In this episode of Wired For Energy, Greg Trainor and Neil Belford sit down with Mark Vincent, Chief Operating Officer at South Australian Power Networks. From facing down potential statewide blackouts to pioneering world-first programs like Flexible Exports, Mark takes us inside the bold thinking, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and technical innovation that's reshaping South Australia's energy landscape. Hear how SA Power Networks tackled voltage challenges, built a virtual power plant from scratch, and helped lead the global conversation on distributed energy. If you're curious about how to turn crisis into innovation—and how a utility can become a tech leader—this is a must-listen.

(02:45) How innovation started at SA Power Networks (with help from the regulator)
(04:00) The rise of residential solar and the need for Flexible Exports
(06:30) Collaboration with AEMO, OEMs, and regulators to prevent another state blackout
(09:00) Convincing the board and stakeholders innovation was essential
(10:15) Building one of the world’s first automation systems with ADMS
(14:00) How voltage control helped avoid state blackouts
(6:30) Raising voltage across the network—simple idea, powerful results
(8:00) South Australia's leadership in renewables and its impact on the grid
(21:00) When rooftop solar became a serious network issue
(23:00) Virtual Power Plants and the lesson of unexpected load spikes
(25:30) Why dynamic operating envelopes are essential for the grid’s future
(28:30) The importance of guardrails, not control, in distributed energy
(30:00) Why South Australia led the world in integrating renewables
(32:00) Attracting and retaining talent through purpose and impact
(34:00) How customer engagement reshaped SA Power Networks
(36:00) Why trials should always be designed with scale in mind
(37:00) A missed opportunity: the future subdivision that never happened
(39:00) Mark’s career advice: chase opportunities, get broad, and talk to people

Wired For Energy is a production of Network Edge, with episodes produced and edited by Posterboy Media.

To find more information about the energy transition, visit - www.networkedge.io

The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker during this podcast are solely their own and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer or any other organization they may be affiliated with.

Our guest shares personal experiences and insights based on their individual journey, and listeners should understand that these reflections are meant for informational purposes only.
Any advice or opinions presented in this podcast should not be construed as professional guidance, and individuals are encouraged to seek their own counsel regarding their specific situations.

Wired For Energy is a production of Network Edge, with episodes produced and edited by Posterboy Media.

To find more information about the energy transition visit - www.networkedge.io

In this episode, Greg and Neil chat with Dave King, founder of Move 37, about how AI is shaking things up across industries — especially in energy. They talk about how AI can help consumers use energy more efficiently, improve customer experiences, and streamline how businesses operate. Dave shares the story behind Move 37 and how a legendary Go match between AlphaGo and Lee Sedol sparked the idea. They also get into the big challenges around adopting AI, like messy data and the changing nature of work.

Move 37 is an AI product studio for ambitious companies. We build bespoke AI and help businesses uncover and leverage the most valuable AI use cases across increased efficiency, productivity and growth.

(01:22) The Story Behind Move 37

(04:56) AI's Role in Consumer Efficiency

(07:09) AI Agents and Autonomous Actions

(11:25) AI in Customer Engagement

(17:27) AI in Energy Forecasting and Load Management

(23:10) Memory Retention Techniques

(23:26) The Power of Interactive Simulations

(23:55) Business Problems and Actionable Insights

(24:31) AI in Retail and Staffing

(26:31) Organisational Knowledge and AI

(28:46) Challenges in AI Adoption

(31:04) AI's Impact on Work and Skills

(33:58) Practical Advice for AI Engagement

(39:11) Concerns About AI and Critical Thinking

The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker during this podcast are solely their own and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer or any other organization they may be affiliated with.

Our guest shares personal experiences and insights based on their individual journey, and listeners should understand that these reflections are meant for informational purposes only.
Any advice or opinions presented in this podcast should not be construed as professional guidance, and individuals are encouraged to seek their own counsel regarding their specific situations.

Wired For Energy is a production of Network Edge, with episodes produced and edited by Posterboy Media.

To find more information about the energy transition visit - www.networkedge.io

In this episode, Greg and Neil chat with Bill Tarlinton, managing director of Zepben, about his journey through the world of electricity distribution, smart software, and energy startups. Bill shares how his early interest in electrical systems led to a career working on SCADA and DMS tech — and how those tools have shaped utilities here in Australia and around the world. They talk through the challenges the energy sector is facing right now, the need for fresh thinking, and how startups are stepping up with new solutions.

(01:29) Bill's Early Memories of Energy

(02:38) Innovations in Energy Distribution

(07:58) Challenges and Opportunities in Energy Transition

(10:24) The Role of Startups and Venture Capital

(13:21) The Future of Energy Systems and Market Structures

(18:18) The Importance of Network Model Data Management

About Bill:

Bill is an electrical engineer with 30 years’ experience in electricity distribution and business
development. He led operational functions and software system implementations in utilities in his
early career and then founded and grew a successful business creating software solutions for
electricity distribution network operators. Bill worked as a product management executive in
General Electric (GE) following the acquisition of his company by GE in 2010. Since leaving GE in
2014, he and his co-founders built Zepben into another successful software and services
company to help support the transition to renewables and distributed energy resources. Bill sits on
the advisory board for the Australian Capital Territory Energy Innovation fund and holds an Honorary
Associate Professor position at the Australian National University in the school of engineering.

The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker during this podcast are solely their own and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer or any other organization they may be affiliated with.

Our guest shares personal experiences and insights based on their individual journey, and listeners should understand that these reflections are meant for informational purposes only.
Any advice or opinions presented in this podcast should not be construed as professional guidance, and individuals are encouraged to seek their own counsel regarding their specific situations.

Wired For Energy is a production of Network Edge, with episodes produced and edited by Posterboy Media.

To find more information about the energy transition visit - www.networkedge.io