VIC | Energy and Resources Series with Pinsent Masons & EDF

Florence is a trusted advisor with nearly 20 years’ experience advising both public and private sector clients on major infrastructure and energy projects and industrial
facilities.

She is dedicated to the efficient, strategic and streamlined planning and delivery
of her clients’ projects and advises on planning and regulatory approvals (including EPBC
referrals, permitting and planning scheme amendments), environmental assessment, land
access, native title, cultural heritage, environmental compliance, contamination and incident management.

Florence has been instrumental in the drafting and passing of key planning and environmental laws and guidelines and regularly advises on major appeals and proceedings.

Florence will moderate our Energy and Resources talk.

Rob Pearce is the General Counsel for Department of Transport & Planning.

He has over 24 years’ experience of working in public and not for profit sectors, with a focus on transport.

He has held senior executive roles in the public service including Chief Transport Counsel in the DDJTR and Deputy General Counsel in the former Department of Transport.

He was Executive Director for the International Association of Public Transport (Australia /New Zealand), travelling the world connecting public transport authorities, operators and professionals.

Rob has a keen interest in legislative policy development and oversaw the development of the Transport Integration Act framework which is the principal Act for the transport sector.

Rob also has a planning degree, in addition to his legal qualifications, so his current role is a good blend of his skills, expertise and interests.

Vicki is the Director, Environment and Social for EDF Australia. With over 18 years’ experience in environmental impact assessment and approvals, Vicki has worked on major energy and infrastructures across Australia and the UK. Vicki has led the approvals processes for State and Federal governments for multiple renewable energy projects including pumped hydro energy storage, batteries, wind farms and emerging technologies.

Vicki holds an undergraduate Master of Arts (Honours) in environmental science with physical geography and a postgraduate Master of Science in managing environmental change. Vicki is a Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) and a Certified Environmental Practitioner.

In her spare time, Vicki is the President of the EIANZ and proud mum of two small children and two large Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

Laura Caspari is ENGIE Australia’s Chief Renewables Officer & Managing Director. In this role she is responsible for leading ENGIE’s renewables business in Australia.
Previously Laura was ENGIE North America’s Renewables Senior Vice President of Power Marketing and Commercial Strategy, leading ENGIE’s commercial teams in the U.S. and Canada.

At ENGIE Laura led a team which signed an industry leading 1.2GW of renewables PPAs in 2023. Prior to ENGIE, Laura has held various roles in the U.S. and Australia including at Nordex USA and SoCore Energy focusing on wind, solar and storage project development and commercialization, and in 2016 was named one of the Midwest’s 40 Under 40 Clean Energy Leaders.

Laura completed her Bachelor of Science at Monash University and resides in Melbourne with her husband John and daughter Zoe.

Deb is the Head, Environment and Planning for BlueFloat Energy’s projects in Australia. She is responsible for all of the impact assessment and consenting activities across all jurisdictions. Deb has over 20 years of experience working across the full lifecycle of major infrastructure projects, including transmission lines, terminal stations, roads, rail, wind and solar farms for the government and private sectors, in green and brown field environments. Deb enjoys the challenge of dealing with complex legislative arrangements and the associated stakeholder activities.