Expert support across full project lifecycle.
Innovation + practical solutions
At Platypus Renewables, we believe that the path to a cleaner energy future demands bold ideas, deep expertise, and a willingness to rethink the norm. Founded by cross industry professionals with hands-on experience in global energy markets, we operate at the intersection of innovation and practicality.
We’re not just consultants — we’re strategic partners. We offer insight, agility, and end-to-end support to ensure your renewable energy projects have the government, regulatory and community support, aligned to their commercial viability. Whether you’re breaking ground or breaking new ground, Platypus Energy is here to guide your project to success.
Our Team
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Matt Gower
DIRECTOR / COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Over 15 years experience in delivery of commercial projects in Tasmania with a key focus of ensuring regulatory navigation and community support. Many of these projects have been in sensitive environments that have required both community lobbying and high level negotiation. He is well trusted by Tasmanian business and community leaders and has dealt with all branches of government across Australia.
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Simon Talbot
DIRECTOR / COMMERCIAL LEAD
More than 25 years of experience across Asian Pacific in the resources and renewable sectors including hydrogen, methanol and biomass fields. Has relocated back to Tasmania to deliver project and has been working with GHY/Natural Hydrogen for over 5 years.
Simon has a strong relationship with Mineral Resources Tasmania and has worked alongside its leaders on a number of projects. He is also a trusted business leader with key Tasmanian Ministers and has sat on several advisory and economic boards.
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Rod Neville
DIRECTOR / ENGINEERING LEAD
Rod is a key figure in the Tasmanian industrial and renewable landscape. Based in Launceston, he is the Director and Engineering Lead of Platypus Renewables (and related ventures like Rare Innovation) and has been a driving force behind the strategic development of some of the state's most ambitious energy projects.
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Boris Petrack
DIRECTOR / BRAND STRATEGY
With over 25 years experience specialising in assisting businesses to solve complex branding problems through creative thinking and design.
Boris has a keen appreciation of the unique collaborative approach required when working with multiple entities and sensitive envirronments, as well as in-depth knowledge of integrated branding requirements, having created and evolved some of Tasmania’s iconic brands.
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Leo Figueira
OPERATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Leo Figueira is a highly experienced executive and risk professional in the energy and resources sector, currently based in Hobart. Leo provides the deep operational and risk management framework that allows these large-scale industrial projects to scale safely and successfully. His corporate reach is global with a vast network of industry connections.
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Nathalie Gower
RECRUITMENT LEAD
Nathalie Gower is a seasoned professional in the Australian recruitment and talent acquisition space, specifically known for her expertise in high-growth startups, tech, and the energy sector. Nathalie is recognised for her "unconventional" and highly effective approach to recruitment. Rather than high-volume placement, she focuses on executive search and strategic team-building for companies that are disrupting traditional industries. -
Catalina Zuliani
GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY
Catalina is a high-level international strategist and a global authority in the hydrogen and sustainable energy sectors. While she operates on a global stage, her work is deeply integrated with the Tasmanian ecosystem, particularly as a conduit between Tasmanian projects and the international energy market.
She also serves as the Product Director for the Sustainable Energy Council (SEC), a world-leading organisation focused on the transition to a net-zero economy.
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Meagan Bennett
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Meagan is a specialist in stakeholder relations, community development, and diversitywithin the heavy industry sector. She has a deep history of working within the George Town and Bell Bay regions, which are the primary hubs for Tasmania’s renewable energy transition (including the green methanol and hydrogen projects).
Our Clients
We work with a diverse range of clients who are shaping the future of energy, including:
Renewable Energy Developers – Supporting greenfield and brownfield project development across solar, wind, and hybrid technologies.
Independent Power Producers (IPPs) – Helping IPPs identify opportunities, optimise assets, and scale operations globally.
Investors & Infrastructure Funds – Delivering trusted technical and commercial due diligence to support confident investment decisions.
Utilities & Grid Operators – Advising on integration, system design, and regulatory compliance.
Corporates & Offtakers – Structuring PPAs and decarbonisation strategies tailored to corporate sustainability goals.
Government & Public Sector – Supporting energy transition policies and project implementation in emerging and established markets.
Whether you're building your first project or expanding a global portfolio, Platypus Energy provides the clarity, expertise, and drive to help you succeed.
FAQs
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Absolutely. While our "engine room" is Renewables and the Energy Transition, our methodology is industry-agnostic. The core challenges of modern industry—brand authority, stakeholder alignment, and strategic growth—are universal. We have successfully applied our facilitator lens to sectors including Tech, Tourism, Arts, and Government, helping organisations across the board navigate disruption and build meaningful, lasting connections.1
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We act as your strategic lead and execution partner, navigating the complex layers of the energy transition on your behalf. For developers and investors, the "renewables space" is often a maze of regulatory hurdles, stakeholder sensitivities, and branding challenges. We provide a comprehensive "Project-to-Market" framework:
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Industrial projects often stall when they are viewed through a purely technical lens. We mitigate risk by applying a 360-degree strategic filter—integrating brand narrative, political intelligence, and community sentiment into the core development process. By drawing on our experience across Renewables, Tech, and Government, we identify "non-technical" risks—such as misaligned branding or stakeholder friction—before they impact the project timeline. This holistic approach ensures that your venture is not only technically sound but also politically viable and socially supported, providing a clear, de-risked path to Final Investment Decision (FID).