[Corridor Conversations] John Walker AM

Corridor Conversations – John Walker AM

Title: Chairman – Eastpoint Partners Limited

Quote: “I think Korea has an opportunity, given the scale of funds they have, to emerge as a global financial player through energy transition infrastructure over the next decade.”

What role does your organisation, East Point Partners, play in the Australia-Korea space?

There’s a few things that we do – we do merger acquisitions advice, we help people raise capital, and enter into partnerships. For example, we help a number of Australian renewable energy companies establish partnerships with financial institutions and investors and corporates in Korea. We work closely with Ross Gregory’s business, New Electric Partners, on assisting companies in both countries benefit from what our particular advantages are. Korea has lots of capital, large pension funds, and they’re looking for opportunities in infrastructure and energy transition, as well as renewable energy projects through to hydrogen, raw earths, and critical minerals.

Where do you see renewable energy industry in five years?

We will see lots of Korean companies that are critically involved in developing projects in Australia, in the form of providing engineering services, acting as providers or investors, and even operators. These projects will range from solar, wind, mining, rare earths, critical minerals, ammonia, and hydrogen. I think you’ll see very healthy shipping routes between both countries transporting ammonia and hydrogen. I think we will see Korean financial institutions having a bigger presence in the Australian market – there are already five Korean banks in Australia, which most people don’t realise. Equally so, we will likely see an increase in Australian investment in Korea itself. A good example is the ASM plant, which is a metallisation facility. It’ll take the form of projects and service companies, the form of financial flows and institutions. It’s quite exciting. It’s a new era in our relationship.