27 Mar 2026
QFF’s Energy Engagement and Education Advisor is bridging the communication gap between the agriculture and energy sectors
Stephanie McKechnie is the Queensland Farmers’ Federation’s Energy Engagement and Education Advisor (EEEA), working at the cross-roads of agriculture, competing interests for land use, and Queensland’s changing energy system.
In a partnership with Powerlink Queensland, Stephanie leads a first-of-its-kind role that supports farmers and regional communities to understand and access current information about renewable energy and Queensland (and the nation’s) energy future. In turn, the role also helps the energy sector stay across the needs and concerns of Queensland farmers. This work by Steph is recognised at state and national forums as a critical role in energy and agriculture discussions.
Stephanie is an influential leader and engagement expert with almost two decades of experience in policy, government, and community matters. Steph is an expert at communication, stakeholder engagement and strategic advocacy. These strengths come from her past experience working in executive roles, business management and team leadership in local government, state government, and public relations. Steph is skilled at sensitively handling large and complex community issues, and delivering tangible, positive solutions through information and communication. Steph’s genuine interest to listen, understand and respond with people-focused solutions, makes her a trusted partner by all who are working in landholder, community and land management matters.
How Steph engages with QFF’s members, partners and industry to drive energy policy outcomes for Queensland farmers
Steph works daily with QFF members, including CANEGROWERS, Cotton Australia and Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers, and QFF’s corporate partners, including RELA, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, and other industry groups, such as the Queensland Renewable Energy Council, Coexistence Queensland.
Steph receives feedback from these stakeholders and the broader agriculture sector about emerging concerns and risks, and provides insight and feedback to policy, government and the energy sector. One of the most significant outcomes from Steph’s work, is that landholders are listened to and receive access to clear and accurate information. This helps them to understand energy policy and developments in Queensland, and to make informed decisions when it comes to energy.
Engaging efficiently and effectively with communities, with clear government policy settings, is critical to striking the right balance between communities, agricultural production and renewable energy.
Steph speaking on a panel at a Queensland Community Energy Forum alongside representatives from Coexistence Queensland, the Queensland Renewable Energy Council, RELA and AgForce Queensland.
Steph’s work supports several other important QFF energy initiatives for QFF members and the agriculture sector, including the Energy Information Service for Landholders (a free phone service for landholders on all and any energy matters) and an update to the 2023 QFF Queensland Renewable Energy Landholder Toolkit. This gives further information to farmers navigating energy for their operations, such as pricing, on-farm energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
The EEEA role works nationally with the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner, the Energy Charter, Ag Energy Taskforce, and the Powerlink Customer Panel, to provide valuable information about energy and the matters affecting landholders.
Insights from the EEEA Role
Steph says the core challenge is balancing the development of renewable energy in Queensland with maintaining productive agricultural land for future generations.
“Future agricultural land-use faces the challenges of population growth, increased environmental stress from the climate and increasing natural disasters, increasing biosecurity risks, rising costs of inputs and ongoing productivity challenges. All of this can make selling the farm and exiting the sector an attractive option for some producers, if there isn’t adequate support and policy mechanisms in place to support farmers,” Steph said.
Steph at the Proserpine Queensland Community Energy Forum alongside representatives from the Queensland Renewable Energy Council, RELA and Coexistence Queensland.
How the EEEA Role Supports QFF Members
Through this role, QFF is abreast of the current and emerging issues affecting farmers and the sector, and provides accurate and up-to-date information about developments that may affect members to both members and energy stakeholders. This helps ensure QFF’s members remain informed about relevant policy changes and industry developments, opportunities and risks, while being able to focus their time and resources on other issues and their agricultural operation.
The Energy Engagement and Education Advisor has been established by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation with support from Powerlink Queensland.