A tour of Hepburn Energy will be our first fringe event for Power of Community. Hepburn Energy is a member owned co-operative and Australia’s first community owned wind farm, now looking to add solar and battery storage.

Hepburn Energy owns and operates Australia’s first community-owned wind farm. The 2 wind turbines, known as Gale and Gusto have been offsetting the town of Daylesford since 2011. Now the organisation are working on being the first hybrid wind, solar and battery co-operative and showcasing to other communities a successful community energy model.

Marnie Hawson will discuss where businesses who want to “do better for nature” can start, and how they can move beyond carbon. Her workshop will make biodiversity real, accessible, and directly connected to business reality — bringing nature into the room in a tangible, practical way.

Marnie Hawson is a former environmental scientist turned photographer, using two connected paths to support nature through the built environment.

The Guildford Public Hall is a much-loved venue central to its local community and will become the hub for discussion, conversation and learning at RAA’s March 2026 event. Powered by community itself, it is the fitting space for a gathering that aims to inspire and empower delegates to instigate change in their own local area.

Now local to Yarrayne / Guildford, Robert Mierisch is a semi-retired Mechanical Engineer and inventor of several innovative systems in mechanical engineering. Currently, Robert is working on a Rural Residential Energy System that will provide electricity, hot water, winter heating, summer cooling and electric car charging, at night.

His home has four sources of water and hundreds of food bearing plants and is his testing ground for highly cost effective energy systems for rural residences and businesses. His solar heated pool and spa will soon be used to reduce his heating and cooling costs and ensure his air conditioner always works well.