The SOapbox Series

In this special episode of the SOapbox podcast, our Spencer Ogden hosts Scarlett Menzies, Senior Business Manager, Ella Cann, Team Manager, and John Bougias, Senior Principal Consultant, come together from across EMEA, North America, and APAC to wrap up a series of global conversations on Talent and the Energy Transition.

Across three regions and three expert guests, one message is clear - the energy transition depends on people. From scaling renewables projects and tackling skills shortages, to building values-led teams that can deliver at pace, this discussion brings together the key takeaways shaping today’s energy workforce.

Ella shares insight from her conversation with Senior HRBP Lindsay Reichert at Cypress Creek, exploring the persistent challenge of attracting and retaining professionals with three to five years’ experience in renewables. John reflects on his panel with Merinda Harvey from OX2, Manjeet Hooda of Envision Energy and Adam Gifford from Potentia Energy speaking on Australia and Asia, where constructability, mobility, and employee value propositions are redefining how engineering teams are built. And Scarlett recaps her discussion with Andy Baker from Turner & Townsend, highlighting how culture, values, and people-first leadership are critical to delivering the energy transition at scale.

Together, they unpack the shared themes shaping the global market - the growing use of contractors to bridge talent gaps, the renewed focus on inclusion and engagement, and the need for flexible, forward-thinking workforce strategies.

Key timestamps: 

3.02: Talent challenges by region – the key themes 

7.03: How talent shortages and skills gaps are being addressed by our client’s organisations 

10.02: Candidate engagement – from interview stage and beyond 

11.31: Is EVP important to Contract staff? 

13:57: Skillsets in high demand regionally 

16:54: Are companies tending to hire more contract or more permanent staff?

20:43: How psychological safety at work is pertinent to all employees 

21:50: The career benefits to global mobility and global exposure and for clients, the talent pool access 

28:14: What our hosts learned from their episodes with energy industry professionals that changed their perspective on talent 

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. 

On the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our hosts Alicia Orr, Team Manager and Nicole Johnson, Principal Consultant at Spencer Ogden, sit down with Bryan Didier, Partner and Managing Director of Renewable Energy at Monarch Private Capital. 

The conversation explores how the passing of OB3 is shaping the financial landscape for renewable energy, from investor appetite and tax credits to long-term planning. Brian also shares insights on hiring trends within finance, the skills currently in demand, and how professionals can build resilient careers in a rapidly evolving sector. 

02: 29- What does Monarch do 

03:56- What does OB3 entail  

06:44- What would the Bill change in the energy market  

08:41- Changes after the Inflation Reduction Act  

10:48- How OB3 is impacting solar and storage credits  

12:45- Investor appetite after the passing of OB3  

13:34- Explaining long-term investment horizons to the board 

15:43- Hiring trends in the finance industry  

19:32- Skills in demand in the industry   

22:51- Brian's advice for having a long-term career path within renewable energy finance

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. 

In this week’s episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host Ella Cann sits down with Lindsay Reichert from Cypress Creek to explore a key challenge in today’s energy workforce: attracting, engaging, and retaining mid-career talent. 

With experience spanning both recruitment and HR, Lindsay offers a unique perspective on what makes the candidate experience truly stand out- and why mid-level professionals need more than just competitive pay to commit to an organisation. From mentorship and cultural fit to relocation support and long-term engagement, this conversation dives into what companies must do to secure the professionals driving the energy transition forward. 

05:37 - How the candidate experience differs for juniors and seniors. 

07:05 - Mid-career candidate priorities  

12:44 - Supporting candidates who require visa sponsorship. 

14:32 - Relocating with Cyprus Creek to any of their US offices 

15:22 - Keeping the interview experience fresh for mid-career hires. 

19:25 - Gaining an authentic sense of company culture. 

19:46 - The importance of employer branding. 

25:11 - Retention strategies for mid-career hires. 

26:19 - The 4P’s of engagement and employee populations. 

30:46 - Team equity and how it impacts retention 

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. 

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host Scarlett Menzies, Business Manager at Spencer Ogden, is joined by Andy Baker, Director of Energy and Natural Resources at Turner & Townsend. 

Together, they explore what it takes to lead through rapid change in one of the most complex and fast-paced sectors of the energy industry. From the evolution of mega-projects to the importance of company values, Andy offers a candid look at the people, projects, and mindset driving Turner & Townsend’s European energy and natural resources business forward. 

From talent shortages and regulatory shifts to digital transformation and culture-building, this conversation dives into the real-world challenges of delivering the energy transition at scale - and the leaders making it happen. 
 
04:41 – Navigating the pace and scale of the energy transition: why moving fast and smart matters. 

07:15 – What we can learn from mega-projects that delivered real impact. 

08:35 – Unpacking the biggest talent challenges facing the energy sector today. 

13:27 – A proud milestone: Andy reflects on integrating CBRE’s project management group into the business. 

16:53 – What’s driving the talent shortage and how Turner & Townsend is leading the charge to solve it. 

19:50 – Opening doors: creating opportunities in data centres and other fast-growing sectors. 

22:36 – Career-defining moments: the experiences that shaped Andy’s industry perspective. 

27:46 – The energy future is bright: what excites Andy most about the road ahead. 

30:51 – For those just starting out: one piece of advice for the next generation of energy leaders. 

33:04 – A book that changed his thinking and still inspires today. 

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. 

In this episode of SOapbox: Career Conversations, Spencer Ogden’s Global ESG Manager, Regan Callender, speaks with Marie-Hélène Westholm-Knebel, Head of Sustainability at ABB’s Energy Industries division. 

As part of our Career Conversations series, we spotlight industry leaders who are shaping the future of energy; diving into their career journeys, the obstacles they’ve overcome, and how they’re accelerating meaningful progress on a global scale. 

Marie-Hélène shares her path from political science to environmental management, her role in launching ABB’s global sustainability agenda, and the lessons learned from over two decades in the field. From building strategy around emissions, water, chemicals, and human rights, to embedding purpose into business performance - this is a candid look at what it really takes to lead sustainability within one of the world’s largest energy technology companies. 

Discussed: 

 01:39- Marie-Hélène’s path into sustainability and the energy sector 

02:35- ABB's Sustainability strategy and 3 pillars: low carbon society, resource preservation, and social progress 

06:38-  Early influences that shaped Marie-Hélène’s passion for sustainability 

13:52- Her proudest achievements and how she’s reinvented herself along the way 

17:44- How the sustainability space has matured over the past two decades 

20:17- Addressing bottlenecks and unlocking opportunities at ABB 

 23:40- Balancing commercial goals with long-term environmental objectives 

 27:47- Tackling emissions, water use, chemical impacts and human rights across ABB’s value chain 

30:33- ABB’s 78% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions since 2019 - and their road to net zero by 2050 

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. 

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host John Bougias, Principal Consultant at Spencer Ogden, is joined by three industry leaders shaping Australia’s clean energy future: 

• Merinda Harvey, ANZ Human Resources Business Partner at OX2 
• Adam Gifford, Head of Engineering at Potentia Energy 
• Manjeet Hooda, Director of EPC at Envision Energy 

Together, they explore the people dynamics behind Australia’s renewable energy transformation. From skills shortages and workforce strategies to hiring challenges and international labour trends, this conversation dives into what it takes to power the energy transition and who will do it. 

Discussed: 

03:35 – What skills are in demand across Australia’s renewable energy sector? 

07:45 – Remote sites and FIFO rosters: What’s working, and how can we make these roles more appealing? 

10:02 – Merinda shares the HR lens: Crafting a compelling employee value proposition 

12:10 – Manjeet weighs in on why camp amenities – from food to Wi-Fi – really matter 

15:51 – Retention strategies that actually work in renewables 

18:00 – Building a culture of collaboration – even when teams are remote 

20:17 – Matrix orgs, hybrid projects, and giving teams autonomy: Manjeet’s take on driving high performance 

22:45 – Tapping into global talent: Where international skills can add immediate value 

23:24 – Adam explores the balance: Transferable engineering skills vs. navigating local regulations 

24:33 – Manjeet on the scale of Australia’s engineering shortage – and the need for smarter migration policy 

25:53 – Merinda on relocating global talent: What works and what doesn’t 

28:17 – Are we investing enough in homegrown talent development? 

29:06 – Scholarships, paid internships, and early pipeline building: Adam’s real-world example 

29:46 – Manjeet highlights the growing gap in skilled and unskilled blue-collar roles 

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. 

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast our host Mindy Prefling, and guest host Ella Cann, Team Manager at Spencer Ogden is joined by Copia’s Chief Development Officer, Ryan Galeria and Amber Rogers, Senior Manager for People & Culture.  

With many companies announcing a return to office for four or five days a week and a move away from the hybrid split, what does this look like from a company culture perspective? That is what we explore in this episode: re-creating that office culture, introducing the culture to new hires, advice for dispersed workforces and what companies can do to cultivate a deep and lasting culture.  

Discussed: 

01:18- The workforce and workplace post-COVID 

02:50- How companies can make the return to office transition smoother while keeping employees motivated 

06:40- What does ‘fun’ look like in the office? 

 07:30- The meaning of company culture in today’s environment and how to introduce it to new hires 

09:20- Advice for candidates to assess cultural fit during an interview 

12:55- How to communicate culture to candidates so that candidates feel excited and aligned with the company’s mission 

21:17- Advice to someone joining a business with a dispersed workforce  

22:50- How companies can ensure new joiners adapt to the company culture 

30:40- What companies can do to cultivate a deep and lasting culture 

34:54- Culture eats strategy for breakfast  

36:10- Activities and traditions that Ryan has seen work well to create a positive office environment 

46:06- Creating a culture that’s more than just happy hours and social events 

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. 

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast our host Mindy Prefling , is joined by industry experts Doseke Akporiaye, Executive Director, Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and Zoe Berkery, COO, CleanCapital. 

They examine the renewable energy industry through a DEI lens, looking at the progress made, challenges and further opportunities. The conversation explores if organizations are pulling back on initiatives, why it makes business sense to invest in DEI, how AI might be utilized and the success of CleanCapital and WRISE’s very own initiatives. 

Discussed: 

00:57 – The current trends and challenges in achieving DEI in the industry 

09:14 – Are organizations pulling back on initiatives?

13.45 – Is there a lack of policy in the industry

17.07 – Ways DEI initiatives have been implemented in the last 5 years and the impact 

23.15 – How AI is being utilized to promote DEI 

26.40 – The benefits of diversity in the workplace 

30.34 – Key milestones our guests would like to see in the industry moving forward

35.14 – The DEI transition is like the energy transition 

40.38 – CleanCapital's allyship and internship programmes 

44.59 – WRISE’s industry initiatives 

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. 

Mindy Prefling is joined by Jade Scheele from Vestas, Karlis Povisils from Apex Clean Energy and Melissa Peterson from Ørsted, who share their professional experiences, personal growth stories, and strategic insights into servant leadership and recruitment within the fast-paced world of renewable energy.

They discuss... 

▶ Strategies for effective recruitment 
▶ The importance of servant leadership 
▶ How to build and sustain high-performance teams 
▶ Tips on navigating career growth and development 

Why listen? 

▶ Gain insights into the intricacies of team dynamics in a rapidly evolving industry 
▶ Learn from the experiences of industry leaders, the challenges of team building and how these lessons can be applied to your own career path 
▶ Understand what it takes to build and lead high-performing teams 

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. 

Mindy is joined by Karlis Povisils, SVP of Development at Apex Clean Energy to discuss how to effectively lead a team to success. Karlis has been responsible for building his team from the ground up which now stands at 60 people so it’s safe to say he has a lot of valuable experience to share on this topic! He discusses his journey with building that team including the challenges he faced and what he learnt along the way.

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector.