Gippsland New Energy Conference 2025: Driving Regional Innovation and Community Engagement
GNEC25 celebrates collaboration, local leadership, and a vision for a sustainable energy future
The Gippsland New Energy Conference 2025 (GNEC25) has reaffirmed its status as Australia’s premier regional forum for renewable energy, innovation, and community collaboration. Hosted at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, with steadfast support from Latrobe City Council and Regional Development Victoria, this year’s event set new benchmarks for attendance, inclusivity, and local impact.
Unprecedented Participation and Impact
More than 1,000 delegates gathered in Gippsland, with 244 expert speakers and 43 sponsors contributing to a program packed with 148 sessions. The conference’s digital engagement was also strong, with 839 active app users, and the event delivered an impressive economic impact of $771,659 for the Latrobe region. Attendee satisfaction was high, with nearly 90% of survey respondents reporting that the conference met or exceeded their expectations.
Program Highlights Reflecting Gippsland’s Identity
This year’s signature events – including the Supplier Function, Regional Farm Tours, and the ACOWE Technical Symposium – showcased the region’s technical capabilities and community spirit. A strong focus on storytelling and local case studies highlighted Gippsland’s ongoing transition from coal to renewables, making the event both distinctive and relatable. Community involvement was woven throughout the program, with local businesses, volunteers, and residents taking on key roles from leading panels to greeting delegates.
Conference Sustainability
Scott Douglas of Green Lab Futures (GLF) and the Gippsland Social Enterprise Collective (GSEC) collaborated to deliver targeted sustainability, waste, and ESG reporting support to stallholders, exhibitors, and event partners at the 2025 Gippsland New Energy Conference.
This partnership ensured that all waste and circularity outcomes were transparent, measurable, and aligned with leading Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
By embedding these principles into the event’s design and delivery, the conference modelled how large-scale community events can demonstrate tangible impact through responsible resource management, circular procurement, and social value creation.
Key Achievements
90% of recyclable packaging captured and correctly processed.
All food waste and compostable materials processed through the on-site BioBox system at Lardner Park, demonstrating localised circular bioeconomy capability.
Contamination rates significantly reduced, reflecting strong stall-holder and volunteer engagement.
We invite you to read the GNEC25 Reports.
Link to Gippsland New Energy Conference 2025 Report
Link to GNEC Sustainability 2025 Report
Thank you for all those who contribution to GNEC25 especially our very generous sponsors. We look forward to working with you in 2026 to deliver an even more impactful Gippsland New Energy Conference.
Darren McCubbin
CEO – Gippsland Climate Change Network
GNEC – Conference Coordinator
