About the speakers
Matt Grogan is a commercial and property lawyer and principal of Halliday Solicitors, based in Beechworth. He has a Bachelor of Law (Hons) and a Bachelor of Science from Monash University. Matt has had significant involvement in the community energy sector in North East Victoria and is a current director of both Indigo Power Ltd, and the Indigo Power Foundation Ltd. Additionally, he was a founder and former chairperson of Totally Renewable Yackandandah Inc.
Ben McGowan has been Indigo Power’s Managing Director since its incorporation in 2018. The community owned social enterprise has grown to a local electricity retail customer base of over 1500 customers with a project and asset management team delivering innovative clean energy projects across the region. Indigo Power has nine staff working from an office in Beechworth. The company is a leader in community batteries, installing one of Australia’s first in Yackandandah in July 2021, and has delivered large energy resilience projects in New South Wales and Victoria following the Black Summer Bushfires.
Helen Newman is a multi-award winning filmmaker and video artist whose work has taken her from war zones to refugee camps, ancient cities to remote communities as well as deeper into her own local community. Underpinned by the aims of giving voice, exploring the unknown and capturing the magical, she has established a reputation for delivering powerful stories told in unique and engaging ways. Helen’s documentaries have screened on ABC TV, ABC iView, NITV and at a range of national and international film festivals.
Charlie Bird is a purpose-driven, regional leader with experience in water, Local Government, natural resource management and community housing sectors. He relishes a challenge and working on complex projects that deliver outcomes for the community. Charlie is currently the Chief Development and Asset Officer at BeyondHousing and leading the delivery of a $100m of social housing program in the Hume Region – building homes for homeless people and people in need.
Michael Mack was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of BankWAW in September 2016, after serving as the organisation’s Deputy Chief Executive since 2008. He has led significant change in the organisation during a period of operational and market complexity, which has delivered strong growth and consistent innovation across the business. Under his direction, BankWAW has regularly been among the first institutions in Australia to launch new technology, such as digital wallets and real time payments while also maintaining an extensive regional branch network. Michael is focused on delivering the organisation’s Purpose to create a positive social impact by putting customers and community at the centre of everything we do.