IMPACT Tasmania

Hydro Tasmania and the University of Tasmania have collaborated for over a century, working together to deliver outcomes that benefit Tasmania and Tasmanians.
IMPACT Tasmania, a new 5-year strategic partnership reaffirms our long-standing linkages and will unlock new opportunities for us to share skills, knowledge, resources and ideas to continue building a resilient Tasmania that will thrive into the future.
Staff and students across both organisations will help bring the partnership to life - there are lots of ways for you to get involved so bookmark this page and stay tuned!

Focus areas

The partnership will focus on 3 key areas:

skills and learning - inspiring young Tasmanians to engage with the education, experiences and skills that will open the doors to fulfilling careers that take them and our state forward
research and development - supporting the renewable energy transition, ensuring Tasmania maintains its pivotal role, and maximising the economic, climate and environmental benefits returned to the state
community engagement - strengthening and growing our connections with Tasmanians to build regional capacity that drives progress, adaptation and inclusion.

We're building on an exciting foundation

Take a moment to read about some of the incredible ways our collaboration is already delivering benefits in spades!

How do I get involved?

In this early phase of the partnership, we're looking to learn more about what's working well and your new ideas for collaboration! That could include:

telling us about a project that's underway or recently finished - it will help us map existing linkages and find out what's working well already. We may also be able to spotlight your work on this page. Email your organisation's partnership coordinator.
share an idea to the digital noticeboard and connect with like-minded people to co-create a project.
get strategic advice and support on your fully developed project idea by completing this application.
share this partnership with your network

Post your ideas to connect with others

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Meet the IMPACT Tasmania team

Steering committee members and partnership coordinators

Partnership coordinators

Got a question about the partnership? Want to share some information or get help submitting an idea or proposal? Maybe you'd like to invite us to your next team get together or event to talk about the partnership?

Please get in touch with your organisation's partnership coordinator.

Jane Alpine
Partnership Coordinator, Hydro Tasmania
Phone 0427 657 748
Email Jane.Alpine@hydro.com.au

Kate Clark
Partnership Coordinator, University of Tasmania
Phone 62267423
Email Kate.Clark@utas.edu.au

Steering Committee

Professor Heather Lovell

Professor Heather Lovell is an academic with an interest in processes of policy and technology change, particularly in the energy sector. Interdisciplinary work drawing together different strands of academic scholarship is a key feature of her research and teaching, including geography, political science, sociology and science and technology studies.

Before joining the University of Tasmania in 2015, Heather was an Associate Professor at Edinburgh University. She previously held posts at Durham and Oxford Universities in the UK, as well as a Research Fellowship in UK Parliament.

Heather enjoys working in close collaboration with industry and government, and has had joint research projects with the Tasmanian government and several energy utilities, funded by ARENA as well as the Australian Research Council.

Dr Kim Beasy

Dr Kim Beasy is a leading educator and collaborator who works with future teachers, communities, and industry to create learning that helps people and places thrive. She specialises in inclusive, engaging approaches that build confidence in navigating social and environmental change.

Kim leads nationally recognised initiatives including Curious Climate Schools and the Tassie Climate Change Makers Project, and brings deep expertise in sustainability education, youth agency, and community engagement. Her work is grounded in partnership, place, and a commitment to futures where everyone feels included and in balance with the environment.

Professor Tim Finnigan

Professor Tim Finnigan is an academic, senior executive, professional engineer, and entrepreneur, with a track record of innovation, execution, and project delivery in the energy and technology industries. His research interests included renewable energy and sustainability.

Rachel Johnson

Rachel Johnson is the Head of Corporate Affairs at Hydro Tasmania, with more than 20 years’ experience in the energy sector.

Since joining Hydro Tasmania in 2002, she has worked across government relations, policy, regulation, communications, marketing and stakeholder engagement. Rachel has also served as Senior Advisor to the Energy Minister, leading work on major energy projects.

She is a graduate of the AICD and holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Master of Regulatory Economics. Rachel is also a Director on the Board of Women’s Health Tasmania.

Technical Director Power - Entura

Donald Vaughan

Donald Vaughan works with Entura, Hydro Tasmania's consulting arm. He holds a BE (1993) and an MBA (2020) from the University of Tasmania.

With over 30 years experience working across all sides of the electrical industry, from generation and equipment supply to customers and market operators, Donald brings a wealth of regulatory and technical knowledge and skills. Among his career highlights are the conceptualisation and modelling of the System Protection Schemes required to support the Basslink connection and modelling and connecting Musselroe Wind Farm.

Hydro Tasmania and the University of Tasmania have both played a significant part in Donald’s life and he is excited to be part of the IMPACT Tasmania steering committee to enhance both organisation’s positive effect in Tasmania and beyond.

Manager Tasmanian Opportunities

Tony Field

Tony has over 40 years’ experience in the power industry including business and project development, hydro and gas power development, hydro power engineering, management consulting, project management and asset management strategy.

Tony has undertaken many key roles in Hydro Tasmania including Project Director for the National Electricity Market (NEM) entry program, project management of the Basslink interconnector bid phase and negotiation of associated major industrial customer contracts to support the interconnector.

Tony is responsible for strategy development and realisation of Tasmanian business and brand enhancement opportunities, including gas and renewables strategy aligned with Tasmanian opportunities in context of the national energy transition.