The Kelvin Trimper Scholarship aims to support an individual or an organisation to build their knowledge or to research innovative ideas and or initiatives that will improve outcomes for consumers in the Australian energy sector, with a focus on consumer advocacy and delivering better outcomes for customers.


Who was Kelvin Trimper?

Kelvin Trimper AM – was an urban development manager and leading South Australian horticulturist who, at his passing, was an important consumer advocate for SA Power Networks customers.

Kelvin had a significant role in improving vegetation management around powerlines, working for many years with SA Power Networks, government agencies, local councils and the horticulture sector to balance community safety and environmental outcomes. Kelvin played a notable role in supporting SA Power Networks to engage with communities across South Australia and giving consumers a real voice in planning for our energy future through his role as Deputy Chair of our Community Advisory Board and Chair of our Reset sub-committee.

Outside of SA Power Networks Kelvin was an internationally respected rose expert, garden and horticulture writer and media personality. He was the recipient of the Member of the Order of Australia award (AM), the Gold Medal of the World Federation of Rose Societies, the Australian Rose Award (ARA) and was a Fellow of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (SA div), and of the University of South Australia.

Kelvin was an incredibly dedicated member of our customer and community reference groups over many years and was highly regarded and respected by all. He gave thousands of hours to influencing better outcomes for customers and the community and is hugely missed by those who worked with him.

Kelvin passed away on 7 January 2024. To honour his memory, SA Power Networks, in partnership with Energy Consumers Australia, has created a scholarship in his name.

About the scholarship

SA Power Networks sees great value in continuing the consumer advocacy and customer engagement focus that Kelvin exemplified.

Applications are invited for funding of up to $10,000 to build knowledge and/or improve access to programs or initiatives that will facilitate or achieve improved consumer outcomes in a dynamic and changing Australian energy market, with a focus on customer advocacy.

Activities supported through the scholarship

The Kelvin Trimper scholar will work with industry, business and key customer advocates to identify opportunities and opportunities to improve customer outcomes. The scholarship may focus on a specific individual, customer cohort or group.

The type of activities this could encompass includes:

  • Researching specific programs or initiatives that could improve customer outcomes.
  • Delivering and evaluating the outcomes of a pilot program or initiative that will improve customer outcomes.
  • Training to improve customer engagement and advocacy skills.
  • Attending a relevant conference.
  • Research project that will deliver customer benefits.
  • Other innovative initiatives which build consumer capability and advocacy skills

The range of activities that must be undertaken following completion include:

  • Producing a clear written outcome report (of at least 2,000 words) to communicate the key learnings and insights gained.
  • Meetings with consumer groups, energy companies, and government officials to promote what has been learnt.
  • Speaking engagements – including at the ECA’s annual Foresighting Forum, presentation to SA Power Networks customer group/leadership team and at least one other public event organised by Energy Consumers Australia or SA Power Networks.

Who can apply

Applications are welcome from:

  • Individuals.
  • A registered Charity or not for profit organisation, or a registered For purpose organisation.
  • Consumer and business advocacy groups (that meet the above organisation criteria).
  • Applications from South Australians will be welcomed, but all other States can also apply.
  • Reflecting Kelvin’s focus on developing future leaders, applications from individuals under 30 will be highly regarded.
  • Knowledge of the key issues in the Australian energy sector in general, and the South Australian energy sector in particular, that drive positive consumer outcomes or good understanding of best practice consumer engagement.

Successful applicants should be able to demonstrate the following attributes:

Assessment criteria

Applications will primarily be assessed based on the anticipated impact of the funded activity including:

  • A focus on delivering improved outcomes for customers.
  • The number of customers that would benefit and the diversity of these consumers.
  • The proposed evaluation plan and how impacts will be measured.
  • Applicability of the initiative to South Australia or the National Electricity Market.
  • The scalability of the program and relevance to other utilities / broader energy sector.
  • Alignment with the priorities of SA Power Networks and ECA.
  • Letter of support for application.

Applications from previous ECA scholarship recipients will not be considered for the same program or initiative.


Previous winners include Alex Fry, Showcasing Energy Efficiency in SA, and Jumeka Saunders, improving energy literacy and awareness in the Nipapanha Aboriginal community in remote SA.

Applications close on 28 August 2026, and the winner will be announced at the ECA Foresighting Forum in early 2027.