Stategising a sustainable future

A sustainable future is in everyone's best interest, but how can we best achieve it? The students in the Special Industry Project course had just 12 weeks to come up with a feasible proposal for a business client.

John Akauola, Yufei 'Niki' Dong, Max McAlpine and Ethan Berman, who are all studying at The Australian National University (ANU) College of Business Economics (CBE), have been recognised for their outstanding proposal for ActewAGL – a Canberra-based gas and electricity retailer.

Taking on the role of consultants for the Semester 2, 2025 Special Industry Project, the students worked as a team to come up with a solution to ActewAGL’s business case: Energy-transition strategy for a sustainable future.

In line with the global shift from fossil fuels to clean energy, the brief was to focus on the strategic development and implementation of a sustainable-energy transition plan for Australian households and businesses.

Under the guidance of industry mentors from Scyne Advisory, the goal that John, Niki, Max and Ethan set was coming up with a solution that was both affordable and achievable for communities.

“We proposed a two-track electrification roadmap: Accelerated 2040 and Gradual 2045+,” says team lead, John.

With a plan based on four main strategies – zone-based rollouts, a standardised digital customer journey, equity mechanisms and scheduling for trades and quality assurance – the team also implemented SMART milestones, a cost-benefit analysis, risk mitigations, a Gas Transition Authority concept, and workforce reskilling pathways.

“We transformed policy goals into an actionable plan with clear phases, measurable targets, ACT-specific evidence, and a street-level sequencing map that indicated where to start and why. We included feedback to refine our assumptions, enhance our storytelling, and ensure confident delivery, making the business case something tangible and fundable,” John says.

Communication was crucial to the process, and both Niki (Head of Finance) and Max (Head of Research), found the experience greatly developed their skills in this regard.

“One of the main challenges I faced in this project was simplifying a highly technical and policy-heavy topic into a clear, engaging story that could connect with ActewAGL’s executives,” says Niki.

“I focused on translating complex analysis into accessible insights – linking data to real human and business outcomes – and worked closely with the team to refine the final summary and presentation, ensuring that our narrative was logical, confident, and persuasive.”

Similarly, Max found that learning to bridge the gap between analysis and storytelling was essential.

“Translating policy, modelling, and financial data into a realistic business case allowed me to gain confidence presenting and defending our ideas in a real consulting environment. We had to deliver a product that was not only accurate and well-researched, but also engaging and outcome-focused,” he says.

“Working with Scyne Advisory and ActewAGL challenged me to think like a professional. By the end of the semester, I felt far more comfortable leading discussions, questioning assumptions, and contributing insights in a client-facing setting. SIP was a defining experience that strengthened both my analytical and communication skills.”

For Ethan, the team’s Designer and VP of Finance, the experience of working on a real-world business case outside of the classroom, and speaking with representatives from ActewAGL, as well members of the broader community, was the highlight.

“Unlike a mock scenario, it provides a level of engagement and connection that is unmatched by hypotheticals,” he says.

“When you're finding a solution to a real problem, you can talk to people and feel a greater sense of purpose and connection to the outcome, which is a powerful motivator. The direct feedback loop with Scyne Advisory was crucial; it grounded the work in reality and ensured the solutions were not just theoretical but viable.”

For the course convenor, Dr. Katerina Kormusheva, Special Industry Project is an invaluable opportunity for students to dive into work-integrated learning, putting into practice everything they have learned in theory in the classrooms during their studies.

“The winning team impressed the client this semester with preparation and confidence when presenting, demonstrating that they had clearly taken on board the feedback from mid-semester presentations. The decision was unanimous, with the judges referring to the team as ‘the most improved’ this semester. Congratulations to John, Niki, Max and Ethan!”

John Akauola (Team Lead)

John is studying a double degree in Applied Data Analytics and Commerce (Finance). He currently works as a Business Systems Data and Analytics Officer, and before this, developed communication and delivery skills in customer-facing roles. John is interested in the overlap of data, product, and compliance. He enjoys transforming complex problems into clear, evidence-based decisions. In the future, John wants to lead data strategy in edtech or fintech. He aims to build AI-driven, secure, and user-friendly products that help organisations modernise on a large scale.

Ethan Berman (Designer and VP of Finance)

Ethan is a third-year student pursuing a degree in International Business with a strong focus on marketing and learning French. He currently works at Canberra Business Accelerators as Lead Community Engagement, where he engages in B2B outreach, connecting with local businesses and setting up appointments between CEOs and the business coach. Passionate about business development and innovation, Ethan has started his own company in the sports-tech sector. Looking ahead, he aspires to build a career in super-yacht sales or business creation, combining his creativity, communication skills and entrepreneurial mindset to help organisations scale and succeed in emerging markets.

Yufei (Niki) Dong (Head of Finance)

Niki is a Finance student. She has developed strong analytical and organisational skills through internships at Huaxia Bank and Your Season Team, where she supported corporate reporting and financial data management. Beyond academics, Niki volunteers at Vinnies and Floriade, enhancing her teamwork and community engagement abilities. She is particularly interested in how finance, technology and social responsibility intersect. Niki enjoys turning data insights into practical and ethical financial solutions. In the future, she aims to work in sustainable finance or financial analytics, helping organisations make data-informed and socially-responsible decisions.

Max McAlpine (Head of Research)

Max is a second-year Law and Commerce student, majoring in Finance. He is currently gaining practical legal experience as a Law Clerk at Maliganis Edwards Johnson, assisting across public liability matters, while managing the financial strategy for the ANU International Law Society as its Treasurer. Outside of work and study, Max is a competitive rower who enjoys the discipline and teamwork that high-performance sport demands. He is passionate about building a career that is intellectually challenging, people-focused, and grounded in creating practical solutions to complex issues.

The ANU College of Business and Economics offers an extensive range of specialised programs. Click here for more details.

Image credit: Group shot: Katerina Kormusheva; Josh Akauola: John Akauola; Ethan Berman: Bruce Hall, ANU; Niki Dong: Niki Dong; Max McAlpine: Max McAlpine.