Event Overview:
Aurora Energy Research and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (AREA) invite you to a special online webinar on 31 July 2025, focusing on the renewable energy markets of Australia and Japan.
Presented in collaboration with Austrade and the Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ), the session brings together leading voices from industry, research, and government to share timely insights and practical experience from both countries.
The event will feature dedicated market overviews for Australia and Japan, covering key trends, investment activity, and policy developments—such as Australia’s growing utility-scale pipeline and new federal incentives supporting battery adoption, alongside Japan’s energy transition strategy and regulatory landscape.
A central theme of the discussion will be cross-border collaboration, including insights into the challenges and opportunities of operating across both markets. Speakers will share lessons learned from navigating different policy environments, grid conditions, and investment landscapes—providing a valuable perspective for stakeholders working in, or looking to enter, the Asia-Pacific region.
Whether you’re a developer, investor, policymaker, or energy market advisor, this webinar offers an essential update on two of the region’s most dynamic renewable energy markets—and how they are increasingly connected.
Date and time
Thursday, 31 July 2025, 15:00 – 16:30 AEST / 14:00 – 15:30 JST
Speakers
John Grimes
Chief Executive · Smart Energy Council
John Grimes was appointed Chief Executive in 2008, and has grown the profile and influence of the Smart Energy Council since that time. John is a bold advocate for the smart energy industry and sits on a number of expert reference committees and boards providing advice to several state governments and the energy sector.
John started his career as an officer in the Air Force and went on to found and grow a number of companies, including a startup company he took to a successful listing on the ASX with a market capitalisation in excess of $30m.
His most recent company was in the environmental sector with operations in Australia, the US and the Middle East. John has a passion for the solar, storage and the smart energy industry. He is regularly called upon by the media to provide relevant and independent comment in these areas.
Kento Yoshimura
Head of Japan· Aurora Energy Research
Kento is the Head of Japan at Aurora Energy Research – leading the research, advisory, and software teams. He has extensive experience in Japan’s energy sector over the last decade.
Kento previously worked for Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) where he was engaged in energy policy and the team producing Japan’s Strategic Energy Plan. In addition to this, he also spent 5 years with McKinsey & Co. in Tokyo working across the energy sector.
Lloyd Mao
Co-Founder and Secretary-General · Australia Renewable Energy Association
With a career in the renewable energy industry dating back to 2006, Lloyd brings extensive experience across solar equipment manufacturing, international sales, and large-scale project development. Prior to relocating from China to Australia in 2018, he was actively involved in supplying solar technologies to markets including Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
Since moving to Australia, Lloyd has played a key role in solar product wholesale and has contributed to the development and EPC delivery of over 2 GW of solar farm projects nationwide.
Andrew McGregor
Research Lead, Australia · Aurora Energy Research
Andrew is Research Lead for Australia at Aurora Energy Research, leading a team covering east and west coast electricity markets. Prior to joining Aurora, Andrew spent more than six years in the renewables industry working in various roles at a project developer, on wind, solar, battery and hydrogen projects in Europe, South Africa, Chile, Australia and wider APAC.
Matthew Tilbrook
Director – Project Finance · Metlen Renewables