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Innovation Case Study: Jay Smith, Mildura Rural City Council

Mildura Rural City Council

Jay Smith, Energy and Water Innovation Officer

Driving Mildura’s Green Future – One Charge at a Time

Jay has over 15 years in local government, nearly 10 with Mildura Rural City Council. His work supports renewable energy, electric transport, and emissions reduction, influencing councils nationally. Grounded in data and community, Jay has secured funding, led collaborations, and fostered a culture of sustainability. A mentor, advocate, and educator, Jay strives to make a meaningful impact in climate action.

2025 MAVlab Innovation Awards Finalist:
Innovatio Pro Bono Publico Award: Emerging Leader, supported by Leadership Victoria.

Leadership Victoria

Jay Smith, Mildura Rural City Council

Leadership and excellence:

Jay’s leadership in sustainability is defined by vision, resilience, and a deep personal commitment to environmental action. His journey began with a formative experience while studying abroad in the United States, where he witnessed the destructive impacts of mountaintop removal mining. This moment shifted his career path from accounting to sustainability and sparked a passion that has guided more than 15 years of work in local government.

Throughout his career, Jay has led bold and innovative projects that have set national benchmarks. He played a central role in Charging the Regions, the largest public EV charging network delivered by local government in Australia, and in the Victorian Energy Collaboration, the sector’s largest renewable energy power purchase agreement. Both projects required navigating complex stakeholder environments, building cross-organisational commitment, and driving change in traditionally risk-averse settings.

Jay’s initiative Supercharging Mildura Rural City further reflects his leadership capability. He developed and implemented policies and guidelines to support EV infrastructure, led regional planning frameworks, and engaged community members to identify priority charging locations. His work has already delivered 18 fast-charging ports across the municipality, with a pathway to meet the projected need for 62 chargers by 2030.

Jay leads not only with strategic insight but also with personal conviction. He lives in a solar-powered, all-electric home and regularly shares his expertise through presentations, mentoring and community outreach. He was recognised as a finalist in the Cities Power Partnership Climate Awards 2023 and is widely regarded as an emerging sector leader.

In every project, Jay demonstrates courage, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. He inspires others and consistently turns vision into action—making a significant contribution to local government sustainability.

“Jay has been a key player within the organisation, developing innovative approaches to energy conservation and supporting the implementation of substantial change through the use of evidence-based data, reducing both operational costs and greenhouse emissions.”
— Mark Jenkins, Healthy Communities General Manager, Mildura Rural City Council

He doesn’t simply lead projects — he empowers others to contribute, innovate and succeed. Through this approach, Jay has helped break down silos, strengthen regional partnerships, and build a more connected and confident workplace.

Impact and legacy:

Jay’s work has delivered significant and measurable impact for Mildura Rural City Council and the wider community. His leadership recently secured $2.5 million through Round 1 of the Community Energy Upgrades Fund, enabling Council’s largest emissions-reduction portfolio to date. Under the first three years of the Towards Zero Emissions Strategy, Jay’s initiatives have reduced corporate emissions by 24% and saved Council over $250,000 in annual operational costs.

Jay also developed the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Policy and Guidelines, streamlining processes for Charge Point Operators and providing a framework now replicated by councils across Victoria. He has led the electrification of Council’s light vehicle fleet, introducing eight battery electric vehicles and twelve 22kW AC charging ports across two major sites. His Fleet Transition Plan (2021–22) has been central to these achievements, ensuring infrastructure investment remains data-driven, evidence-based and strategically future-proofed.

Community engagement is integral to Jay’s approach. He has led consultations through Your Say, hosted annual EV Showcase events, and delivered presentations to students to promote STEM pathways and climate awareness. Through these efforts, Jay empowers residents to shape sustainability outcomes and inspires the next generation of environmental leaders.

Jay has received national recognition, including being named a finalist in the Cities Power Partnership Climate Awards 2023 and the LGPro Awards for Excellence 2020. His impact extends beyond infrastructure and funding—he has helped embed sustainability into Council’s culture, identity, and everyday operations. His work has also contributed to Council’s commitment to becoming the Solar Capital of Australia and the most EV-friendly municipality in the country.

“Jay has advocated for and led many cost-saving and carbon-reducing projects, including the LG Power Purchase Agreement, that are backed by data.” — Bonnie Pettett, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, Mildura Rural City Council

Collaboration:

Jay is a leader who brings people together to drive meaningful, long-term change. Across Council, he is known for his empowering and collaborative approach—supporting staff with guidance on energy efficiency, electrification, water-sensitive urban design, and renewable energy. His ability to translate complex sustainability concepts into practical, actionable advice builds confidence and cohesion across departments.

Regionally, Jay has played a significant role in multi-council collaborations through the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA). He was a key contributor to the Charging the Regions initiative and helped develop the Regional EV Charging Framework and Municipal Implementation Plans. These projects involved up to 12 councils and required strategic alignment, shared planning, and extensive community consultation—all of which Jay supported with clarity, purpose, and strong stakeholder engagement.

Jay’s leadership in community engagement has strengthened the relationship between Council and residents. Through Your Say consultations and annual EV Showcase events, he has created platforms for dialogue, learning, and shared ownership of sustainability goals. His outreach to schools and industry forums further extends this collaborative culture, building connections across generations and sectors.

He is currently heavily involved in an Expression of Interest process with nine councils to attract private-sector investment in public EV charging infrastructure. His ability to unite diverse stakeholders—local government, industry partners, and the community—around a shared vision has been critical to the initiative’s progress.

Jay has also led the development of studies, policies and guidelines supporting Mildura’s transition to sustainable technologies, including fleet electrification, public charging infrastructure and Environmentally Sustainable Design Standards for Council buildings and facilities. These initiatives have required the facilitation of multiple cross-functional groups, with Jay actively seeking and incorporating input from staff across the organisation.

Jay’s collaborative mindset is evident in everything he does. He fosters a culture of openness, shared learning, and collective problem-solving. He doesn’t simply lead projects — he empowers others to contribute, innovate and succeed. Through this approach, Jay has helped break down silos, strengthen regional partnerships, and build a more connected and confident workplace.

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