As Australia’s largest climate tech startup accelerator, EnergyLab is on a mission to drive net-zero solutions by connecting founders tackling the global climate crisis with mentors, advisors, partners and investors.
Megan generously shared her insights on how EnergyLab is fostering impactful partnerships to drive the most exciting breakthroughs in Australia’s climate tech space and the surprising technology she is most looking forward to becoming mainstream!
Can you introduce yourself and your role? What is EnergyLab's purpose/mission?
I have a background in corporate product development and innovation. With experience commercialising and scaling products along with driving novel technology initiatives from pilot to adoption. I've had the opportunity to work in several industries in the midst of disruption including telecommunications, media, and energy as the industry moves to renewables.
I made the move from corporate to not for profit in 2021 to have a positive impact on the climate tech startup ecosystem in Australia after engaging in the more advanced international clean energy startup ecosystems.
EnergyLab is a not for profit charity and Australia’s largest climate tech startup accelerator and innovation ecosystem focused on helping the world reach net zero emissions. EnergyLab supports talented founders addressing the global climate crisis to the mentors, advisors, partners, peers and investors they need to succeed.
What was the first spark (pun intended!) that got you interested in becoming part of the energy sector - was there a particular moment or project that drew you in? How did you make the transition?
The first spark started when I was still at uni listening to Triple J in the 90's having discussions on electric vehicles and why the change wasn't happening faster.
The actual opportunity came up in 2017, after leaving media I looked to energy given the transition to renewables and the industry transformation that was underway.
I took a role at AusNet, heading up their innovation and digital area. With a focus on internal innovation projects and working with the innovation sector - including startups and other unities from around the globe.
Finally I had the opportunity to play in the transition to electric vehicles.
If you weren’t working in renewable energy, what other field or career do you think you’d have pursued?
I would have loved to be an engineer or scientist but probably still climate tech.
Collaboration is crucial in the journey to net zero. How does EnergyLab facilitate partnerships between startups, investors, and industry leaders to drive impactful change?
Our focus every day is to help startups focused on decarbonisation to get to their next stage of growth - culminating in a global roll out of carbon reducing technologies.
We do that by leveraging our network of over 400 mentors, 200 angel investors, 250 startup alumni, venture capital firms and industry to help startups find the experts, funding and customers they need. So we cheer when a startup is funded, is awarded a grant or is contracted for a pilot by an energy company - and the cheer is extra big if we made that connection happen.
From your perspective, what skills and knowledge are becoming increasingly important for professionals entering the climate tech sector?
There are so many different jobs, skills and experiences that lend themselves to being part of the climate tech sector. Holon IQ have created a fantastic job and skills taxonomy for the sector - called the Green Skills Map. There are 243 green skill clusters and therefore so many different jobs that can be climate jobs.
Link to the Green Skills Map here
What are some of the most exciting trends or breakthroughs you’re seeing in climate tech innovation in Australia?
To date we have had lots of breakthroughs focused on a renewable energy grid and renewable transport, in particular solar, wind, batteries, with decarbonation of the grid in Australia well underway with 35% of energy coming from renewable sources in 2023.
Some of the fascinating and necessary breakthroughs I am seeing now are focused on industrial decarbonisation - helping heavy industry decarbonise - where we see everything from thermal bricks for industrial heat (MGA Thermal), processes to alternatives to coking coal in steel production (Pyrochar), and using low grade waste heat to purify water (Enaxiom).
What technology are you most looking forward to becoming mainstream in the next few years?
I know this isn't quite the answer you would expect from someone that gets to learn about breakthrough technologies all the time. But for me it's clean energy - according to the World Health Organisation there are almost 700 million people that live without access to electricity. So I would like to see clean energy access for everyone.
What are the 2/3 most used apps on your phone?
Aside from the ones I use for work, my most used apps are Apple Podcasts; Spotify (more podcasts and music); BOM (I like to know the weather) and I am starting to use Bluesky (I hear they are working on an alternative for Facebook).
