QWESTNet Mackay Business Bottom Line Savings forum agenda ...

Connecting Queensland businesses with sustainable technologies
Date: 7.00am – 11.30am, 19 July 2011
Location: The Pavilion, The Shamrock Gardens Motel, 165 Nebo Road, Mackay
Brought to you by the Department of Environment and Resource Management in association with the
Mackay Regional Council and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and
Innovation.
Business bottom line savings
PROGRAM
7:00 Registration opens and light breakfast
7:30 Open and introduction
In association with
Project Catalyst – Exploring the synergies between a global corporate giant,
a global conservation group, a regional natural resource management
organisation and a group of farmers.
Rob Cocco, Reef Catchments Ltd
Project Catalyst began as a concept process within natural resource management
organisation Reef Catchments in 2008.
Born from discussions with frustrated local sugarcane farmers who wanted a
program which would support them to establish sustainable rural business
operations, the concept is now a flourishing program which involves 73 farmers
from Mackay to Mossman along with WWF, Coca Cola, the Commonwealth
Government and a list of potential new investors.
Rob’s presentation will explore the benefit of such partnerships, the technology
used in the project, the challenges and lessons learned and the major outcomes
realised to date.
7:56 TECHNOLOGIES
Reusing left over green waste to your advantage
Chris Gruhler, Black Is Green Pty Ltd
We may find ourselves buried beneath a growing mountain of unwanted green
waste which exceeds our need for mulch, overloads landfill sites and generates
noxious gases and odours as it rots.
In this presentation, Chris will explain BiG’s fast pyrolysis process which converts
waste biomass to charcoal with a patented rotary hearth process to meet the need
for onsite biomass charcoal production and energy generation.
Department of Employment,
Economic Development and
Innovation

In association with
Lifting the lid on waste auditing and recycling
Haydee Forster, J.J. Richards & Sons Pty Ltd
Businesses are becoming more aware of the wastes they are generating and are
now looking for ways to improve their processes to reduce their impact on the
environment while managing budgetary constraints. Haydee will explain how this
has led to the implementation of waste audits which allow for the analysis of waste
streams and the identification of potential segregation and recycling opportunities.
Shedding some light on the workplace
Kim Sharp, John Martin and Co, Save Lighting
8:32 Speed networking
8:52 CASE STUDIES
A holistic approach to building energy efficiency at 8 Carlyle Street, Mackay
Jim Bennett, The Built Environment Group
This presentation will highlight some of the technological advancements that were
implemented in the Airconstruct HVAC Offices. Jim will illustrate what is possible
for businesses if they are truly serious about reducing their consumption and
ultimately their operational costs through energy management strategies,
maintenance of HVAC and new technology.
ClimateSmart for business
Jane Turner, ProsePR
Through her experience leading 52 Mackay Whitsunday Isaac businesses through
the Queensland Government's ClimateSmart Business Cluster Program, Jane will
detail experiences, challenges and achievements from these businesses who
started the emission lowering journey. Jane will explain how other businesses can
start the change process with some handy tips learnt from previous participant
feedback.
9:40 Open networking and refreshments
10:20 EDGY INFO
Managing energy costs through managing peak demand
Ian McGregor, Ergon Energy
This presentation explains how Ergon’s Energy Conservation and Demand
Management team is working to improve network utilisation and defer capital
works by reducing demand on the network and reshaping load profile.
The primary focus of this presentation is on the issue of how energy conservation
and demand management can assist the network business continue to meet
customer demand for supply within the constraints of the AER (Australian Energy
Regulator) framework and current economic environment.
Department of Employment,
Economic Development and
Innovation

In association with
Low cost water treatment solutions using natural systems
Robert McKenzie, The Water and Carbon Group
Significant development of low cost natural treatment systems for water treatment
has occurred in Australia and overseas in the last decade. This presentation
provides an overview of treatment wetland technology, areas of application
(wastewater, stormwater and industrial water), advantages and disadvantages of
the technology and a number of case studies.
ecoBiz program for business
John Quinn, the Department of Environment and Resource Management
This presentation outlines how simple actions and readily available tools can have
a profound effect on your businesses' bottom line. Using examples from the ecoBiz
program, ecoBiz demonstrates how Queensland businesses are reducing their
carbon footprint by 20% and saving an average of $80 000 per annum through
simple low-cost actions.
10:56 Concluding remarks
11:00 OPEN NETWORKING AND TRADE DISPLAY
Disclaimer:
The presentation of a product, service or technology does not constitute endorsement of any
kind by the DERM and Queensland Government.
Department of Employment,
Economic Development and
Innovation

PRESENTERS
Rob Cocco, CEO, Reef Catchments Limited
Rob commenced in his current role in 2008 and has lead Reef Catchments from being a
small community focused organisation, to a company which now delivers a range of natural
resource aligned services at the regional, state , national and global scale. Rob previous
employment roles have included senior executive roles within research and development
companies, agri-political representation roles and business development functions within the
rural sector. Reef Catchments is a Not For Profit company which specialises in the delivery
of NRM services to its clients while also investing resources toward the creation of new
market based systems which effectively align economic and environmental operations and
outputs.
Christian Gruhler, Project Engineer, Black Is Green Pty Ltd
Christian graduated in 2006 as Industrial Engineer (BEng), a dual tertiary qualification in
electrical engineering and business at the University of Applied Sciences in Konstanz,
Germany. Since his graduation he has worked in several industries.
After his relocation to Australia he commenced his position as a Project Engineer and
Business Development Manager with JJA Process Engineers and its sister company Black
is Green Pty Ltd where his duties include engineering design, commissioning, testing,
project management and business development.
Haydee Forster, National Manager Corporate Systems, J.J. Richards & Sons Pty Ltd
Haydee has been employed with J.J. Richards for 15 years. During this time she has gained
experience in a variety of aspects of the Company’s operations from tendering and
corporate systems management, to auditing, review and development of customer waste
management systems. Haydee now manages the Company’s corporate systems team,
which provides advice and technical support to our sites Australia wide regarding safety,
quality, environmental and technical aspects of our operations.
Kim Sharp, John Martin and Co, Save Lighting,
Jim Bennett, Business Development Manager – The Built Environment Group (Mackay)
Jim has extensive experience in the Air Conditioning and Solar Hot water industries, having
worked for several West Australian and Queensland companies such as Energy World and
Solahart for many years working in domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. Jim is now
an energy auditor and BDM for The Built Environment Group, servicing mining companies
and local businesses throughout the entire Bowen and Galilee Basin regions.
Jane Turner ClimateSmart for Business Cluster Leader, Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Region
Owner of Prose PR
Jane is the ClimateSmart Business Cluster leader for the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region
who has lead 52 local businesses through the ClimateSmart for Business program on behalf
of the Queensland government. Jane is also an accredited ecoBiz Facilitator for the
Queensland Government's ecoBiz program. It is through her work on corporate social
responsibility in the public relations sector which led Jane to further involve herself more
actively within the environmental sphere and work with companies on lowering their
In association with
Department of Employment,
Economic Development and
Innovation

emissions through the ClimateSmart program while promoting their achievements to their
customers.
Ian McGregor, Development Manager- Large Customer Demand, Ergon Energy
Ian is a marketer by trade with 20 years management experience working across a
spectrum of industries including advertising, food and beverage, retail, telecommunications,
and energy. He made his transition to the energy industry almost three years ago working in
the customer marketing team at Ergon Energy before moving into the Customer Demand
Management team. Utilising his project management skills he has a keen interest working
with customers and suppliers in delivering a range of solutions that help minimise energy
costs and reduce demand on the distribution network.
Robert McKenzie, Senior Designer, The Water and Carbon Group
Robert is a senior designer of natural treatment systems for water treatment and reuse.
Robert has had experience in delivering least cost solutions in stormwater, wastewater and
industrial water utilising treatment wetland technology. Robert is currently a member of the
International Ecological Engineering Society and is a guest lecturer at Griffith University on
wetland technology. Robert is interested in achieving better environmental outcomes
through smart design.
John Quinn, Director Sustainable Industries Branch, the Department of Environment and
Resource Management
John has been the Director of Sustainable Industries Programs since 2004. Prior to joining
the Queensland Government, John served in the Navy as a submarine weapons engineer.
John has a Degree in Electrical Engineering, an MBA, Diplomas in Engineering Control
Systems and OHS and is a licensed electrical contractor.
In association with
Department of Employment,
Economic Development and
Innovation