ANU Energy Update 2026: Beyond Hormuz - Australia and the new energy geopolitics
Energy Update 2026 will bring together energy experts to explore some of the implications of this new energy landscape.
The closure of a narrow stretch of water in the Middle East known as the Strait of Hormuz has led to the largest energy supply shock in the history of the world. Millions of barrels of oil that would normally pass through the Strait on any given day have been drastically restricted. And conflict in the region, the root cause of the trade route restrictions, does not look set to stop anytime soon. This is no blip on the landscape. It is a turning point that represents a new era of energy geopolitics.
Countries across the world are reviewing their energy strategies against the backdrop of a new global energy landscape. What does this mean for Australia and its trading partnerships and for the clean energy transition?
Energy Update 2026 will bring together energy experts to explore some of the implications of this new energy landscape. There will be two panel discussions. The first will provide a selection of international perspectives and the second will focus on Australia's electrification agenda, with specific attention on transportation.
The annual ANU Energy Update is a highlight on the ANU Institute of Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions' (ICEDS) calendar, bringing together energy researchers, policymakers, industry and the public to discuss the latest in energy research and analysis.
Agenda
Welcome
Aidan Muirhead, Manager, Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, ANU
Energy Update
Llewelyn Hughes, Director, Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, ANU
Keynote presentation: From the Bridgewater canal to the Strait of Hormuz - 265 years of increasing energy trade by ship. It ends here.
Paul Binsted, Chair, Stanwell Corporation, 2020-2025, and Chair, Energy Corporation, 2024-2026
Panel Discussion 1 & audience Q&A
International perspectives on the energy crisis
Panel members:
Budy Resosudarmo, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics; Head, ANU Indonesia Project, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU
Yixiao Zhou, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics; Director of China Economy Program, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU
Melanie Pill, Honorary Senior Lecturer, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU
Moderated by Jessie Moritz, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, ANU
Morning Tea
Panel Discussion 2 & audience Q&A
Australia’s electrification agenda with a focus on transportation
Panel members:
Laura Jones, Energy Systems Specialist, ANU Centre for Energy Systems, ANU
Kristian Handberg, Head of Future Business, Jet Charge
Sarah Boddington, Research Fellow, School of Regulation and Global Governance, ANU
Moderated by Jon Sibley, Director, enX Consulting
About the keynote speaker
Mr Paul Binsted studied economics, accounting, finance and law at the ANU where he earned Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Law.
He worked as a junior lawyer in the late 1970s. In 1981 he moved to Investment Banking where he specialised in Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions and held Managing Director and Head of M&A positions with both Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup and Lazard. Paul retired from executive roles in 2009. A list of Board roles he has held is below. He has been fully devoted to electrification and decarbonisation since 2012.
He was an inaugural Board Member of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) from 2012-2017. He was Chair of Stanwell Corporation, Queensland’s largest and Australia’s second largest electricity generator from 2020 until October 2025. Paul was Chair of Energy Corporation of NSW from 2024 until August 2026. In these roles Paul became deeply interested in power systems.
Board positions:
Paringa Mining & Exploration Co PLC 1989-1990
Sydney Ports Corporation NSW 1995-1998
State Rail Authority of NSW (Chair) 1998-2002
Sydney Ports Corporation (Chair) 2006-2009
Donaldson Coal Holdings 2008-2012
Australian National Maritime Museum 2010-2016
Clean Energy Finance Corporation 2012-2017
Moorebank Intermodal Company 2013-2019
Stanwell Corporation (Chair) 2020-2025
Energy Corporation (Chair) 2024 -2026.
Following Energy Update:
Australian Energy Social Science Workshop 2026: Policy Discussion, 2 - 5pm, 17 September 2026
Designed to support informed dialogue on policy and implementation challenges this session follows ANU Energy Update 2026 (same venue). This will be an interactive session consisting of presentations, panel discussions and audience Q&A.
Find out more and register to attend the Australian Energy Social Science Workshop here.
More information
This will be a hybrid event with the option to attend either in-person at The Australian National University campus or online. Morning tea will be provided for in-person participants (please BYO mug or keepcup!).
The event will be recorded and made available online.
Information on getting to our events is available here.
