#31: Grounded & Growing – Youth, Industry and the Real Talk with Makenzie Denley

Born, bred & raised in Lithgow, Makenzie Denley is shaping the future from the ground up—literally.

As an Environmental & Community Officer at Centennial Coal, she’s one of the youngest and most grounded voices in the mining and energy conversation. In this wide-ranging episode, Makenzie shares what it’s like to grow up in a changing regional town, navigate online university, work in a male-dominated industry, and speak up for her generation in rooms where decisions are made.

We dive into everything from community consultation and energy security to mental health, practical education, and what our youth need from their hometown.

This is an honest and hopeful look at the future of Lithgow—from someone who’s living it.