Program
EECON 2025 Program
Download the official EECON 2025 Program to explore the full schedule of sessions, keynote speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities available throughout the event.
Keynote Speakers
Sam Barbaro
Chief Executive Officer
Western Power
Sam has been a member of the Executive team at Western Power since 2014 serving firstly as the Executive Manager of the Governance & Assurance and then the Executive Manager Asset Operations. Sam has held senior positions since the late 1990s and has experience across a wide range of industries. He has a law degree from the University of Western Australia and joined the corporate sector after spending a decade practicing law in top tier law firms.
Sam is a non-executive Director of Leadership WA and a Director on the Board of Energy Networks Australia.
Vi Garrood
Executive General Manager Future Energy
Horizon Power
BEng (Hons), MEngSc, FIEAust, CPEng, NER
Vi Garrood is a technical leader who is passionate about applying her extensive power industry experience to support the decarbonisation of the Western Australian energy sector and creation of sustainable pathways to achieve net zero.
She leads the energy transition for Horizon Power’s future energy systems, adopting an integrated resource planning approach. This involves working closely with communities and balancing stakeholder interests to drive energy options and strategies for cleaner, greener energy solutions to sustainably meet future energy requirements
Jai Thomas
Deputy Director General - Coordinator of Energy
Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Jai Thomas is the Deputy Director General – Coordinator of Energy and leads the Energy Policy WA (EPWA) group within the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
With over 15 years of experience in the energy sector Jai brings a wealth of knowledge to this role, having previously held key regulatory and project delivery roles at both Horizon Power and Western Power before joining EPWA.
As Coordinator of Energy, Jai oversees Western Australia’s energy policy and regulatory framework, providing advice to the Minister for Energy on everything from policy development to navigating the energy transition.
Driven by a passion for finding practical solutions to complex problems, Jai is committed to using regulatory reforms and market mechanisms to deliver a sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy future for Western Australia - ensuring positive outcomes for the State’s communities, households, and industry.
Nicola Falcon
Interim EGM – Western Australia
Australian Energy Market Operator
Nicola Falcon has over 25 years’ experience in the energy sector in Australia and overseas. She leads diverse and inclusive teams, applies systems thinking to problem solving, and provides critical thought leadership to help navigate the energy transition to net zero emissions.
In her current role as Interim Executive General Manager, Western Australia, Nicola provides leadership support to real-time operations of WA power systems and markets, supports WA's market reform and delivery program, and provides critical technical information and insights to inform decision makers in planning the future gas and electricity system needs in WA.
Later this year, Nicola will step into the role of EGM System Design, accountable for AEMO’s forecasting and planning responsibilities, including the development of the Integrated System Plan, along with the onboarding and connections process across the National Electricity Market.
Nicola is passionate about promoting, supporting and developing future female leaders. She provides strategic advice to AEMO’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and mentors young rising female leaders. She also helps advance women in energy through her contribution as one of Australia’s Equality Initiative Ambassadors.
Jason Froud
Executive General Manager, Strategy and Corporate Affairs
Synergy
Jason Froud has over 15 years of leadership experience in the energy sector, with expertise spanning policy, strategy, social value, community engagement, and energy markets. Jason holds a Bachelor of Science, graduate diplomas in Business Management and Public Sector Administration, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
James Fleay
Project Development Manager
Bechtel
As an engineer, manager and project developer in the utility and energy sectors, James has spent 18 years developing energy, power and water infrastructure, including some of Australia’s largest and most complex energy projects. He has experience across the entire project lifecycle from concept development through to early operations.
Concerned by important technical, economic and environmental questions that policy makers of the time could not or would not answer, James began applying his experience to assess the potential for civil nuclear energy in Australia in 2016.
James served as Senior Policy Advisor to Shadow Climate and Energy Minister, Ted O’Brien MP from May 2023 to Dec 2024, contributing to the development of the Coalition’s nuclear, gas and other policies.
James now works as a Project Development Manager for Bechtel, an integrated engineering and construction company working with their clients to delivery energy and utility projects across Australia.
Bechtel have designed, built or provided construction services to over 150 nuclear power stations across the world since building the world’s first nuclear power reactor in 1957.
Mr Stuart Aubrey
MLA Scarborough
Elected to the Western Australian Parliament as the Member for Scarborough in 2021 at the age of 30, and re-elected in 2025, Stuart Aubrey is one of only two tradespeople in the WA Parliament.
Stuart worked as a qualified electrician in WA’s mining sector for nearly a decade, spending much of that time in FIFO roles across remote sites, an experience shared by many Western Australians.
Stuart is representing,
Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson BA MLA Pilbara
Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE; Pilbara