S5 I Ep 1 I People Powering Australia’s Energy Shift I SOapbox: Voices of the Energy Transition

The SOapbox Series

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host John Bougias, Principal Consultant at Spencer Ogden, is joined by three industry leaders shaping Australia’s clean energy future:

• Merinda Harvey, ANZ Human Resources Business Partner at OX2
• Adam Gifford, Head of Engineering at Potentia Energy
• Manjeet Hooda, Director of EPC at Envision Energy

Together, they explore the people dynamics behind Australia’s renewable energy transformation. From skills shortages and workforce strategies to hiring challenges and international labour trends, this conversation dives into what it takes to power the energy transition and who will do it.

Discussed:

03:35 – What skills are in demand across Australia’s renewable energy sector?

07:45 – Remote sites and FIFO rosters: What’s working, and how can we make these roles more appealing?

10:02 – Merinda shares the HR lens: Crafting a compelling employee value proposition

12:10 – Manjeet weighs in on why camp amenities – from food to Wi-Fi – really matter

15:51 – Retention strategies that actually work in renewables

18:00 – Building a culture of collaboration – even when teams are remote

20:17 – Matrix orgs, hybrid projects, and giving teams autonomy: Manjeet’s take on driving high performance

22:45 – Tapping into global talent: Where international skills can add immediate value

23:24 – Adam explores the balance: Transferable engineering skills vs. navigating local regulations

24:33 – Manjeet on the scale of Australia’s engineering shortage – and the need for smarter migration policy

25:53 – Merinda on relocating global talent: What works and what doesn’t

28:17 – Are we investing enough in homegrown talent development?

29:06 – Scholarships, paid internships, and early pipeline building: Adam’s real-world example

29:46 – Manjeet highlights the growing gap in skilled and unskilled blue-collar roles

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