Why I’m proud of Victoria

The State of Victoria is famous for a great many things. From trams and major events to diverse natural attractions and iconic Melbourne laneways, there is so much to be proud of.

Among the things that make me most proud of my home state is our commitment to building a healthier and more sustainable environment.

The Victorian Government has set ambitious, but achievable targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 45–50% by 2030. To meet these targets, they also commit to using 100% renewable energy for all Victorian Government operations, facilities, and services by 2025.

Further to these commitments, to propel us on our journey to net zero emissions the Victorian Government has introduced the Gas Substitution Roadmap and banned the use of problematic single-use plastics.

As recently as last week, the Victorian Government announced the delivery of a thriving offshore wind energy sector , as work to plan and develop the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal off the Port of Hastings gets underway.

At ICN Victoria, we are committed to supporting the delivery of such projects. We strive to ensure that local suppliers and manufacturers can gain access to work packages and play a part in reducing carbon emissions.

Having Victoria’s Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Dr Gillian Sparkes AM, on our Board is testament to this. Plus, we recently welcomed Lisa Maro as ICN Victoria’s very first Renewable Energy Industry Adviser to support our broader network of Industry Advisers across the state.

Lisa has deep connections to the power industry. In a career spanning over 20 years, she has promoted locally manufactured substation products across Australia. With a background in electrical engineering and a Master of Business Administration, Lisa brings expertise and experience to ICN and the renewable energy sector.

Lisa works to ensure that local suppliers and manufacturers are informed of opportunities and equipped to meet the needs of the Victorian Government’s climate change strategy .

A key pillar of this climate change strategy is the development of a world-leading offshore wind sector.

With a long and windy coastline, the Gippsland region in Victoria’s east is set to become the offshore wind capital of Australia.

Recently, I enjoyed attending the Gippsland New Energy Conference (GNEC) in Sale, on Gunaikurnai Country in Victoria’s east. ICN Victoria proudly sponsored this year’s GNEC, which brought together over 70 speakers, participating in 40 sessions covering culture, policy, investment, and innovation.

ICN Victoria's Industry Adviser for the Gippsland Region, Colin Young, represented us in an informative panel discussion on how local businesses can ‘retool’ to supply new energy needs. It was great to be there alongside Lisa Maro and ICN Victoria Emerging Sectors Manager Lynn Johnson.

Over the course of three days, I was inspired by the local job opportunities and unwavering commitment from all levels of government and industry. To see roughly 400 like-minded individuals coming together in the pursuit of a cleaner and more sustainable future only solidifies Victoria’s position at the forefront of Australia's renewable energy sector.

That makes me proud to call Victoria home.

If you are interested in learning more about upcoming projects in the renewable energy sector, connect with ICN Victoria’s Lisa Maro or Colin Young.

You can learn all about the renewable energy sector and upcoming projects here: https://icn.org.au/icn_vic/renewable-energy/