🔋 Gippsland New Energy Conference 🔋

In its second year the Gippsland New Energy Conference has delivered a bright and strong message about our region’s energy transition now, and into the future.

The positive feeling in the room during its inaugural year has strengthened even further in 2023. It’s clear that industry, government, and communities now have an even deeper understanding of where they are heading and what they can look forward to.

The conference was inspiring to attend; there was definitely a feeling this year of “let's collaborate”. The journey ahead is exciting, although we all know that the landscape is complex. There was a shared understanding at the conference that we need to be navigating this transition together, in partnerships and through collaborations.

💻 Gippsland New Energy - A Web Portal 💻

The Gippsland New Energy portal was launched at the New Energy Conference, much to the delight of the audience. The portal provides comprehensive information on renewable energy proposed infrastructure developments in Gippsland.

The portal was designed in Gippsland for Gippslanders, to tell the story of the region's new energy journey. The portal has information about cultural and environmental considerations, community engagement opportunities and local skills and training. The site's value is its openness to share and connect the community with the journey the region is on. The LVA's involvement with the portal stems from our strong belief in connection, information sharing, and understanding the value of being a place-based organisation.

🎉Gippsland Procurement Power Initiative (GiPPI)🎉

Introducing GiPPI - Gippsland's Procurement Power Initiative.

The initiative represents a region-wide, collaborative approach to social procurement within the renewable energy sector. The GiPPI is the first step towards harnessing the renewable energy transition to transform social and economic outcomes in Gippsland through social procurement.

That's the purpose of social procurement – the value generated for the region will be above and beyond the value of the goods, services, or construction being procured.

GiPPI has identified its key social procurement objectives as follows:

- Maximising supply chain opportunities for local Gippsland businesses and social benefit suppliers.

- Ensuring that all Gippslanders have access to education and workforce skills development pathways.

 - Creating sustainable careers for Gippslanders

The GiPPI launch was made possible by the input of over 20 regional partners representing local councils, industry, community, and government. The release of the GiPPI report coincides with the Star of the South's Offshore Wind Supplier Showcase, which aims to highlight local supply opportunities and provide offshore wind suppliers with a preview of local business offerings.

👩‍🔬 Women’s Health and Safety Breakfast 👩‍🔬

For our September Innovation Breakfast, we are delighted to have Kate Graham, CEO, Gippsland Women’s Health as our keynote speaker who will reflect on Gippsland’s transition through a gender lens.

Kate will present on the current state of women’s health and safety in Gippsland and prompt a conversation about how regional transition in Gippsland needs to be consciously designed to be socially equitable, inclusive and gender-just.

A panel discussion will follow to consider in more depth the opportunities to promote gender equality in Gippsland, for the benefit of everyone in our region.