Simon Wright

Simon Wright is a Senior Research Fellow in Energy and Circularity at the Gulbali Research Institute. With 20 years of experience across academia, industry, and consultancy, his work focuses on sustainability transitions, particularly accelerating renewable energy adoption and circular economy implementation. He holds a PhD in Sustainable Futures from the University of Technology Sydney (2020), specializing in government roles in sustainability transitions.

Research interests include regional energy transitions, renewable energy in agriculture, microgrids, and circular economy measurement. His work aligns with UN SDGs related to affordable clean energy and climate action. Key projects include studies on Australian microgrids' complexity and coal region transitions to clean energy. He has contributed to 18 research outputs since 2013 and actively engages in media discussions on energy policy and electricity pricing.

Collaborations span academic and government sectors, with recent peer-review roles at the International Association for Impact Assessment. Simon’s research emphasizes community engagement in energy transitions and policy feasibility, as seen in his 2024 article on Australian microgrids and 2025 report on coal region transitions. His work highlights the interplay between government policy, business models, and community needs in achieving net-zero goals.