On the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our hosts Alicia Orr, Team Manager and Nicole Johnson, Principal Consultant at Spencer Ogden, sit down with Bryan Didier, Partner and Managing Director of Renewable Energy at Monarch Private Capital.

The conversation explores how the passing of OB3 is shaping the financial landscape for renewable energy, from investor appetite and tax credits to long-term planning. Brian also shares insights on hiring trends within finance, the skills currently in demand, and how professionals can build resilient careers in a rapidly evolving sector.

02: 29- What does Monarch do

03:56- What does OB3 entail

06:44- What would the Bill change in the energy market

08:41- Changes after the Inflation Reduction Act

10:48- How OB3 is impacting solar and storage credits

12:45- Investor appetite after the passing of OB3

13:34- Explaining long-term investment horizons to the board

15:43- Hiring trends in the finance industry

19:32- Skills in demand in the industry

22:51- Brian's advice for having a long-term career path within renewable energy finance

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector.

In this week’s episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host Ella Cann sits down with Lindsay Reichert from Cypress Creek to explore a key challenge in today’s energy workforce: attracting, engaging, and retaining mid-career talent.

With experience spanning both recruitment and HR, Lindsay offers a unique perspective on what makes the candidate experience truly stand out- and why mid-level professionals need more than just competitive pay to commit to an organisation. From mentorship and cultural fit to relocation support and long-term engagement, this conversation dives into what companies must do to secure the professionals driving the energy transition forward.

05:37 - How the candidate experience differs for juniors and seniors.

07:05 - Mid-career candidate priorities

12:44 - Supporting candidates who require visa sponsorship.

14:32 - Relocating with Cyprus Creek to any of their US offices

15:22 - Keeping the interview experience fresh for mid-career hires.

19:25 - Gaining an authentic sense of company culture.

19:46 - The importance of employer branding.

25:11 - Retention strategies for mid-career hires.

26:19 - The 4P’s of engagement and employee populations.

30:46 - Team equity and how it impacts retention

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector.

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host Scarlett Menzies, Business Manager at Spencer Ogden, is joined by Andy Baker, Director of Energy and Natural Resources at Turner & Townsend.

Together, they explore what it takes to lead through rapid change in one of the most complex and fast-paced sectors of the energy industry. From the evolution of mega-projects to the importance of company values, Andy offers a candid look at the people, projects, and mindset driving Turner & Townsend’s European energy and natural resources business forward.

From talent shortages and regulatory shifts to digital transformation and culture-building, this conversation dives into the real-world challenges of delivering the energy transition at scale - and the leaders making it happen.

04:41 – Navigating the pace and scale of the energy transition: why moving fast and smart matters.

07:15 – What we can learn from mega-projects that delivered real impact.

08:35 – Unpacking the biggest talent challenges facing the energy sector today.

13:27 – A proud milestone: Andy reflects on integrating CBRE’s project management group into the business.

16:53 – What’s driving the talent shortage and how Turner & Townsend is leading the charge to solve it.

19:50 – Opening doors: creating opportunities in data centres and other fast-growing sectors.

22:36 – Career-defining moments: the experiences that shaped Andy’s industry perspective.

27:46 – The energy future is bright: what excites Andy most about the road ahead.

30:51 – For those just starting out: one piece of advice for the next generation of energy leaders.

33:04 – A book that changed his thinking and still inspires today.

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector.

In this episode of SOapbox: Career Conversations, Spencer Ogden’s Global ESG Manager, Regan Callender, speaks with Marie-Hélène Westholm-Knebel, Head of Sustainability at ABB’s Energy Industries division.

As part of our Career Conversations series, we spotlight industry leaders who are shaping the future of energy; diving into their career journeys, the obstacles they’ve overcome, and how they’re accelerating meaningful progress on a global scale.

Marie-Hélène shares her path from political science to environmental management, her role in launching ABB’s global sustainability agenda, and the lessons learned from over two decades in the field. From building strategy around emissions, water, chemicals, and human rights, to embedding purpose into business performance - this is a candid look at what it really takes to lead sustainability within one of the world’s largest energy technology companies.

Discussed:

01:39- Marie-Hélène’s path into sustainability and the energy sector

02:35- ABB's Sustainability strategy and 3 pillars: low carbon society, resource preservation, and social progress

06:38- Early influences that shaped Marie-Hélène’s passion for sustainability

13:52- Her proudest achievements and how she’s reinvented herself along the way

17:44- How the sustainability space has matured over the past two decades

20:17- Addressing bottlenecks and unlocking opportunities at ABB

23:40- Balancing commercial goals with long-term environmental objectives

27:47- Tackling emissions, water use, chemical impacts and human rights across ABB’s value chain

30:33- ABB’s 78% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions since 2019 - and their road to net zero by 2050

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector.

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host John Bougias, Principal Consultant at Spencer Ogden, is joined by three industry leaders shaping Australia’s clean energy future:

• Merinda Harvey, ANZ Human Resources Business Partner at OX2
• Adam Gifford, Head of Engineering at Potentia Energy
• Manjeet Hooda, Director of EPC at Envision Energy

Together, they explore the people dynamics behind Australia’s renewable energy transformation. From skills shortages and workforce strategies to hiring challenges and international labour trends, this conversation dives into what it takes to power the energy transition and who will do it.

Discussed:

03:35 – What skills are in demand across Australia’s renewable energy sector?

07:45 – Remote sites and FIFO rosters: What’s working, and how can we make these roles more appealing?

10:02 – Merinda shares the HR lens: Crafting a compelling employee value proposition

12:10 – Manjeet weighs in on why camp amenities – from food to Wi-Fi – really matter

15:51 – Retention strategies that actually work in renewables

18:00 – Building a culture of collaboration – even when teams are remote

20:17 – Matrix orgs, hybrid projects, and giving teams autonomy: Manjeet’s take on driving high performance

22:45 – Tapping into global talent: Where international skills can add immediate value

23:24 – Adam explores the balance: Transferable engineering skills vs. navigating local regulations

24:33 – Manjeet on the scale of Australia’s engineering shortage – and the need for smarter migration policy

25:53 – Merinda on relocating global talent: What works and what doesn’t

28:17 – Are we investing enough in homegrown talent development?

29:06 – Scholarships, paid internships, and early pipeline building: Adam’s real-world example

29:46 – Manjeet highlights the growing gap in skilled and unskilled blue-collar roles

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector.

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast our host Mindy Prefling, and guest host Ella Cann, Team Manager at Spencer Ogden is joined by Copia’s Chief Development Officer, Ryan Galeria and Amber Rogers, Senior Manager for People & Culture.

With many companies announcing a return to office for four or five days a week and a move away from the hybrid split, what does this look like from a company culture perspective? That is what we explore in this episode: re-creating that office culture, introducing the culture to new hires, advice for dispersed workforces and what companies can do to cultivate a deep and lasting culture.

Discussed:

01:18- The workforce and workplace post-COVID

02:50- How companies can make the return to office transition smoother while keeping employees motivated

06:40- What does ‘fun’ look like in the office?

07:30- The meaning of company culture in today’s environment and how to introduce it to new hires

09:20- Advice for candidates to assess cultural fit during an interview

12:55- How to communicate culture to candidates so that candidates feel excited and aligned with the company’s mission

21:17- Advice to someone joining a business with a dispersed workforce

22:50- How companies can ensure new joiners adapt to the company culture

30:40- What companies can do to cultivate a deep and lasting culture

34:54- Culture eats strategy for breakfast

36:10- Activities and traditions that Ryan has seen work well to create a positive office environment

46:06- Creating a culture that’s more than just happy hours and social events

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector.

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast our host Mindy Prefling , is joined by industry experts Doseke Akporiaye, Executive Director, Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and Zoe Berkery, COO, CleanCapital.

They examine the renewable energy industry through a DEI lens, looking at the progress made, challenges and further opportunities. The conversation explores if organizations are pulling back on initiatives, why it makes business sense to invest in DEI, how AI might be utilized and the success of CleanCapital and WRISE’s very own initiatives.

Discussed:

00:57 – The current trends and challenges in achieving DEI in the industry

09:14 – Are organizations pulling back on initiatives?

13.45 – Is there a lack of policy in the industry

17.07 – Ways DEI initiatives have been implemented in the last 5 years and the impact

23.15 – How AI is being utilized to promote DEI

26.40 – The benefits of diversity in the workplace

30.34 – Key milestones our guests would like to see in the industry moving forward

35.14 – The DEI transition is like the energy transition

40.38 – CleanCapital's allyship and internship programmes

44.59 – WRISE’s industry initiatives

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector.

Mindy Prefling is joined by Jade Scheele from Vestas, Karlis Povisils from Apex Clean Energy and Melissa Peterson from Ørsted, who share their professional experiences, personal growth stories, and strategic insights into servant leadership and recruitment within the fast-paced world of renewable energy.

They discuss...

▶ Strategies for effective recruitment
▶ The importance of servant leadership
▶ How to build and sustain high-performance teams
▶ Tips on navigating career growth and development

Why listen?

▶ Gain insights into the intricacies of team dynamics in a rapidly evolving industry
▶ Learn from the experiences of industry leaders, the challenges of team building and how these lessons can be applied to your own career path
▶ Understand what it takes to build and lead high-performing teams

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector.