Climate Zeitgeist

Absolutely thrilled to have had Climate Tech Partners and Qantas as sponsors of this year’s Climate Investor Forum. It was an honour to welcome both organisations to the event—and a particular highlight to have Fiona Messent share insights at our dinner. Congratulations on the outstanding work you're doing to advance climate solutions through #SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) production—an initiative with the potential to contribute approximately A$13 billion to GDP annually by 2040, support nearly 13,000 jobs in the feedstock supply chain, and create 5,000 new high-value roles in facility construction and operation. Driving real economic impact and climate leadership. Well done! #ClimateInvestment #SustainableAviation #SAF #NetZero #CleanTech #GreenJobs #Qantas #ClimateTechPartners #ClimateInvestorForum https://lnkd.in/gsA7jNvU

Wollemi was proud once again to be a sponsor of the 3rd annual Climate Investor Forum, which last week in Melbourne brought together leaders, founders and investors from across Australia’s climate community. In a day packed with thoughtful perspectives and interesting insights, here's a handful that stood out to us. Kobad Bhavnagri of BloombergNEF reminding us that in times of uncertainty and complexity, it’s best to go back to first principles and look at the fundamentals. And when it comes to the #energytransition, that means the continually improving economics of clean energy, which are driving a continuing growth in investment (which in 2024 exceeded US$2 trillion, for the first time) – both trends which we can expect to continue. Aubrey Keller of Temasek articulating the simple truth that if you take a long-term view of investing, then solving for financial returns is necessarily deeply aligned with solving for #sustainability outcomes. The Hon. Matt Kean’s prediction that politicians who choose to ignore the broad #climateconsensus from the Australian public and business community will soon find themselves “mugged by reality.” Wollemi’s own Paul Hunyor, speaking at the previous day's Investor roundtable, highlighting not only the work Wollemi is doing to address the #missingmiddle in climate by building long-term funding partnerships to support emerging climate solutions to scale up and create the #sustainableinfrastructure of tomorrow, but also the vast scale of investment still needed right across the economy. Alan Schwartz AO outlining his vision for the Transition Accelerator as “the world’s first non-profit investment bank,” bringing together disparate sources of capital with different objectives to unlock funding for high-impact climate solutions. While others have put #blendedfinance in the ‘too hard’ basket, Alan and the TA team are making it happen – including playing a decisive role in one of Wollemi’s recent natural capital transactions. Fiona Messent’s reminder that as some regions step back from climate leadership, others can take their place – echoed by Dr Catherine Ball’s urgent call for Australia to bridge the gap between capability and #action. And of course, the inimitable HE Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan, calling out #leadership as the single most important quality which has enabled his country – one of only a tiny handful of carbon negative nations – to retain its focus on preserving nature and climate action. Thanks and congratulations to Peter Castellas, Michele Hartz and the Climate Zeitgeist team for hosting another landmark event which not only called out the elephants in the room, but also showed that #climateleadership is still alive and well in Australia. Now let’s stay focused on turning that into #climateaction.

🌍 Cities as Climate Investment Hubs: Melbourne Leading the Way Melbourne Climate Network, City of Melbourne Last week we had the honour of City of Melbourne, Lord Mayor, Nick Reece opening and welcoming over 550+ delegates at the 3rd annual Climate Investor Forum As global climate challenges intensify, the intersection of economic development and climate innovation has never been more critical. Investors, governments, and industry leaders are increasingly looking to cities as key enablers of climate solutions. At the Climate Investor Forum, discussions highlighted the urgent need to mobilise capital, foster innovation, and scale solutions that address both environmental and economic imperatives. One city providing a compelling model? Melbourne. 🚀 Melbourne’s Climate Sector: Strengths & Opportunities With a world-class research sector, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and a growing climate tech ecosystem, Melbourne is strategically positioning itself as a global leader in climate innovation. Initiatives like the Melbourne Climate Network demonstrate the city’s commitment to leveraging cross-sector collaboration for a greener future. However, to unlock its full potential, we must address key investment challenges—particularly in bridging the ‘valley of death’ for climate startups and scale-ups. 💡 Three Key Strategies for Bridging the Climate Investment Gap: 🔹 Blended finance models – Public-private partnerships to de-risk early-stage investments. 🔹 Strategic procurement & piloting – City governments acting as first customers for climate tech. 🔹 Investor engagement & global positioning – Attracting international venture capital through targeted outreach. 🏙️ The Role of City Governments in Driving Climate Investment Cities are uniquely positioned to test, refine, and scale emerging climate solutions. By creating regulatory incentives, innovation hubs, and investor connections, Melbourne can further cement its status as Australia’s leading city for climate finance. 💰 The transition to a low-carbon economy represents a $50 trillion investment opportunity globally. While national policies play a role, cities are the proving ground for the next wave of climate innovation. For investors: The future of climate investment isn’t just in Silicon Valley—it’s in cities like Melbourne. 🌱 #ClimateInvestment #Melbourne #SustainableCities #GreenEconomy #Innovation #ClimateTech #CleanTech #NetZero #MelbourneClimateNetwork #MCN #ClimateInvestorForum https://lnkd.in/g9U7g5JS

🌍 Cities as Climate Investment Hubs: Melbourne Leading the Way Melbourne Climate Network, City of Melbourne Last week we had the honour of City of Melbourne, Lord Mayor, Nick Reece opening and welcoming over 550+ delegates at the 3rd annual Climate Investor Forum As global climate challenges intensify, the intersection of economic development and climate innovation has never been more critical. Investors, governments, and industry leaders are increasingly looking to cities as key enablers of climate solutions. At the Climate Investor Forum, discussions highlighted the urgent need to mobilise capital, foster innovation, and scale solutions that address both environmental and economic imperatives. One city providing a compelling model? Melbourne. 🚀 Melbourne’s Climate Sector: Strengths & Opportunities With a world-class research sector, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and a growing climate tech ecosystem, Melbourne is strategically positioning itself as a global leader in climate innovation. Initiatives like the Melbourne Climate Network demonstrate the city’s commitment to leveraging cross-sector collaboration for a greener future. However, to unlock its full potential, we must address key investment challenges—particularly in bridging the ‘valley of death’ for climate startups and scale-ups. 💡 Three Key Strategies for Bridging the Climate Investment Gap: 🔹 Blended finance models – Public-private partnerships to de-risk early-stage investments. 🔹 Strategic procurement & piloting – City governments acting as first customers for climate tech. 🔹 Investor engagement & global positioning – Attracting international venture capital through targeted outreach. 🏙️ The Role of City Governments in Driving Climate Investment Cities are uniquely positioned to test, refine, and scale emerging climate solutions. By creating regulatory incentives, innovation hubs, and investor connections, Melbourne can further cement its status as Australia’s leading city for climate finance. 💰 The transition to a low-carbon economy represents a $50 trillion investment opportunity globally. While national policies play a role, cities are the proving ground for the next wave of climate innovation. For investors: The future of climate investment isn’t just in Silicon Valley—it’s in cities like Melbourne. 🌱 #ClimateInvestment #Melbourne #SustainableCities #GreenEconomy #Innovation #ClimateTech #CleanTech #NetZero #MelbourneClimateNetwork #MCN #ClimateInvestorForum https://lnkd.in/g9U7g5JS

A huge shoutout to Megan Fisher and the team at EnergyLab for being such a vital force in the climate innovation ecosystem! 🌱⚡ Your unwavering support for the Climate Investor Forum has been instrumental—not just in driving critical conversations around climate investment but also in supporting our team and our broader vision for a more sustainable future. EnergyLab’s commitment to empowering clean energy startups and fostering innovation is exactly what we need to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Your work continues to inspire, and we’re grateful to have you as a key partner in this journey. Looking forward to collaborating further and driving real impact together! 🚀♻️ Get ready to mark your diaries for 2026!!!! https://lnkd.in/gnC9Gw-X #ClimateInvestment #SustainableInnovation #CleanEnergy #EnergyLab #ClimateTech #GreenEconomy #CollaborationForImpact #ClimateInvestorForum

That was the highlight of my professional career! To have the privilege of sharing the stage at the Climate Investor Forum dinner this week with H.E. Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, was to be in the presence of a truely enlightened, compassionate, humble, funny, powerful leader. I was so grateful and the experience filled me with awe. And to look out over a full room of leaders in their own right. Committed, dedicated, innovative, passionate people fighting the good fight, many of them good friends, filled me with pride. And to have some of my children in the audience, exposed to the esprit de corps in the room, filled me with hope. A special, memorable moment in time. Climate Investor Forum 2025 Climate Zeitgeist Michele Hartz Jai Felinski

It was an absolute honor to work alongside the incredible team at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and have their unwavering support and sponsorship for the Climate Investor Forum 2025 last week. A special thank you to Frances van Ruth, Austrade’s Net Zero Investment Lead, who was on the ground, driving conversations around climate investment momentum and connecting with key investors and decision-makers. 🤝 Along with Jessica Harrison and the rest of the team! Australia is truly well-positioned for the energy transition, and Austrade’s Net Zero strategy is key to attracting foreign investment and accelerating our journey to becoming a global leader in Net Zero. Together, we’re forging a path toward a sustainable and thriving future. 🌍⚡ #ClimateInvestment #NetZero #EnergyTransition #Austrade #Sustainability #Leadership

That was the highlight of my professional career! To have the privilege of sharing the stage at the Climate Investor Forum dinner this week with H.E. Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, was to be in the presence of a truely enlightened, compassionate, humble, funny, powerful leader. I was so grateful and the experience filled me with awe. And to look out over a full room of leaders in their own right. Committed, dedicated, innovative, passionate people fighting the good fight, many of them good friends, filled me with pride. And to have some of my children in the audience, exposed to the esprit de corps in the room, filled me with hope. A special, memorable moment in time. Climate Investor Forum 2025 Climate Zeitgeist Michele Hartz Jai Felinski

🌍 Last Chance to Register! Don't Miss Out on the Climate Investor Forum 2025 This is your FINAL opportunity to secure your spot at APACs premier climate investment event. https://lnkd.in/g4EF8QUg Join us at the 3rd Annual Climate Investor Forum, where decision-makers, investors, corporate leaders, and government agencies come together to accelerate climate solutions at scale. ➡️ Why You Can’t Miss This: ✅ World-class speaker lineup – including an inspiring keynote from HE Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan ✅ Unparalleled networking – Connect with top investors, climate innovators, and global decision-makers ✅ A Gala Dinner to Remember – Engage in high-level discussions in an unforgettable setting 🌏 Be part of the Climate Zeitgeist. Be part of the solution. 📅 Spots are limited – Register NOW! https://lnkd.in/g4EF8QUg #ClimateInvestment #Sustainability #NetZero #Leadership #ClimateSolutions #Networking #ClimateInvestorForum

Ready to hear how innovation is unlocking capital and fueling the transition to a Net-Zero economy at this years 3rd annual Climate Investor Forum? Join us and register here... 👇 https://lnkd.in/gcQD7HMN As we discuss some of the innovative climate financing models across different asset classes that can mobilise greater investment of private capital, while answering... ➡️ How can the different forms of finance and investment, with varying risk appetites and return horizons be matched with the varying stages of growth capital needed to scale climate solutions? ➡️ Blended finance approaches are used extensively in development finance, how can it be applied to a developed country such as Australia to support climate transition? ➡️ Are there particular sectors or project types that are good examples of where financing along a continuum can deliver scale of deployment? Blended Finance Plenary: Innovative ways to mobilise private capital required to supercharge funding the transition to a net zero economy Moderated by - Kristy Graham, CEO, Australian Sustainable Finance Institute PANELISTS: Alan Schwartz AO, Managing Director, Trawalla Group Christina Tonkin, Managing Director, Corporate Finance, ANZ Ian Learmonth, CEO, Clean Energy Finance Corporation Rod Bristow, CEO, Breakthrough Victoria #BlendedFinance #ClimateInvestment #NetZero #SustainableFinance #PrivateCapital #ClimateSolutions #ImpactInvesting #GreenEconomy #ClimateTransition #ClimateInvestor Forum