The Data Frontier: Digital Operations Episodes

Dr. Greg Trainor, Neil Belford, and Ben Meek reflect on the inaugural season of Wired for Energy and preview what's coming in 2026. Since launching in May 2025, the podcast has covered remarkable ground—from Jack Kotlyer at Energy Australia discussing commercial EV charging to Tim Washington at Jet Charge rolling out networks across Australia. Each guest brought unique perspectives on the energy transition, from artificial intelligence with Dave King to grid stability innovations with Mark Vincent at South Australian Power Networks, and spatial analytics breakthroughs with Nigel Barry at Intelfuse. Looking ahead to 2026, the team introduces seven new themes: - Proof of Life (what's actually working), Digital Frontier (operations and workforce transformation), - The Outsiders (innovation from adjacent industries), - Social License (customer and community relationships), - Government and Regulation (policy frameworks under pressure), - The Horizon (academia and future vi…

Dr Greg Trainor speaks with Nigel Barry, Founder and CEO of Intelfuse, about the dramatic transformation of vegetation management from gut instinct to precision data science. With over 30 years in the industry, Nigel shares how his experience witnessing the devastating Ash Wednesday fires shaped his career mission to protect communities and infrastructure. This episode explores how LiDAR technology, digital twins, and AI are revolutionising how utilities manage the single largest cause of powe...

In this episode of the Wired for Energy podcast, hosts Dr. Greg Trainor and Neil Belford sit down with Bruce Thompson, Managing Director of Thompillai. They chat about how renewable energy is being rolled out across Australia, the tricky bits of our energy systems, and Bruce’s early work with community energy projects. From the ups and downs of renewables to the future of smart grids, Bruce shares stories from his long career and gives us a look at where energy policy might be headed. (01:47) B...

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 ste...

In this episode, Greg and Neil sit down with Dr. Phil Blythe, CEO and Founder of Climate Tech Assembly, to explore his journey and insights into the evolving energy landscape. The conversation covers key topics such as the integration of digital technology in energy systems, challenges in the transition to renewable energy, and the crucial role of startups in driving innovation. Dr. Blythe also discusses the complexities of market regulations, the slow adoption of new technologies, and the futur...