Correctly navigating the operation and reform of the ACCU Scheme, the mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, the latest in ASIC and ACCC enforcement actions are essential corporate governance requirements.  Whether you are in-house counsel or advising from a governance or environmental perspective this climate compliance program is a must-attend event. Learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of climate-related legal and reporting obligations, with expert-led sessions and gain practical insights into the internal impact of climate disclosures and how to develop effective metrics and governance frameworks.

Presenters

Elisa de Wit, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Elisa de Wit is a partner based in the Melbourne office and leads the Australian climate change and sustainability practice and the firm's global carbon markets practice. Elisa has practised in the areas of environmental, planning and climate change law for over 30 years, including 8 years of practice in the United Kingdom. Elisa has a detailed understanding of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS), the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI), Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) [now known as the ACCU Scheme], the Renewable Energy Target (RET) and the Safeguard Mechanism and has provided extensive advice to a wide range of clients on the obligations and opportunities which flow from NGERS, CFI, ERF and RET. During her time in the United Kingdom, Elisa advised various clients on the implementation and operation of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. Elisa's climate change practice also includes advising on climate risk, climate disclosure and climate change-related litigation.


Samuel Allam, Special Counsel, Baker Mackenzie
Sam is a Special Counsel in our Environment and Climate Change practice, based in Sydney. He is known for providing incisive advice to manage environment and climate change issues, especially risks and opportunities most acute to the renewable energy and digital economy transitions. This positions clients to meet regulatory, governance, and shareholder expectations from a whole-of-environment and ESG perspective. Sam has been operating in this field for more than 10 years, in private practice and in-house. This includes working inside one of Australia’s biggest renewable energy companies where he led the Environment Team and reported to the GC and COO. Before joining Baker McKenzie three years ago, Sam was a Senior Associate at a top tier law firm in Sydney. His regular column – the "Whole of Environment Report" – is published by The Fifth Estate (a leading Australian newspaper on the sustainable environment). The column targets the C-suite and leaders in government. It draws on Sam’s day-to-day work and through its conversational style offers rare clarity on subjects like emissions reduction targets, mandatory climate reporting, corporate governance, greenwashing, the voluntary carbon (ACCUs) market, Australia’s new nature repair market, climate change litigation, nuclear energy and offshore wind.  Sam is a guest lecturer on environment law, renewable energy, sustainability and climate change at the University of Melbourne Law School.


Dr Adam Bumpus, Principal Sustainability Consultant, Senversa
With over 20 years in climate communications, policy, and technology, Dr Bumpus specialises in helping organisations navigate and create value out of creating a low carbon, climate resilient future. Currently he spends most of his time helping Australian companies navigate mandatory climate reporting requirements and improve their responses to climate change. He brings extensive experience working with the private sector, UN, World Bank, and governments to improve reporting, communications, and strategy implementation. He holds a doctorate from Oxford University in carbon finance and degrees in geography and ecology. He is particularly interested in the role of innovation and entrepreneurship for climate solutions. Previously, Adam led research projects on clean energy innovation at the University of Melbourne and held visiting positions at Stanford and UC Berkeley. He co-founded the Internet of Energy Network (IOEN) and previously co-founded and ran a communications agency delivering strategic climate projects for the UN and World Bank across the Pacific and Southeast Asia.


Dr Laura Schuijers, Barrister, Koiki Mabo Chambers
Laura accepts briefs in all areas of law. She has particular expertise in climate change and other environmental issues. Broadly, her practice includes appearance and advice work relating to regulatory proceedings, competition and consumer law, corporate disclosure, impact assessment and administrative law, planning law, criminal prosecutions, and inquires. Laura is a lecturer at Sydney Law School, and Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Climate and Environmental Law. She teaches the subject Environmental and Climate Science in Court, and tutors Land Law. She publishes in leading academic journals and supervises Honours and PhD students on topics relating to climate change litigation. Before coming to the bar, Laura practised as a solicitor in planning and environmental law (DLA Piper) and served as the Foote postdoctoral fellow in Climate Solutions at the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, where she advised government and industry as well as the former US VP Al Gore, chairman of the Climate Reality Project. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Melbourne (Planning and Environmental Law Prize); a Master of Environment (First Class Hons, Dean’s Prize); and a PhD in environmental law (APA Award; Endeavour Australia Award). She attended Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Law as a visiting scholar and Oxford University’s Law Faculty as a visiting academic before commencing her postdoctoral fellowship. She is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law. Laura read with Katherine Brazenor and her senior mentors are Juliet Forsyth SC and Emrys Nekvapil SC.