We’re excited to announce that ticket registrations are now OPEN for the 2025 First Nations Clean Energy Symposium being held on Kabi Kabi country, Queensland on 14-15 August 2025.

It seems everyone now gets the energy transition can't happen without us.

Unlike any other industry, it's normal now to talk about First Nations participation in and benefits from the clean energy industry.

Our members of the First Nations Clean Energy Network have worked hard to make this happen.

But the journey, as we know, doesn't stop here. There's much to be done.

SPEAKERS: Karrina Nolan & Joe Morrison

Key opportunities for innovative investment in Australia’s First Nations must be recognised in the 2024 Federal Budget if the country’s energy transition is to have legs on the global stage.

The United States’ Inflation Reduction Act has garnered global attention for its significant set aside for Tribal Nations of literally $100s of billions for the clean energy transition. Canada has followed suit with similar legislation directing substantial funding to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

Policymakers in both countries increasingly realise that a just transition from fossil fuels requires addressing the priorities of First Nations communities, and these investments are a starting point for building sustainable, globally competitive economies that work for everyone.

So will Australia's Federal Budget have a similar commitment? Can we expect significant First Nations investment in clean energy initiatives from a household to nation-level next week?

SPEAKERS: Hon Chris Bowen MP, Simon Duggan, Kirsty Gowans, Travis Thomas, Cissy Gore-Birch (Facilitator)

There is no net-zero economy without First Nations policy change. And that change has been slowly happening since the launch of the First Nations Clean Energy Network in 2021.

First Nations are becoming integral to the energy discussion at a government and industry level - and the necessity to engage and partner is written into government and industry frameworks.

For instance, Australia's Critical Minerals Strategy promises to build "genuine partnerships" with First Nations people and host communities and “fairly share the benefits”.

In this session we bring together First Nations leaders to review how far we've come and the impact the First Nations Clean Energy Network is having.

SPEAKERS: Robynne Quiggin, Daniel Miller, Peter Yu, Vonda Malone, Travis Thomas, Cissy Gore-Birch (Facilitator)

From the domestic landscape to further afield, we see a major shift happening around the world.

Accelerated by the global clean energy transition away from polluting fossil fuels, First Nations rights and interests in tenure and land and sea management are increasingly changing the story.

The recognition of the key role that First Nations play in clean energy and economic transition efforts is evident in major policy shifts.

We must continue to stick together to reinforce and drive that change.

SPEAKERS: Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Tania Pouwhare, Paul Nalau, Daphne Kay, Karrina Nolan (Facilitator)

The ability of companies, governments, and investors to dictate terms of development on First Nations lands is changing. First Nations communities are increasingly interested in being equity owners in projects impacting their land.

Partnering on clean energy projects delivering equity shares, preferred contracting, and training and employment opportunities for Traditional Owners groups, is emerging as the new norm.

Today, there are 15 and counting First Nations partnerships with industry working on significant clean energy project developments.

So, how are First Nations groups getting these partnerships off the ground and what benefits have they negotiated?

SPEAKERS: Lawford Benning, Aunty Carol, Ned David, Jason Bilney, Sonja Dare, Cissy Gore-Borch, Chris Croker (Facilitator)

Along with transforming our energy system, Australia needs to transform our workforce.

First Nations Australians must be supported to enter the clean energy sector to access quality job opportunities and career pathways.

Yet, there currently is a lack of coordination across local, regional and federal levels to support First Nations workers access the education, apprenticeships, experiences, knowledge and support required to take advantage of the opportunities emerging in the energy transition.

So, what needs to happen?

SPEAKERS: Tegan Miller, Justin Coburn, Shaurntae Lyons, Anthea Middleton, Chris Croker, Trevor Gauld, Lara Watson (Facilitator)

Despite all government’s stated ambition for First Nations participation in Australia’s energy transition, there is a lack of commitment to embedding First Nations outcomes in transmission planning prior to decision-making.

First Nations people's land, waters, country, culture and land tenure rights must be engaged with and recognised in policy and legislative schemes that establish access to land and waters for transmission infrastructure.

And the development and installation of transmission infrastructure must incentivise First Nations outcomes, including genuine partnerships.

This session looks at the choices governments have available to them to embed First Nations-related outcomes in the ways that projects are funded, and through the rules determining how planning, investment, construction and operation of transmission (monopoly) assets occurs, and asks, if not now, when will government act to reduce risk and ensure transmission is developed at the pace required?

SPEAKERS: Emily Gerrard, Jason Bilney, Jonathan Kneebone, Paul Paton (Facilitator)

While rooftop solar has been installed on over 3.5 million houses in Australia, there are next to none on First Nations homes.

First Nations remain locked out of clean energy investment and housing and community-led initiatives, yet frequently experience unreliable, expensive, or power disconnections, living without an air conditioner as the climate warms, without a refrigerator to keep food and medicines cool, and without the ability to recharge phones and computers so that kids can do their homework.

While we continue to strongly advocate for government-backed renewable energy rebates and incentives for First Nations households, this session looks at what we can do now to improve our energy security - the appliances that pass the test, how to get off gas, and other simple energy efficiency measures to save us money on our electrification journey.

SPEAKERS: Janeen Bulsey, Vanessa Davis, Kerry Connors, Ruby Heard (Facilitator)

International experience demonstrates that investing in First Nations brings benefits to whole economies, to clean energy projects, and to First Nations groups.

And investing meaningfully and at scale in First Nations-led clean energy is not just equitable, it makes good business sense.

In this session we explore financial mechanisms and incentives currently available, and how to make government incentives work for us (eg. capacity investment scheme, Indigenous Procurement targets, and so on).

We'll also discuss the benefits, risks, and challenges of Australia falling behind international trends, and when we're likely to see significant First Nations investment 'talk' become a reality.

SPEAKERS: Darren Godwell, Adam Fletcher, Nishtha Aggarwal, Danny Kennedy, Brian Bero (Facilitator)