From Tuesday 9 - Thursday 11 September 2025, Latrobe City Council hosted the Gippsland New Energy Conference (GNEC) for the second year in a row, at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre.
The event featured keynote speakers, industry panels, community sessions, and site tours of local renewable energy projects. Delegates explored key themes including offshore wind, hydrogen, workforce development, and regional investment.
The conference attracted 1,000 attendees from across Australia and internationally, including all offshore wind companies, major manufacturers, and delegations from the British Consulate and the Norwegian Business Association, delivering a major boost to local businesses and shining a national spotlight on Latrobe City's energy potential.
Latrobe City Council Mayor, Councillor Dale Harriman said the event was a huge success and showcased Latrobe City's reputation as a leading hub for new energy in Australia.
"The economic impact of GNEC was immediate - local hotels were fully booked, and thousands of dollars flowed into the local economy. Latrobe City and wider Gippsland were profiled across radio, television, national print, and social media as the centre of Australia's new energy future," said the Mayor.
"With over 200 speakers and 65 sessions, the event brought together industry, government, universities, and community groups.
"GNEC helped to facilitate business connections, provided targeted education, supported business transformation, enhanced regional capability and attracted investment.
"We have heard that the conference provided a valuable opportunity to connect organisations like VicGrid with local businesses, opening doors for future partnerships across the region. VicGrid's Industry Capability Network (ICN) Gateway page received 219 Expressions of Interest from local businesses within just 24 hours."
The event saw 1,373 local bed nights with an economic impact of $771,659 and a Return on Investment of $38 to every $1 spent.
Council will again host Gippsland New Energy Conference in 2026 and 2027.
