FREE ONLINE EVENT
Tuesday 13 October 2026, 2 pm AEDT
Australia’s industrial regions hold massive potential to drive economic growth, secure the domestic supply chain and expand clean energy. Unlocking this potential needs smart coordination to lower system costs and keep regional industries globally competitive.
Integrated land-use planning and the Net Zero Industrial Precinct methodology provide a blueprint for regional growth without sacrificing agricultural and biodiversity priorities. Climateworks Centre’s recent modelling in Central Queensland demonstrates how this coordinated approach can deliver the renewable energy infrastructure needed while protecting high-value biodiversity areas – for only 1 per cent more in system costs.
Join Climateworks experts Alex Veale, Dr Calvin Lee, Elodie Higgins and Alexis Demetrious as they share how integrated planning tools can secure a resilient, low-cost future for Australia’s industries.
PANELLISTS:
Dr Calvin Lee
Senior Project Manager – Industry, Climateworks Centre
Calvin leads projects in Climateworks’ Net Zero Industrial Precinct program, focusing on place-based strategies to decarbonise heavy-industry supply chains. He works across Australia and Southeast Asia, bringing together cross-sectoral solutions involving industry, energy and land use.
Previously, Calvin was an Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics postdoctoral fellow working on light-harvesting solar technologies. He holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of Melbourne.
Elodie Higgins
Project Manager – Industry, Climateworks Centre
Elodie leads research in Climateworks’ Industry team, with a focus on place-based approaches to industrial decarbonisation, low-carbon technologies and spatial modelling for regional energy planning in Australia.
She previously worked at the Victorian Government’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, helping decarbonise Victoria from within the circular economy policy branch. Before that, Elodie was a management consultant at Bain & Company, where she worked on developing transformation and sustainability strategies.
Alexis Demetrious
Senior Project Manager – Industry, Climateworks Centre
Alexis leads projects focused on renewable energy planning alongside agriculture and other land-use activities.
She previously worked at the Victorian Government’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, working on climate and resources policy. This included Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy, interim emissions reduction targets and emissions valuation for government decision-making, as well as evidence for the strategic land use planning for quarries.
HOST:
Alex Veale
System Lead – Industry, Climateworks Centre
Alex leads Climateworks’ Industry team, accelerating industrial decarbonisation across Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Working at the intersection of industry, government and research, he previously led the Victorian Government’s international trade and investment agency portfolios across sustainability, manufacturing and mining.
His background also includes international development with the Australian Red Cross and private sector ventures. Alex holds a Master of Strategic Studies from ANU and a Bachelor of International Relations from the University of South Australia.