Energy Networks Australia (ENA) is celebrating the outstanding contributions to innovation, leadership and community outcomes across the sector, announcing the winners of the 2025 Energy Networks Awards.
Presented at the annual Energy Networks Dinner in Melbourne, the awards showcase excellence across four key areas: consumer engagement, industry innovation, women in networks, and individual contribution.
Energy Networks Australia Chief Executive, Dominique van den Berg, congratulated this year’s winners.
“Our awards celebrate the people and projects that are shaping the future of Australia’s energy networks; these winners exemplify the commitment and talent driving our sector forward,” she said.
The 2025 winners are:
Women in Networks Award
Western Power Head of Major Customer Decarbonisation, Carla Basden.
Ms Basden was honoured for her leadership in driving customer decarbonisation and renewable network expansion at Western Power.
Ms Basden and her team are responsible for connecting large-scale generation and load customers, managing the relocation of existing infrastructure and working with customers in progressing investment that underpin Clean Energy Link transmission expansion.
They proactively engage across industry to understand medium and long-term energy plans, informing network transition strategies and planning for one of the world’s largest islanded electricity grids.
Western Power said this work is having a transformative impact on the decarbonisation of Western Australia as the SWIS (South West Interconnected System) is key enabler to generation and industry emissions reduction. The current Clean Energy Link – North project is unlocking more than 1GW of additional renewable generation capacity in the Mid West region.
Western Power CEO, Sam Barbaro said that having a diverse, engaged and forward-thinking workforce is so important to Western Power.
“Our people are the key to future-proofing and innovating the way we build our network for the future,” Mr Barbaro said.
“I’m immensely proud of all the Western Power nominees, and the recognition of Carla Basden for her exceptional leadership and accomplishments in the sector is fantastic.
“All of our nominees are a testament to the hard work, initiative and passion we strive for at Western Power, and I thank them for their contribution to our organisation, our network and, by extension, the community of Western Australia.”
Industry Innovation Award
Essential Energy, V2G – The journey has begun.
Essential Energy CSIRO, Sigenergy and AUSEV® were recognised for their launch of Australia’s first ready-to-use vehicle-to-grid (V2G) solution.
This project is a breakthrough on how customers can interact and benefit from the energy system through sector-wide innovation of V2G, whic enables customers to use their electric vehicles (EVs) as flexible energy assets.
Tested at Essential Energy’s Innovation Hub in Port Macquarie, the technology will enable customers to use their EVs to power their homes, support the grid and potentially export energy back into the market.
Brad Thomas, General Manager Asset Management and Engineering explained that by turning EVs into dynamic energy resources, the initiative delivers real value to households, supports grid stability, and helps accelerate the clean energy transition.
“V2G will give customers more control over their energy use and unlock new value from their investments. We’re proud to be leading the way in making V2G a practical, scalable solution for customers across regional, rural and remote New South Wales,” Mr Thomas said.
Consumer Engagement Award
Ausgrid
Ausgrid’s ‘Empowering and energising community: The Wanaruah/Wonnarua Community Energy Strategy’ was recognised for its respectful, community-led approach to energy development.
The winning submission highlighted the utility’s partnership with Indigenous Energy Australia and the Wanaruah/Wonnarua people to co-design a community energy strategy (CES).
Endorsed by local Aboriginal organisations, the CES provides a framework for respectful, community-led energy development in the Upper Hunter, a region central to New South Wales’ energy transition.
ENA said that the strategy is already influencing renewable energy planning, delivering social, cultural and environmental benefits, and setting a benchmark for First Nations engagement across Australia’s energy sector.
Ms van den Berg said Ausgrid’s approach exemplified best practice in engagement by embedding community voices into long-term decision-making.
“Ausgrid’s work with the Wanaruah/Wonnarua people shows what can be achieved when networks partner in a way that is genuine, respectful and enduring,” she said.
“The Community Energy Strategy reflects the aspirations of the Traditional Custodians while providing a roadmap to ensure the energy transition delivers benefits across generations.”
Energy Consumers Australia CEO, Dr Brendan French, said that empowering First Nations communities to play an essential role in the planning and implementation of renewable energy projects on their lands is vital to a successful energy transition.
“The Community Energy Strategy shows exactly how to achieve this through respectful and inclusive partnership and collaboration,” Dr French said.
“We congratulate Ausgrid for their excellent work with the Wanaruah/Wonnarua people and hope this serves as an engagement model for the entire energy sector to follow in the future.”
Individual Contribution Award
Essential Energy Electrical Engineer, Hadi Lomei
This award recognised Mr Lomei for his contribution and leadership in advancing Essential Energy’s renewable energy connection processes, a critical component when it comes to progressing the energy transition.
Mr Lomei is an electrical engineer specialising in power system modelling and renewable integration, and through his expertise in power modelling, he has helped streamline how renewable projects connect to the network, improving efficiency and strengthening the collaboration with key stakeholders such as AEMO and EnergyCo.
Essential Energy said his work has delivered real impact for customers by supporting the integration of clean energy projects that will benefit communities across regional, rural and remote New South Wales.
Mr Lomei also co-developed the University of Wollongong’s Master of Power Engineering course, helping build sector capability and supporting the next generation of energy professionals.
Essential Energy Manager for Distribution Project Development, Darrin Edwards, said that Mr Lomei’s work and contributions are well respected within the organisation and industry as a whole.
“The industry is extremely fortunate to have such an engaged and committed resource actively working to improve the connections process and improve the skills and knowledge of others,” Mr Edwards said.
Chair’s Recognition Award
The 2025 event also marked the first presentation of the Chair’s Recognition Award, acknowledging exceptional achievement by the National Energy Public Key Infrastructure (NEPKI) Team.
NEPKI is the digital trust framework that will allow millions of consumer energy resources from rooftop solar, batteries and electric vehicles, to connect to networks securely and seamlessly.
ENA Chair, John Cleland, presented this award to the NEPKI team, recognising their foresight and dedication of the NEPKI Team in building this foundation for Australia’s energy future.
“These awards are a chance to pause and acknowledge the exceptional talent in our networks,” Ms van den Berg said.
“Congratulations to the award winners, finalists and nominees for their leadership and innovation.”
ENA also acknowledged its Presenting Partners for this year’s Energy Networks Awards: Baringa, CutlerMerz and The Wellbeing Outfit.
