Energy Academy's Global Energy Quest is back for 2024!

Christchurch, New Zealand - Energy Academy is thrilled to announce the highly-anticipated return of the Global Energy Quest (GEQ) in 2024, a transformative programme poised to unlock professional development while spearheading the future of energy sustainability. This year, the GEQ invites professionals, enthusiasts, and students from all walks of life to come together, connect, learn, and innovate.

GEQ 2024 theme will be:

“How might Mātauranga Māori and other First Nations knowledge systems navigate our journey towards decarbonisation?"

Participants from Aotearoa and Australia will unite, conduct research, and cultivate visionary ideas over an immersive ten-week programme. At the helm of this transformative journey stands Janelle Riki-Waaka, a leader, consultant, and specialist in cultural competencies, Te Tiriti o Waitangi education, and digital technologies.

GEQ 2024 will feature industry-leading mentors and expert speakers who will guide teams of three through a collaboration experience. These teams will craft and conquer their unique challenges within the overarching theme, culminating in a live, in-person pitch to a distinguished panel of judges in Otautahi, Christchurch.

Our confirmed speaker, Professor Deen Sanders OAM, Integrity Lead and Indigenous Leader at Deloitte, underscores the urgency of incorporating First Nations knowledge systems into our efforts:

"As the crisis of climate and nature unfold, the consequences reverberate for every business, every landscape and every population across the globe. We need every bright mind, every bright heart, every bright business and the collective power of every wisdom to respond effectively. Indigenous peoples have survived environmental crises before. We understand transitions - economic, social, environmental and cultural better than anyone because we have been most affected by them. Our knowledge survives disruption because we share it for the collective future. We don't hoard it for personal gain."

- Professor Deen Sanders OAM

Why participate in GEQ 2024?

This is a unique opportunity for individuals and organisations to align with our global mission of creating a sustainable future through cultural growth.?

By participating, your organisation will play an active role in:

• Developing transferable skills in participants, including project management, cultural understanding, collaborative thinking, strategic networking, and public speaking.
• Broadening cultural understanding of both Mātauranga Māori and First Nation knowledge systems deeply rooted in environmental observations, ensuring relevance and sustainability.

Course Overview: Where Boundaries Fade and Opportunities Expand

Over the course of ten weeks, participants will have the opportunity to explore, contribute, and learn collaboratively, transcending geographical boundaries with support from top-tier mentors and expert speakers.

Each team will encompass crucial roles like Delivery, Consensus, and Storytelling, fostering a holistic approach to problem-solving and innovation, while unlocking transferable skills and forging lasting networking connections.

GEQ 2023 winner, Sophie Burgess from Powerco, described her experience as invaluable:

“Myself and one other team member from the Quest have gone on to be accepted into an innovation accelerator program and have continued framing up our solution.

Through this process, we have come to learn that knowing your problem is key to pivoting your solution. The GEQ set us up well to hit the ground running in terms of framing the problem.”

-Sophie Burgess, Data Scientist, Powerco

Partnership Opportunities

Businesses interested in supporting GEQ 2024 can choose from various flexible participation options, including entering individual employees or teams under their organisation's name or becoming an official programme partner.

By sponsoring participants, organisations not only support an enriching experience but also align with sustainable values, strategic networking, and investment in talent development.

Contact Information

For enquiries about partnering with GEQ 2024, please contact Jade Teki: [email protected]

Let's make a positive impact – together.