

Expert Eco Chats 2025
Brought to you by the Nillumbik Shire Council Community Fund
Sunday 1 June 2:00pm-4:05pm
Edendale Farm, 30 Gastons Rd, Eltham
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We are gearing up for another great Expert Eco Chats event in 2025 so you can access expertise to help you transition to a clean energy future!
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Bookings will open in April - you can register now to be informed when bookings open and to nominate the expertise you'd like to see at the event.
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Or subscribe to our newsletter (we won't spam you - we promise!)
to be the first to know when bookings open.
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See the list of last year's experts below so you can
get an idea of the range of expertise available.​​

Fang Cheah - Studio Fang
STUDIOFANG is a PassiveHouse-certified architecture studio based in Eltham, synthesising artistic & scientific approaches to create culturally-meaningful, high-performing, comfortable buildings.
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Fang Cheah believes the exciting future of intelligent building is here and now.

Bryce Gaton - EV Choice
Expert on electric vehicles since 2008 and owner/driver since 2012.
Currently working as EV transition consultant to government, business and the public.
EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne.
Formula SAE race team.

Contributor for The Driven; Renew Economy; and Renew Magazine. evchoice.com.au
Marie Carrel - Planet Architecture
Marie is a highly pragmatic professional who pays special attention to integrating ESD (Environmentally Sustainable Development) with high functionality and stylish aesthetics.
Her vision is to deliver sustainable design and information services widely to accelerate the rate of change towards sustainability.
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Member of the Building Designers Assoc. Vic; registered building professional; B.Architecture (Melbourne Hons)
Simone Schenkel - Passive House Designer
Simone studied architecture in Germany, the home of the PassivHaus movement. She uses the passion, experience and knowledge gained from her upbringing and studies in Germany to create spaces that are affordable, healthy, thermally comfortable, energy efficient and resilient for future generations. She is on a mission to make energy efficient spaces a staple in the Australian landscape, without it costing the earth!

Certified Passive House Designer; ​ ​Australian Passive House Association
Chris Johnson - EcoMad
Chris is a sustainability consultant and energy efficiency auditor. He specialises in energy efficiency for the built environment including energy audits,
building plan reviews and product supply and/or install for draught sealing, insulation, and hot water systems.
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Dan Milne - Living Systems
Dan supports people to design and evolve their own habitat.
Drawing on ecology and permaculture, Dan comes to this conversation from a whole-systems perspective combining simple, appropriate technology, efficient and passive systems and behavioural approaches.

Dan's family mud brick home was open on The Nillumbik Trail. livingsystems.com.au; garden design, water management
Caroline Burgess - Be Comfy
An Accreditated Scorecard Assessor, Caroline takes the time to assess your home, your personal circumstances and budget to tailor advice to help reduce your energy use and ... be comfy.
Whether you are renting or looking to improve your home forever, upgrading appliances, consider solar panels or renovating, Caroline can help with trusted advice.

Mark Van Haandel - MVH Constructions
MVH Constructions founder Mark van Haandel is passionate about building homes that not only look fantastic but perform equally as well. Mark believes the Passive House standard of building is a solution that provides not only a home that is energy efficient, but also a home that is a healthy environment for its occupants.

All Electric Homes - Trent Jones & Josh Jones
Trent has been working in the electrical industry for over 18 years and now built up a talented team of 35 plumbers, refrigeration mechanics and electricians.
Trent’s core mission is to decarbonise and electrify homes. From advice in planning and costings, project management and execution - there is no item that cannot be electrified.

Josh/Benn - Green Edge Technologies
Green Edge Technolgies design and install solar systems to suit all budgets. With extensive experience designing solutions that improve your home’s energy efficiency, reduce electricity bills, guarantee a return-on-investment and in harmony with the aesthetic of your home.
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Find the Best Residential Solar Power Products & Panels Systems (greenedgetech.com.au)
Andrew Rosier - EcoCraft
Specialising in Double Glazing, Draught Sealing, Insulation and home Energy Assessments, Andrew is a registered builder, qualified carpenter and Residential Efficiency Scorecard assessor with a passion for ecologically responsible craftsmanship.
Ecocraft not only assesses your home and reports on priorities, but can install key thermal efficiency measures.
