Q: Tell us your background and when you first became interested in energy?  
A: I grew up on a farm in Perth, Australia, with wide-open spaces and nature all around. Our closest neighbours were 5 km away, which gave me a deep appreciation for the environment and community. My dad was passionate about planting trees – we planted so many that we even brought my school out to join us for tree-planting days.

Then I moved to the UK, where I lived for 11 years, until 2012. I worked in banking, including JP Morgan, and also did a fair amount of study, including a master’s degree in sustainability leadership at Cambridge. There, I met John MacArthur [Chair of the International Energy Week board and Director of Highland Sustainability].

After the course, I moved back to Perth. There are no investment banks there, so I had to invent a new career for myself. Travelling has always been a huge source of inspiration for me; whether it was walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain or hiking in Nepal, Israel and Latin America, I found myself full of ideas. One that stuck was the building of a self-sustainable eco-village.

I designed a solar and battery system for an eco-village as part of a PhD in electricity market disruption. I couldn’t find software for that project, in order to share energy between the residents of the eco-village. I was then introduced to John Bulich through a former banking colleague. He was a technologist that had been involved in blockchain developments, and I enquired if it could do something in my doctoral research project. We looked together and saw many use cases. Three months later, in May 2016, we set up Powerledger.

Q: Tell us about your current job and how your work is contributing towards a just transition to net zero?  
A: Our technology enables the tracking, tracing and trading of energy and environmental commodities, providing transparency and accountability in energy markets. This aligns with the global push towards decarbonisation and uninterrupted access to clean energy. My role involves steering the company’s vision and strategy, ensuring that our solutions remain innovative, scalable and aligned with industry needs. I engage with stakeholders across energy markets, and advocate for blockchain’s role in sustainability. One of the most rewarding parts of the work is seeing the tangible impact of our technology.

Communities, businesses and governments leverage Powerledger’s platform to achieve energy independence, reduce emissions and grid congestion, and transition to renewable energy. The challenge lies in navigating regulatory frameworks. At the same time, this presents opportunities to educate stakeholders about the potential of blockchain in energy and to drive its adoption.

The Energy Institute’s goal of accelerating a global energy transition to net zero aligns seamlessly with Powerledger's mission to remove obstacles to achieving 24x7 clean energy. Both aim to foster a future where clean and reliable energy is accessible to all.

Q: How has being an FEI benefitted you in your career?  
A: The Energy Institute is highly regarded. The top folk in energy in fintech know about it and would be honoured to speak at International Energy Week.

In 2024, I joined the organising board. The conversations I have had in curating and participating in the conference have helped me to synthesise and distil my thoughts. Being part of this organisation helps me to do some deeper thinking and develop more considered views.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.

If you’re keen to follow in Jemma’s footsteps, click through to find more about how to become a Fellow of the Energy Institute (FEI).