in accelerating capital mobilsation for climate solutions in global efforts to reach net zero? What does Australia have to do to align aid, trade and diplomacy to build climate finance and technology export bridges to international markets?
Moderator:
Andrew Bullock, Managing Director, Adamantem Capital
Panelists:
- Matt Kean, Chair, Climate Change Authority, and Director, Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, Wollemi Capital
- Rebecca Mikula-Wright, CEO, Investor Group on Climate Change (Aus/NZ) and Asia Investor Group on Climate Change
- Other speakers tbc
Morning Tea
Concurrent Sector Showcases
The best of Australia’s world class growth companies and projects
across 9 sectors. Overview of the climate solution, investment and partner needs and strategies for growth.
Concurrent Sector Showcases - I
Nature Based Solutions
Moderator:
Anjali Nelson, General Manager – New Initiatives, GreenCollar
Critical MInerals and Resources
Moderator:
Heidi Lee, CEO, Beyond Zero Emissions
Circular Economy
Moderator:
Lisa McLean, CEO and Managing Director, Circular Australia
Concurrent Sector Showcases - II
Food and Agriculture
Moderator:
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
Climate Tech
Moderator:
Albert Bielinko, General Partner, Titanium Ventures
Mobility andTransport
Moderator:
Kristin Vaughan, Managing Partner, Virescent Ventures
Lunch
Keynote Presentation
Corporate Plenary - Speed and scale, meeting complex corporate decarbonization challenges
Insights and strategies on industry approaches to investing in meeting their emissions reductions and net zero targets. How are companies navigating the economic and energy challenges of the net zero transition? How has the TCFD and TNFD factored into investment decision making? Who pays for the costs of emissions reduction in supply chains? What are the new commercial collaborations and co-investment pathways for solutions to scale in deployment? What is the role of the corporate sector to contribute to Australia’s efforts to meeting the Paris Agreement goals?
Moderator:
Megan Flynn, Managing Director, Global Head of Advisory, Pollination
Panelists:
- Simon Cooper, Chief Operating Officer, NEXTDC
- Graham Winkleman, Group Sustainability and Social Value Officer (Acting), BHP
- Melanie Brock AM, Non Executive Director, Asahi Group Holdings, Mitsubishi Estate and Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Blended Finance Plenary - Innovative ways to mobilise private capital required to supercharge funding the transition to a net zero economy.
What are some of the innovative climate financing models across different asset classes that can mobilise greater investment of private capital? How can the different forms of finance and investment, with varying risk appetites and return horizons be matched with the varying stages of growth capital needed to scale climate solutions? Blended finance approaches are used extensively in development finance, how can it be applied to a developed country such as Australia to support climate transition? Are there particular sectors or project types that are good examples of where financing along a continuum can deliver scale of deployment?
Moderator:
Kristy Graham, CEO, Australian Sustainable Finance Institute
Panelists:
- Alan Schwartz AO, Managing Director, Trawalla Group
- Ian Learmonth, CEO, Clean Energy Finance Corporation
- Christina Tonkin, Managing Director, Corporate Finance, ANZ
Afternoon Tea
Concurrent Sector Showcases - III
The Energy Transition
Moderator:
Megan Fisher, CEO, EnergyLab
Blue Economy- Oceans and Water
Moderator:
Nick Chiarelli, CEO, Ocean Impact Organisation
Buildings and Infrastructure
Moderator:
Luke Menzel, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council
Closing Plenary - Imagine the Future
Tim Buckley, Director, Climate Energy Finance
Networking Cocktails, Betty Cuthbert Room
Betty Cuthbert Room
Climate Investors Forum Cocktails
Music and Networking
Gala Dinner, MCC Dining Room
H.E. Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan
In March 2025, The Climate Investor Forum will once again include over 50 speakers and moderators at the forefront of the climate investment landscape.
Five plenary sessions. Nine key sector sessions. Australia's leading companies presenting their world class climate solutions.
Senior decision-making representatives from key industries including:
- Superfunds / Institutional Investors
- Private Equity
- Venture Capital
- Family Offices
- Impact Investors
- Banks
- Government funding agencies
- Corporate Venture Funds
- Company CFOs and Chief Sustainability Officers
- International Investors
Along with CEO’s and senior representatives from companies delivering:
- Climate Tech
- Food and Agriculture
- Blue Economy
- Nature Based Solutions
- The Energy Transition
- Nature Based Solutions
- Circular Economy
- Critical Minerals and Resources
- Buildings and Infrastructure
A network of DECISION MAKERS
Substantial commerical opportunity and interaction, 2024 attendee representation included:
- $1 Trillion estimated funds under management represented
- Over 70% C-Suite level executives
Sector representation made up of:
A MUST ATTEND EVENT FOR
Investors
To evaluate some of the best of the investable universe of climate solutions and connect with other investors from superfunds to VCs, PE, family offices, government funds and banks.
Corporate Executives
To connect with the cutting edge of solution providers, potential co-investors and partners to help deliver your decarbonisation agenda.
Climate Solutions Companies and Projects
To showcase solutions and network with potential corporate customers, commercial partners and investors.
Government Funding Agencies
To connect with private investors to leverage government funds into the net zero transition.
Climate Leaders
To influence, lead, motivate and guide corporate decision makers and the emerging climate investment community.
Download Prospectus
world class Previous speakers included
Our sponsors in 2025
We are excited to announce confirmed sponsors for the 2025 event.
Host Sponsor
Major Partners
Diamond Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Dinner Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Cocktail Sponsor
Exhibition Sponsors
Supported by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
For partnership and sponsorships opportunities contact: michele@climatezeitgeist.com.au
Connecting Capital to Scale Climate Solutions
- 19 March 2025
- MCG, Melbourne, Australia
High Calibre Speakers
Engage with and hear from globally significant keynote speakers.
Commercial Outcomes
Network and build personal relationships with key decision makers driving climate related investments and commercial transactions.
World Class Climate Solutions
Understand the global potential of the best of Australian investment ready, scalable world class climate solution companies and projects.