PROGRAM & SPEAKERS
The 4th annual Climate Investor Forum 2026 will once again host an impressive, influential line up of speakers.
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
Nicholas Reece, Lord Mayor, City of Melbourne
Opening Keynote Addresses
Nicholas Moore AO, Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia
Keynote Presentation:
Kobad Bhavnagri, Global Head Strategy. BloombergBNEF
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?
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, APAC Head of Climate Infrastructure, Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock
- Aubrey Keller, Vice President, Emerging Technologies, Temasek
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
- David Scaysbrook, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners
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
Presenting Companies:
- Nature IQ– Leading natural capital management platform for global organisations – Swaroop Tulsidas, CEO.
- Accounting for Nature– A global standard for measuring the state of nature – Adrian Ward, CEO.
- Pollination– Global portfolio of large scale NBS projects – Philip Cohn, Managing Director.
Critical MInerals and Resources
Moderator:
Heidi Lee, CEO, Beyond Zero Emissions
Presenting Companies:
- Element Zero- The green metal company – Michael Masterman, CEO and Founder.
- Electralith— Next generation lithium extraction and refining – Charlie McGill, CEO.
- Pyrochar– Emission free coal and coke alternative – Cameron Bell, CEO.
- Green Steel of WA– – Creating a sustainable steel manufacturing industry – Raj Aggarwal, Co-Founder and Director.
Circular Economy
Moderator:
Leanne Griffin, Industry Taskforce Chair, Circular Australia
Presenting Companies:
- Licella– Integrated biomass-to-advanced biofuels – Andrea Polson, General Manager, Stakeholder Engagement & Communication.
- Planet Protector Group-Building circularity through wool and recycled waste streams – Joanne Howarth, CEO.
- UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre– Green Steel Polymer Injection Technology – Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Founding Director of the UNSW SMaRT Centre.
- Alt. Leather–100% bio-based leather alternative – Tina Funder, Founder & CEO.
Concurrent Sector Showcases - II
Food and Agriculture
Moderator:
Beth Jones, Deputy Secretary and Chief Executive Agriculture Victoria, DEECA
Special Industry Insights:
Alexandra Gartmann, Chairperson, Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council
- Jupiter Ionics– Global leaders in green ammonia – Charlie Day, CEO.
- Number 8 Bio– Addressing methane emissions in ruminants – Dr Tom Williams, CEO and Co-Founder.
- Yume Food- – First B2B tech revolutionising food waste management – Katy Barfield OAM, CEO and
Founder.
Climate Tech
Moderator:
Mick Liubinskas, CEO, Climate Salad
Presenting Companies:
- ClimaSens– AI-driven, actionable climate risk intelligence – Joseph Glesta, CEO.
- PlasmaLeap Technologies–Developing advanced zero-emissions Chemicals and eFuels reactors – Frere Byrne, CEO.
- Earth Systems– Innovating Earth Repair with Biochar and Beyond -Kalindi Ochoa, Business and Marketing Manager
- Unravel Carbon – The climate platform for global supply chains – Marc Allen, Co-Founder & Chief
Sustainability Officer.
Mobility and Transport
Moderator:
Kristin Vaughan, Managing Partner, Virescent Ventures
Presenting Companies:
- Jet Zero– Developing sustainable aviation fuel projects at scale – Ed Mason, CEO.
- Siltrax– Enabling the hydrogen economy with our silicon technology – Mitchell Shi, Assistant to the CEO.
- HAMR Energy Pty Ltd– Providing low carbon fuels of the future – Alex Smith, Co-Founder.
- Kwetta- Charging hardware to unlock power grids – Mike Lazelle, Co-Founder and Chief Growth
Officer.
Lunch
Keynote Presentation
Taking Australian Innovation Global
Dr Zhengrong Shi, Global Solar Innovation Pioneer
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:
- Nishi Vissamraju, Head of Sustainability. NextDC
- Melanie Brock AM, Non Executive Director, Asahi Group Holdings, Mitsubishi Estate and Kawasaki Heavy Industries
- Sarah Clarke, Group General Manager Sustainability, Mirvac
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
- Rod Bristow, CEO, Breakthrough Victoria
Afternoon Tea
Concurrent Sector Showcases - III
The Energy Transition
Moderator:
Megan Fisher, CEO, EnergyLab
Presenting Companies:
- Akaysha Energy– Mega-scale battery storage solutions – Andrew Wegman, Chief Financial & Investment Officer & Managing Director.
- ACEN Australia & Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC)– One of the largest Indigenous-led renewable energy initiatives – Joey Chalk, Manager; Indigenous Participation (ACEN AUSTRALIA).
- Hysata– High-Efficiency Electrolysers – Paul Barrett, CEO.
- Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners– Project Green Poly: Reshaping the future of polysilicon supply- Rachel Louie, Director.
Blue Economy- Oceans and Water
Moderator:
Nick Chiarelli, CEO, Ocean Impact Organisation
Presenting Companies:
- Southerly Ten– Specialist offshore wind energy developer – Charles Rattray, CEO.
- Blue Carbon– Breakthrough renewably-powered technology to restore oceans – Dr. Ana Novak, CEO.
- EnviroDNA Pty Ltd– Every nature positive decision powered by eDNA – Jim Stuart, CEO.
- WaveX – A carbon free future fuelled by ocean energy technology – Simon Renwick, CEO and Founder.
Buildings and Infrastructure
Moderator:
Luke Menzel, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council
Presenting Companies:
- MCi Carbon– Transforming carbon emissions into building materials – Marcus Dawe, CEO.
- Conry Tech– Reinventing air-conditioning – Sam Ringwaldt, CEO and Co-Founder.
- Avani Solutions– Automating behaviour changes for buildings and their occupants – Ian Lieblich, Head of ESG,
- Evitat– Transforming renovations into climate action with AI – Sonja Markovic, CEO.
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
Hosted by: Fiona Messent, Chief Sustainability Officer, Qantas
Guest Speaker: Dr. Catherine Ball, Scientific Futurist
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 proud to have partnered with these esteemed sponsors for the 2025 event and invite you to connect with them directly.
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
- Get ready to mark your diaries
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.
