In Episode 023 of Powering Your Career, David Smith sits down with Anthony Headlam, CEO & Founder of NewVolt, for a deep dive into the future of electrified freight, entrepreneurship, leadership, and the realities of building in an emerging market.

Anthony shares the story behind NewVolt and the seven-year journey of developing fast charging infrastructure for electric trucks across Australia. From navigating uncertainty and convincing industries to embrace new technology, through to building momentum in a rapidly evolving energy landscape, this episode offers a fascinating insight into one of the next major frontiers of the energy transition.

This conversation goes beyond technology. It explores the human side of innovation, including leadership, storytelling, resilience, mental health, and what it really takes to build something from the ground up.

If you are interested in energy, infrastructure, transport, leadership, startups, or the future of electrification in Australia, this episode is well worth a listen.

In this episode:

• The future of electric trucks and freight infrastructure in Australia
• Why electrification of transport is accelerating
• Building NewVolt from concept to reality
• Leadership lessons from startup life
• The importance of storytelling and winning hearts and minds
• Resilience, mental health, and identity outside of work
• Advice for founders and professionals considering starting something of their own

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping Australia’s energy future.

In Episode 022 of Powering Your Career, David Smith sits down with Amalie Smith for a candid and insightful conversation on leadership, career growth, and navigating the realities of Australia’s rapidly evolving energy sector.

As the industry continues to accelerate through large-scale transformation, the expectations placed on professionals are shifting. Technical capability alone is no longer enough. Organisations are looking for individuals who can adapt quickly, think clearly under pressure, and step confidently into new challenges.

Amalie shares her career journey and reflects on the experiences that have shaped her approach to leadership and growth. From navigating uncertainty to building confidence in high-performance environments, this episode explores what it truly takes to back yourself and continue progressing in a complex and demanding industry.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level career advice. It focuses on mindset, decision-making, and the practical realities of stepping into bigger roles, managing expectations, and leading through change.

Whether you are early in your career, progressing into leadership, or already leading teams, the themes in this episode are highly relevant in today’s market.

In this episode, we explore:

• Building confidence and backing yourself in your career
• Navigating career progression in a fast-moving sector
• Leadership lessons from real-world experience
• Managing pressure, expectations, and uncertainty
• The importance of resilience, adaptability, and mindset
• Creating meaningful impact in complex environments

Powering Your Career is a podcast featuring real conversations with leaders across Australia’s energy sector, sharing practical insights, career stories, and lessons learned along the way.

In this episode of Powering Your Career, David Smith sits down with Mike Duffy, CEO at Elexia Communications, to unpack one of the most misunderstood capabilities in leadership, communication.

With a career spanning journalism, television, government advisory and senior roles across the energy sector, Mike brings a unique perspective on how leaders and organisations position themselves in an increasingly complex and scrutinised environment.

This episode dives into:

• What real thought leadership actually means and why most leaders miss the mark
• The biggest mistakes executives make when building their personal brand
• Why “safe” messaging doesn’t cut through
• How storytelling shapes public perception and drives change
• Why energy companies struggle to differentiate themselves
• The importance of simple, human communication in complex industries
• How poor community engagement is slowing down projects
• Why leaders need to show up, not just delegate communication
• The growing importance of EVP and employer branding in a competitive talent market

This is a must-listen for executives, leaders, and professionals across energy, infrastructure and corporate environments looking to sharpen how they communicate, influence and lead.

If you want to stand out, cut through the noise, and build a leadership profile that actually matters, this episode will challenge how you think about communication.