International trade and economy expert Adam Hersh is set to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by Australia’s renewable energy revolution at the upcoming National Manufacturing Summit in Canberra.
Hersh is a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., whose work focuses on international trade, industrial, climate, China, and macroeconomic policies. He is currently leading a major research project on the industrial opportunities associated with new green energy policies.
The event, with the theme “Manufacturing the Energy Revolution: Industrial Opportunities from Renewable Energy,” is hosted by Weld Australia in collaboration with the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work and will be held on 2 and 3 August.
Hersh will be the keynote speaker at the Summit dinner on 2 August and a panellist at the Summit on 3 August.
The National Manufacturing Summit seeks to leverage the opportunities presented by the renewable energy revolution and translate them into action, said Weld Australia CEO Geoff Crittenden.
According to Crittenden, the renewable energy industry will need a raft of additional resources to deliver on ambitious projects, including manufacturing and fabrication capacity, raw materials (particularly steel), and contracting and contractor resources.
“All this the renewable energy infrastructure will require a veritable army of skilled workers, including welders. While this represents enormous opportunities for Australia’s manufacturing industry, there are also enormous challenges ahead,” said Crittenden.
The CEO added that the summit seeks to facilitate collaboration, drive innovation, and foster the exchange of knowledge to empower sustainable growth and technological advancements in various industries.
“Government Ministers and international experts will delve into the challenges and opportunities of the renewable energy revolution,” Crittenden said.
“While our governments can wish, and hope, and make public pledges about Australia’s transition to renewable energy, we simply do not have the sovereign manufacturing capability to make this a reality. The Federal Government and state governments can wish their renewable energy policies into existence, but without a massive investment in local manufacturing, it will not be achievable.”
For more information and to register for the event, visit manufacturingsummit.com.au.
