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

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: 

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