In June 2025, the University of New England (UNE) hosted an event exploring how utility-scale solar developments can deliver stronger environmental outcomes. The event featured a presentation by Dr Josh Ennen, an international expert on solar-wildlife interactions from the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (USA), alongside Dr Eric Nordberg from UNE, a leading researcher on biodiversity and solar farms in the Australian context.
The session also included a panel bringing together practical experience across the farming, land management and industry sectors.
Watch event recording
Speakers and slides
Dr Eric Nordberg
Senior Lecturer in Applied Ecology and Landscape Management, UNE
Dr Eric Nordberg is a wildlife ecologist focused on how land-use change—particularly the rise of solar farms—affects biodiversity. His work explores how large-scale solar projects can be managed as multi-use systems that benefit energy production, agriculture, and ecosystems. He leads the Renewable Energy Hub at UNE, a collaborative platform linking researchers, land managers, and industry.
View Eric’s slides here (p.1-12).
Dr Josh Ennen
Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI)
Dr Josh Ennen is a Senior Scientist supporting REWI’s work in developing science, tools, and strategies for wind and solar siting and operations that minimize impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitats. Josh implements the goals of the solar-wildlife program. He is a wildlife biologist with expertise in the impacts of renewable energy on wildlife and also works as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Josh has a background in environmental consulting, has had various roles at several academic institutes, and has worked as a researcher at USGS and the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute. As a researcher, Josh has published over 60 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, including several publications and book chapters related to the impacts of renewable energy (both wind and solar) on wildlife. He received a B.A. in Biology from Maryville College, an M.S. in Biology from Austin Peay State University, and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi.
View Josh’s slides here (p.13-31)
Martine Holberton
Martine Holberton has worked in renewable energy for the past 10 years, helping to launch Australia’s first cross-sector group PPA, then developer-side, before making a shift this year to focus on collaboration and best practice, currently leading the Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Energy Collaboration project. Martine is also spearheading the development of the Biodiversity & Renewables Institute Australia (BRIA), a cross-sector initiative designed to ensure that nature and clean energy can thrive together.
Heidi McElnea
Regional Partnerships Coordinator, Community Power Agency
The event was facilitated by Heidi McElnea, Regional Partnership Coordinator at Community Power Agency. Heidi is co-author of the Building Better Biodiversity on Solar Farms Guide, and co-convenor of the New England Biodiversity Reference Group. Heidi provided an overview of the local policy context and current collaborations across the New England region focused on renewable energy and land use.
Read Heidi’s summary notes here.
