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Saul Griffith will be in conversation with Taryn Lane on his new Quarterly Essay,, a compelling vision of green energy at a local level.

Australia is at a crossroads. Inventor, engineer and visionary Saul Griffith reveals the world that awaits us if we make the most of Australia's energy future. Griffith paints an inspiring yet practical picture of empowered local communities acting collectively when it comes to renewable energy, and benefiting financially.

He considers both equity and security - an end to dependence on foreign oil, for instance. He explores the rejuvenation of regional Australia, as well as the rise of a new populist movement driven by Australian women. And he explodes once and for all the trees v. jobs binary. This is an electrifying essay about building a better world, one community at a time.

'We need a realistic and achievable vision for the future because the future is coming fast. We have only about one-quarter of one century, twenty-five years, one human generation, to get ourselves out of this climate quandary. If we get this right, if we design the incentives and the policies and the regulations correctly, communities will thrive. Every Australian will benefit economically, socially and even health-wise. So let's hit the road.' Saul Griffith, The Wires That Bind

Saul Griffith, Ph.D has been a principal investigator on research projects for NASA, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, the National Science Foundation and US Special Operations Command. He was awarded the MacArthur 'Genius Grant' in 2007 for inventions in the service of humanity. His most recent book is The Big Switch: Australia's Electric Future.

Taryn Lane lives in Central Victoria and is the part-time manager of Australia's first community-owned cooperative wind farm Hepburn Energy, which pioneered the community energy movement in Australia and has been recognised with national and global awards for its unique approach. Hepburn Energy delivers a range of electrification partnership programs under their program Hepburn Z-NET which aims to achieve zero-net emissions by 2030. In addition, Taryn works for UNSW as a researcher and runs her own small consulting practice which undertakes research and advisory engagement work for the renewables sector. Taryn is director of the Smart Energy Council and the Coalition for Community Energy, a Winston Churchill Trust Fellow and a Victorian Women's honour roll inductee.

The vote of thanks will be given by Emeritus Professor Bruce Chapman AO ANU College of Business and Economics , Bruce has extensive experience in public policy, including the motivation and design of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS).

This event is in association with . Books will be available for purchase on the evening in the Cultural Centre foyer. Pre-event book signings will be available from 5.30pm, and available again after the event.

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• A podcast will be made available after the event.