Media Release: NSW Climate Minister Penny Sharpe to Address IGCC Summit 2025

3 September 2025
The Hon. Penny Sharpe, NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage, will join the lineup for the highly anticipated IGCC Summit 2025: Decoding the Transition, taking place on 16–17 October at Illumina, Sydney. Tickets are on sale now.

As the largest jurisdiction in the National Electricity Market, Ms Sharpe will bring a vital New South Wales perspective to the Summit, during a time when the state is accelerating the development of renewable energy zones and infrastructure set to transform Australia’s energy system.

Her involvement underscores the critical role of state leadership in driving Australia’s transition alongside federal policy.

This year’s Summit comes as Australia is experiencing one of the fastest-changing climate policy environments in the world. In the coming weeks, the federal government is expected to announce:

  • A 2035 emissions reduction target
  • A national Net Zero Plan
  • Six sectoral decarbonisation strategies
  • A new National Climate Risk Assessment and Adaptation Plan
  • A decision on whether Australia will co-host COP31 with the Pacific

Together, these announcements will set the direction of Australia’s transition — with complex implications for investors, capital flows, and the broader economy.

The IGCC Summit will be the first in-person gathering where policymakers, investors and business leaders can interrogate these developments in real time.

A Global Perspective on Climate Finance

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore — Founding Partner and Chairman of Generation Investment Management — will deliver an in-person Summit keynote.

An internationally recognised climate leader, Gore’s presence comes at a pivotal time as Australia seeks to co-host COP31. His participation underscores the international implications of Australia’s policy decisions, and the growing global attention on the nation’s role in the transition.

He joins the region’s most influential policymakers, institutional investors, and climate finance experts. The current lineup includes:

Saul Griffith — Inventor, Author, Founder and Scientist

Nicholas Moore AO — Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia

Dr Joëlle Gergis — Award-winning climate scientist and writer

Hon. Matt Kean — Chair, Climate Change Authority

Heechung Sung — Executive Director | Head of Natural Capital, CEFC

Dr Ma Jun — President, Institute of Finance and Sustainability

Dr Guy Debelle — Chair, FundsSA

Alexis Cheang — Head of Investment Stewardship, NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp)

Katerina Kimmorley — Net Zero Commissioner, Net Zero Commission

Ava Hancock — National Electricity Market Review Panel

Anna Engwerda-Smith — Executive Director, Public Policy & Research, IFM Investors

Mark Rogers — CEO, New Forests

Paul Richards — Global Head of Resources, Energy & Infrastructure, ANZ

Why This Summit Matters Now

Rebecca Mikula-Wright, CEO of IGCC, said: “The sheer scale of policy change now underway will reshape investment decisions for years to come. The IGCC Summit 2025 is about decoding the transition — giving investors the chance to unpack a wave of announcements with complex implications for risk, returns, and fiduciary duty.

Our members have a responsibility to safeguard the retirement savings of millions of Australians, and this Summit ensures they are informed, prepared, and positioned to act.”

For the first time, the program will also place a dedicated focus on the Asia Pacific. Through IGCC’s partnership with the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change, the Summit will spotlight the region’s growing role in global decarbonisation — from clean energy demand in Asia to Australia’s potential as a supplier of low-carbon solutions.

Book your ticket today

Tickets can be purchased via the event website here.

Media passes available

Please contact IGCC to discuss a media pass to attend the Summit.