AEVA’s 2025 National Conference was held on 13 November, in Melbourne at Victoria University’s Footscray Park campus. 

This year’s theme was Embracing the Early Majority. The innovators got the ball rolling, and the early adopters have led the way. Now is the time for the early majority to embrace electric transport en masse and accelerate the transition into the mainstream.

The early majority are motivated by convenience, practicality and price, and so a different approach to encouraging the uptake of electro-mobility is required for the next decade. New policy, new approaches and compelling stories are needed to maintain demand for electric cars, bikes, buses, boats, trucks and trains.

The AEVA conference covered topics such as government policy to encourage transport electrification; marketing the electric life to a new cohort; trends in vehicle preference and availability; responding to EV disinformation; V2X and the energy ecosystem; charging infrastructure for strata and apartments; autonomous EVs and more!

The Conference program can be found here.

A Conference Dinner was held on the evening of 13 November. You can find the details here.

The 2025 AEVA Conference Dinner will be held at "The General Assembly".

Positioned on South Wharf Promenade, The General Assembly is a 5 minute walk from the Crown/Southbank precinct.

AEVA has reserved the "Laneway" space within The General Assembly.  This space showcases "our Melbourne laneway-inspired street art with beautiful hanging Edison lights and wood panelled walls".

The Dinner will be a three course meal, served as an "alternate drop".  Registration for the Dinner costs $75, and there will be a cash bar for drinks. Vegetarian and other dietary options will be provided.

Closure of registrations

Registrations have now closed for those with special dietary needs, since the names of those guests had to be given to the restaurant on 29 October.  One place is still available for people without any special dietary needs.

Arrival time

Please aim to arrive by 6.30pm.  A cash bar will be open for guests to purchase their own beverages. Guests will be seated at 6.45pm, and the food service will commence at 7.00pm.

Dinner menu

Entree - alternate drop

• Mac and cheese croquette, pumpkin seed romesco, parmigiano [vegetarian, nut free] OR
• Fried calamari, lemon, fennel aioli [gluten free option, dairy free, nut free]

Main course - alternate drop

• Grilled chicken supreme, salsa verde, green salad [gluten free, dairy free, nut free] OR
• Rump steak (served medium), remoulade, roast potatoes [gluten free, dairy free option, nut free] 
• Vegetarian alternative: Garden greens orecchiette, lemon pesto, seasonal greens, basil and parmesan

Sides to share

• House salad, mixed leaves, pickled onion, cherry tomato, manchego, sherry vinaigrette dressing [gluten free, vegan option, nut free]
• French fries, aioli and tomato sauce [vegan, gluten free option, nut free]

Dessert

Sticky date and walnut tart (vegetarian]

Note: Some menu items include the words "gluten free option" or "dairy free option".  If you indicated "low gluten" or "gluten free" or "no dairy" when you registered, you will be identified to the restaurant staff when you arrive, and the preparation of your dishes will be modified to meet your needs. If you indicated "vegetarian" when you registered, you will receive the vegetarian alternative for the main course.  If you indicated "vegan", an appropriate substitute dish will be prepared for you. 

Guest list

The list of dinner guests may be found here.  Some guests have expressed interest in organising tables, and some do not wish to do this.  It has been decided to leave it up to individual guests to decide whether to organise tables.  The list shows that one table has been organised so far.  

Any member interested in attending these meetings should contact the National Secretary for a copy of the agenda and the Zoom link.