Opportunities in the energy transition

H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein, Chairman of LGT Group, champions sustainability through impact-driven initiatives. He founded Lightrock, managing USD 3 billion in sustainable investments, and LGT Venture Philanthropy, with over USD 100 million focused on education, healthcare, and ecosystem preservation. His leadership drives global environmental and social impact.

Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is Chairman of Generation Investment Management. A pioneering voice on climate action, he authored An Inconvenient Truth and other influential works. Gore brings decades of leadership in sustainability, policy, and finance to drive meaningful dialogue on the climate crisis.

Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female Prime Minister (2010–2013), led economic and social reforms, including implementing an emissions trading scheme. She now chairs Wellcome, addressing global health and climate challenges. A champion for education, gender equality, and leadership, she founded the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and advocates for climate action worldwide.

Dr. Jaci Brown, Research Director at CSIRO's Climate Intelligence Program, specialises in transforming complex climate data into actionable insights. With expertise in extreme weather, sea-level projections, and climate risk, she supports sectors like agriculture and finance. A leader in climate science, she has represented CSIRO at COP27 and COP28.

Mr Kean was appointed as Chair of the Authority on 5 August 2024 for a term of 5 years. He was the NSW Member for Hornsby from 2011 until 2 August 2024. 

As Treasurer and Energy Minister of NSW, Mr Kean championed climate action that is in the best interests of households and businesses. In 2020, he delivered the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, a 20-year plan for NSW’s energy infrastructure. The roadmap spurs private investment in renewable energy while reducing emissions and power bills for the people of NSW.

Pål Erik Sjåtil is the CEO and Global Managing Partner of Lightrock, a global impact investing platform. He leads investments in growth-stage companies that drive scalable impact in three core themes: People, Planet, and Productivity.  Previously, he was Managing Partner for Europe at McKinsey & Company. He holds a Master’s in Industrial Economics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Kristin has been investing in early- and growth-stage companies for almost 20 years, as a director at private equity firm CHAMP Ventures, as a director of the CEFC's Clean Energy Innovation Fund, and now as Managing Partner at climate tech firm Virescent Ventures. She has invested across a range of industries including climate tech, education, and food, from pre-seed to growth capital and buyouts. Kristin previously worked as a strategy consultant at Kearney and holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Hons).

Amanda has over 18 years' experience in the investment management industry with a focus on sustainability.

Amanda has demonstrated history in providing strategic advice to clients, particularly in relation to ESG integration, shareholder engagement, impact investment, and assisting clients to embed these approaches throughout their portfolios.

Prior to joining LGT Crestone, Amanda was an Investment Director at Perpetual Private, providing strategic wealth advice to many of Australia's largest Not for Profit clients. Before that she was the lead ESG analyst at MLC Advice.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance & Economics) and a Masters in Applied Finance from Macquarie University.

Leigh Sales AM is a renowned Australian journalist, best known for anchoring ABC’s 7.30 for nearly 12 years. She’s covered major national events, served as a Washington correspondent, and worked across all media formats. She now presents Australian Story, continuing her legacy of impactful storytelling and journalism.