MEInetwork Seminar Series
Monthly seminars that lead participants through critical aspects of the energy supply chain, presented by specialists from industry and the University of Melbourne.

The MEInetwork23 Seminar Series ran from May to September 2023, with a focus on energy commodities.
About
The aim of the MEInetwork Seminar Series is to give participants a sound understanding of the current technical and economic factors that underpin the Australian energy system. Knowledge of these market factors is critical in determining the changes required to move towards a clean energy system.
Each year, the focus is turned to one of our primary energy vectors, cycling through the major topics of electricity, natural gas, and energy commodities.
In 2023, the focus is once again turned to energy commodities. Monthly seminars will investigate operation of crude oil and product supply chains, uranium mining and refining, energy commodity trading, new energy commodities and critical minerals, and fiscal policy to support future energy commodity exports.
Guest speakers
The seminars are delivered by specialists from industry and the University.
Topics and dates
Date | Seminar | Speaker |
---|---|---|
9 May | MEInetwork23 Seminar #1 - Crude oil and product supply chains | Nicholas James, Viva Energy |
8 June | MEInetwork23 Seminar #2 - Uranium mining and refining | Neilesh Syna, ANSTO |
6 July | MEInetwork23 Seminar #3 - Energy commodity trading | Keith Handbury, Shell |
10 August | MEInetwork23 Seminar #4 - New energy commodities and critical minerals | A/Prof Mohan Yellishetty, Monash University |
7 September | MEInetwork23 Seminar #5 - Fiscal policy to support future energy commodity exports | Prof Ross Garnaut, University of Melbourne |
Further information, including how to register, will be released via MEI's monthly energy@melbourne newsletter prior to each event. Subscribe to receive our newsletter.
Past series
Since 2018, the MEInetwork Seminar Series hasĀ aimed to give participants a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary overview of the energy sector as it faces the challenges of reliability, affordability and reducing emissions. Each year, the focus is turned to one of our primary energy vectors, cycling through the major topics of electricity (in 2018 and 2021), natural gas (2019 and 2022) and energy commodities (2020 and 2023). Seminar recordings are available from 2021 onwards.
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MEInetwork22
View recordings and slides from the MEInetwork22 Seminar Series focused on the gas supply chain:
Seminar #1 - Conventional and unconventional natural gas. Presented by Mr Steve Henzell, Senior Technical Advisor at Advisian, 10 May 2022.
Seminar # 2 - Gas markets and gas retailing. Presented by Mr Matthew Clemow, Group Manager for Gas Operations at the Australian Energy Market Operator, 7 June 2022.
Seminar #3 - Liquefied natural gas and export. Presented by Ms Carolyn Au, Operations Manager at Shell, 5 July 2022.
Seminar #4 - Natural gas and hydrogen transmission and distribution. Presented by Mr David Norman, Future Fuels CRC; Mr Steve Davies, Australian Pipelines and Gas Association & Mr Robert Davis, Senior Engineer - Low Carbon Future, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, 30 August 2022.
Seminar #5 - Green hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas. Presented by Mr Michael Bielinski, Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Energy, 13 September 2022.
Seminar #6 - Blue hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas. Presented by Associate Professor Simon Smart, University of Queensland and a Project Director for the Net Zero Australia study, 18 October 2022.
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MEInetwork21
View recordings and slides from the MEInetwork21 Seminar Series focused on the electricity supply chain:
Seminar #1 - System overview: From generation to customer. Presented by Tom Walker, Senior Economist with the Australian Energy Market Commission, 17 June 2021.
Seminar #2 - Transmission and distribution networks. Presented by John Theunissen, Manager DER Integration at AusNet Services, 29 July 2021.
Seminar #3 - Wholesale markets. Presented by Paul Austin, Group Manager Market Insights at the Australian Energy Market Operator, 19 August 2021.
Seminar #4 - Financial markets. Presented by Rob Koh, Lead Research Analyst for Australian Utilities, Infrastructure and ESG at Morgan Stanley, 16 September 2021.
Seminar #5 - Retail markets. Presented by Nick Sissons, Head of Emerging Technology at Hydro Tasmania, 21 October 2021.
Seminar #6 - Demand response and virtual power plants. Presented by Prof Pierluigi Mancarella, Energy Systems Program Leader, MEI, 18 November 2021.
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MEInetwork20
In 2020, the MEInetwork20 Seminar Series focused on internationally traded energy commodities, including fossil, nuclear, and emerging clean energy exports.
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MEInetwork19
The 2019 seminar series covered the current state and future of Australia’s natural gas supply, transport, use and export. The prospects of hydrogen displacing natural gas were also discussed.
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MEInetwork18
The MEInetwork was started by MEI in 2018, with a series of seminar that led participants through the electricity supply chain.