After a busy five days, the First Nations Clean Energy Network’s PowerMakers 2024 program has completed.

36 emerging First Nations leaders from across the country attended the clean energy capacity building program held in Walyalup (Fremantle) from 4 - 8 November 2024.

National and state/territory opportunities and barriers, the key ingredients for success in First Nations leading projects, and benchmarking and agreement-making strategies and outcomes were some of the areas covered during the program.

Representatives from various First Nations groups and PowerMakers from our 2023 cohort including Bec Halliday, Lawford Benning, Scottie McDinny, and Aaron Matthews joined steering group members and professional staff from the First Nations Clean Energy Network and Indigenous Clean Energy Canada, and members of Original Power’s clean energy team in delivering the program.

Additional invited speakers from around the country assisted in ensuring the program was a huge success by providing a platform to share expert knowledge, share insights, and respond to participant’s questions.

They included Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen MP, and representatives from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Western Australia's Department of Mines and Energy, Indigenous Business Australia, Clean Energy Investor Group (CEIG), Pollination, Conservation Council WA, Comhar Group, the University of Melbourne, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), among others. 

A number of participants also presented case studies on their own/group’s clean energy aspirations and achievements.

Testimonials

The program had a fantastic finish with testimonials highlighting the opportunity to network and hear and share stories with other First Nations participants and speakers as a distinct plus of the week. 

This is some of what our PowerMakers had to say about the program:

"I really enjoyed the networking aspect of this event. It's been incredible!" 

"This week's been honestly a bit mind-blowing for me.""This PowerMakers conference has really been inspiring."

"A really inspirational week and much appreciated."

"I think now we know we can be a lot more proactive in setting the agenda for our communities to ensure that they're at the forefront of this clean energy renewable transition. Thank you very much for this opportunity."

"I think you guys have certainly inspired me to be a bit more frontier."

"I think the most important thing is collaboration and I want to continue working with all of your Mob."

"It's just so powerful sitting around this week listening to the work that everyone's doing."

"I think this is a platform now for us to stay connected and to create those changes that I think we all want to see."

"I've learned a lot from everyone here. I'm happy to take this back and give it to all my people."

"This week has been a privilege, to sit in this room and share information and experiences that we all know are pretty common. But also understanding that we all have a collective responsibility to work together in order to make the outcomes that we want to make that future brighter. It was great to be here and get that fire in the belly."

"I'm doing this for our people. And yeah, it's been an honour."

Want to join the next PowerMakers program?

Please become a Member of the First Nations Clean Energy Network. 

Only First Nations Members of the First Nations Clean Energy Network are invited to submit an expression of interest to be considered for participation in our PowerMakers programs.