Neville Kelly is a senior leader within a Western Australian regional manufacturing business where heavy engineering capability is both an economic anchor and a source of community pride. Working at the intersection of mining, renewables, defence and infrastructure, he sees firsthand how the energy transition is reshaping regional industry.

Regional manufacturers are navigating complex pressures — investing in advanced technologies, modernising equipment, meeting decarbonisation expectations, and attracting and retaining skilled trades in non-metro communities. At the same time, Neville believes the transition represents one of the greatest opportunities in decades to reposition regional centres as advanced industrial growth hubs.

Through recent participation in the AMGC Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, Neville’s organisation is actively investing in capability uplift to support Australia’s renewable energy supply chain. From large-scale wind energy components to electrified mining infrastructure and decarbonised processing facilities, these projects require sophisticated fabrication, refurbishment and engineering services — capabilities already embedded in regional workshops.

Neville advocates for a model where regional communities are not passive recipients of transition policy, but active architects of industrial growth. By aligning industry, government, training providers and local communities, regional centres can sustain apprenticeships, adopt advanced manufacturing technologies, and diversify their economies — ensuring they remain critical production hubs in Australia’s decarbonisation journey rather than being sidelined by it.