.png?width=2000&name=Machines-%26-HV-Assets-2025-logo-high-res%20(2).png){kind=logo}
Meet Our 2025 Speakers
.jpg?width=2000&name=218A5217%20(1).jpg)
Filter Speakers
- All Session Types
- Break
- Opening Remarks
- International Address
- Partner Presentation
- Working Roundtables
- Closing Remarks
- Networking Drinks
- Event Dinner
- Women in Energy Breakfast
- Panel Discussion
Andrew Mears
Tesseract ESS
.png?width=400&height=100&name=tesseract%20(1).png)
Benita Husband
CPB Contractors
Bradley Monaghan
EA Technology Australia
Christopher Breslin
Environment One Corporation (E/One) (USA)
David Tarrant
Sebenzana APP (South Africa)
Dr Ana Kuusk
Secora
Dr Jon Pemberton
machinemonitor®
.svg)
Dr Steve Mitchel
AMPcontrol
.png?width=400&height=100&name=ampcontrol%20(1).png)
Giacomo Ciotti
machinemonitor®
Györgyi de Lange
Cubico Sustainable Investments
Iain Mackenzie
Woodside Energy
Ian Burgwin
Energy Safe Victoria
.png?width=400&height=100&name=energy%20safe%20(1).png)
Ian Stegmann
Fortescue
Jeremy Culberg
Transgrid
.png?width=400&height=100&name=Transgrid%20(1).png)
Kalpesh Patel
Alinta Energy
Kate Smith
McKinsey & Company
Kellie Kininmont
PSD Energy
Lidija Dumbaloska
Transport for NSW
Martin Boettcher
Ventia
Melissa Irwin
Endeavour Energy
Monaaf Al Falahi
Energy Networks Australia
Praema Ranga
Boeing
Rose Shir Ali
Melbourne Water
Shantanu Bendre
Yarra Valley Water
Shantanu Kumar
BHP
Victor Edo
Alcoa
Dr Jon Pemberton
Chairmanmachinemonitor®
Dr. Jon Pemberton is the Chair/ Non-Executive Director and a major shareholder of Machinemonitor Pty Ltd, a company focused on condition monitoring and assessment of critical electrical assets, such as high voltage motors, generators, cables and transformers. Machinemonitor services an extensive blue chip customer list throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Jon is also the Managing Director of Zest Energy Pty Ltd a company he formed in 2007, along with fellow Director Dr.Tony Vassallo. Zest Energy is an Australian company specialising in Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Energy Storage solutions. When Zest was working with leading Korean Lithium battery manufacturer Kokam, ground breaking projects were undertaken under Jon’s leadership, such as the 35MW/12MWh spinning reserve displacement project for Alinta Energy, a world first at the time.
As well as the Energy Sector, Jon has extensive experience in the heavy engineering sector, having held Executive General Management roles running major divisions of Australian National industries and Evans Deakin Industries. At that time these companies were leading ASX listed companies. He was also a former Managing Director of CCI Pope, now acquired by Bureau Veritas. CCI Pope was the Australian market leader in the provision of outsourced reliability engineering solutions for the mining and process industry sectors.
Jon has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London University. He is a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers London and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy
Speaking at
18 June, 08:50
Opening remarks from Chair
David Tarrant
Generator SpecialistSebenzana APP (South Africa)
David Tarrant is a highly experienced Generator Specialist with 34 years in the utilities industry. Currently with Sebenzana APP, he previously spent 18 years at Rotek Engineering, Eskom’s maintenance organisation, overseeing a fleet of over 45,000MW. His expertise spans all types of machines—from small industrial units to hydro generators of all sizes and large nuclear units—covering critical areas such as online monitoring, offline testing and inspection, remnant life assessment, scope of work development, Third Party Inspection, and FAT witnessing.
Based in South Africa, David has worked extensively across Africa, as well as in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. He holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and has undertaken master’s level specialist training in Large Generators at Stafford University and GE (UK and France). A recognised industry expert, he has presented conference papers and training courses worldwide.
More recently, David has played a key role in three large synchronous condenser projects in Australia for grid stability, guiding them from specification development and bid assessment through design review, factory QC, FAT witnessing, and commissioning support. He is currently engaged in two further syncon projects, bringing his deep technical knowledge and practical experience to the forefront of power system stability and generator performance.
Speaking at
18 June, 09:00
International Address: Everything you ever wanted to know about synchronous condensers but were afraid to ask
Lidija Dumbaloska
Director Energy Networks and SystemsTransport for NSW
Speaking at
18 June, 09:25
Driving high-voltage innovations through tailored electrification solutions
Ian Stegmann
Manager – Energy & Systems ReadinessFortescue
Ian Stegmann is leading the transformation of Vale’s energy supply matrix in the North Atlantic, driving sustainable, low-impact energy solutions for the mining industry. As Manager of Energy, he oversees the optimisation of power delivery from five hydroelectric facilities—including 45 dams and the upper Spanish River watershed—while developing cost-effective and innovative energy alternatives to support Vale’s transition to a carbon-neutral future.
With a strong technical background in high-voltage and electrical power supply, Ian combines strategic leadership with integrated technology solutions and risk management to enhance operational efficiency. Throughout his career, he has successfully led engineering teams in complex, high-demand mining environments, delivering reductions in capital costs, streamlined processes, and improved service delivery.
Passionate about innovation and sustainability, Ian thrives on tackling technical and leadership challenges that contribute to a more resilient and efficient energy future for the mining sector.
Speaking at
18 June, 09:50
Advancing clean electrification for a resilient grid
Benita Husband
Engineering Director - VIC and TasCPB Contractors
With 25 years of experience in professional services, Benita is a recognised leader known for her engaging leadership style and deep passion for the built environment.
Her extensive career spans Transport, Buildings, Energy, Industrial, Construction, and Property markets, both in Australia and internationally. Through her work in projects and leadership roles, Benita has contributed to transformative initiatives that drive innovation and sustainable growth across these sectors.
A strategic thinker with a global perspective, Benita continues to shape the future of the built environment, leveraging her expertise to deliver impactful solutions and foster industry excellence.
Speaking at
18 June, 11:00
Optimising electrification in remote and off-grid settings
Shantanu Bendre
Mechanical and Electrical Reliability EngineerYarra Valley Water
Shantanu is a chartered professional engineer (CPEng) and registered professional engineer of Victoria (RPEV). He is an experienced Electrical Engineer and technical leader with over eight years in the water industry. His expertise spans reliability-centred maintenance, engineering design, technical standards development, engineering quality assurance, project management, and strategic asset management. He has worked extensively with electrical and renewable energy assets on dams and other water-related infrastructure in Victoria and the Riverina.
Speaking at
18 June, 11:50
Making the right call: Repair, replace, or extend asset life?
Rose Shir Ali
Electrical Asset ManagerMelbourne Water
Rose Shir Ali is an electrical engineer with over 12 years of experience in the field. Specializing in power distribution, HV/LV design, and asset management, Rose currently serves as an Electrical Asset Manager at Melbourne Water, service enablement one water . Her expertise spans a range of projects, including solar farm, switchboard, powerlines, and substations. Rose plays a key role in ensuring the efficiency, reliability, and longevity of electrical assets across diverse sites and projects.
Speaking at
18 June, 12:05
Mastering PD testing: Ensuring compliance and preventing failures
Giacomo Ciotti
Product Managermachinemonitor®
Speaking at
18 June, 13:45
Advancing PD monitoring: Smart detection and predictive analytics
Roundtable 3: Insulation Degradation & Failure – The Hidden Threat of Partial Discharge
Praema Ranga
Product Services ManagerBoeing
Praema Ranga is a seasoned engineering leader with over 20 years of experience, currently leading teams for the Air Combat and Electronic Attack program at Boeing Defence Australia. His career spans manufacturing, control room operations, major projects, asset management, design management, operations, and sustainment across the energy and defence industries in Australia.
Based in Brisbane, Praema has a proven track record in strategic capability development and leading high-performing teams to deliver complex, high-risk programs with precision and excellence. She excels in fostering collaboration, uniting diverse stakeholders, and aligning competing priorities to achieve strategic organisational objectives. With expertise in capital works and departmental budget management, she is adept at balancing operational efficiency with long-term growth.
Beyond his professional role, Praema is deeply committed to industry and community leadership. She actively contributes to not-for-profit organisations as a board and committee member, mentors emerging professionals, and leads networking initiatives. A regular speaker at industry events, she champions inclusive and safer workplaces, advocating for a more diverse and innovative future in engineering and defence.
Speaking at
18 June, 14:10
Building a resilient engineering workforce: Mentorship and growth
Jeremy Culberg
Substations Asset StrategistTransgrid
Jeremy’s career spans over 20 years in providing technical support in electrical engineering. He has successfully delivered projects with high voltage equipment as well as power distribution. Jeremy has detailed experience in optimising plant spares, long term maintenance, upgrades, reliability, asset management and efficiency.
Jeremy has worked across the power industry, from hydroelectric generation, coal fired power stations and transmission. Jeremy has delivered substation replacements, major plant upgrades and overhauls. Jeremy’s current role includes the integration of new technologies into the transmission network, ranging from BESS, to SmartWires, to synchronous condensers.
Speaking at
18 June, 14:35
Asset resilience for large rotating machinery and fixed assets: comparisons and contrasts
Iain Mackenzie
Chief Electrical EngineerWoodside Energy
Iain graduated from RGU in Aberdeen with a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Post Grad Diploma in Offshore Engineering.
First worked for Brown and Root in Electrical design for 13 years in Norths Sea developments and Ras Lanuf refinery Libya. He then moved to Melbourne with Davey McKee for two years, and then joined BHP petroleum for almost 19 years. During that time Iain has held various roles; Chief Electrical Engineer, Engineering manager, Field manager for the Griffin Field, Field abandonment planning Manager. Have always been keen to use new technology and design fit for purpose solutions.
Currently Chief Electrical Engineer for Woodside Energy.
Speaking at
Roundtable 1: Managing HV Assets in Hazardous Environments – Overcoming Challenges in the Australian Oil & Gas Industry
19 June, 16:05
Panel Discussion: Strengthening safety: Preventing failures, enhancing training, and reducing risk
Györgyi de Lange
Senior Asset ManagerCubico Sustainable Investments
Experienced and energetic renewables asset manager with a strong background in operations and maintenance. Equipped with a strong attention to detail and ability to recognise potential problems which enables effective problem solving. Skilled communicator with a proven ability to build positive and collaborative relationships with all levels.
Speaking at
Roundtable 2: Managing Arc Flash Risk in an Electrified Grid
Kate Smith
Associate PartnerMcKinsey & Company
Speaking at
19 June, 07:30
Panel discussion: What are cross sector solutions to issues in the energy transition?
.png?width=53&height=53&name=Group%204933%20(1).png)
Melissa Irwin
Chief Data, People and Sustainability OfficerEndeavour Energy
Melissa is a highly successful human resources executive with more than 20 years’ experience in organisational development, workforce planning, remuneration and benefits, inclusion and diversity and industrial relations.
During Melissa’s career, her strategic yet pragmatic approach has seen her lead workforce optimisation, cultural transformation and employee experience strategies which have resulted in operational efficiencies, cultural change and improved employee engagement.
Melissa’s passion lies in transforming organisations through people and leadership and she is a champion for inclusion and diversity. With a collaborative and inclusive leadership style focused on developing and empowering all team members, her strength lies in her ability to create an environment where people are free to think creatively and challenge and improve the way things are done.
Prior to joining Endeavour Energy, Melissa held numerous consulting roles working with a large variety of organisations and sectors within Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking at
19 June, 07:30
Panel discussion: What are cross sector solutions to issues in the energy transition?
Martin Boettcher
Lead Asset EngineerVentia
Martin Boettcher works as Lead Asset Engineer for Ventia Engineering. He has a passion for developing asset management solutions that are practical and efficient to implement. His specialises in criticality analysis, maintenance strategies & optimisation and the management of equipment condition. He also does a lot of work in equipment reliability and major failure analysis. He has over 30 years of experience in power stations and water infrastructure in a variety of system engineering, management, and consulting roles. His paper “High speed rule based criticality analysis” was awarded best paper at AMPeak 2021.
Speaking at
19 June, 09:10
Minimising downtime of medium criticality equipment
Shantanu Kumar
Principal Electrical EngineerBHP
Dr Shantanu Kumar is a highly accomplished power engineer with over 35 years of experience in power generation, transmission, and distribution. His expertise spans design, engineering, asset management, and construction across both brownfield and greenfield projects.
Throughout his career, Dr Kumar has played a pivotal role in supporting Western Australia's leading mining, utilities, and infrastructure industries. He has been responsible for the design, engineering, and asset management of high- and low-voltage substations, ranging from 11 kV up to 400 kV AIS and GIS. His deep technical knowledge and strategic approach have contributed to the reliability and efficiency of critical power infrastructure.
With a reputation for excellence in the field, Dr Kumar continues to drive innovation and best practices in power engineering, ensuring sustainable and resilient energy solutions for the future.
Speaking at
19 June, 09:35
Leveraging smart design for predictive maintenance
Kellie Kininmont
Principal Project EngineerPSD Energy
An Electrical Engineer with over 25 years of experience, Kellie has had the opportunity to work on major projects in Australia, including the initial Prominent Hill mine 132kV Connection, New BESS installations and the Inpex Ichthys Gas Plant construction in Darwin. Kellie has predominately worked on High Voltage Projects, in Distribution, Transmission, Gas and Mining applications, as a Delivery Manager, Design Manager and Principal Project Engineer. Kellie's unique career has included time on site as well as design experience, project close out and management.
Speaking at
19 June, 10:00
Overcoming challenges in Brownfield HV sites – Navigating hidden risks and legacy infrastructure
Bradley Monaghan
Head of Services - Senior TechnicianEA Technology Australia
Brad is the Head of Technical Services at EA Technology Australia.
Brad brings with him over 23 years of rich experience in the energy sector. His diverse and technical expertise has been honed through roles across electrical distribution companies, industrial sectors, and renewable energy, encompassing a variety of trade knowledge and skill set. His role is pivotal in assisting clients with not just detecting and monitoring issues, but also in providing technical support and implementing a proactive maintenance schedule.
Specialising in high voltage assets and condition monitoring, Brad is instrumental in expertly diagnosing and managing partial discharge defects. His proficiency extends to conducting field tests, providing training, technical support, and assistance with asset management.
Speaking at
19 June, 11:10
Maximising cable asset lifespan with predictive modelling
Dr Steve Mitchel
Manager - AMPcontrol MarineAMPcontrol
Dr Steve Mitchell is a Chartered Professional Engineer and accomplished engineering leader with over 30 years of experience in designing innovative electrical and electronic hardware for power, mining, marine, rail, and research applications. His expertise spans embedded systems, condition monitoring, and industrial automation, combining deep technical knowledge with a passion for research and innovation.
Beginning his career with a seven-year engineering traineeship at A. Goninan & Co Pty Ltd, Dr Mitchell graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Honours) from the University of Newcastle in 1995. He later pursued a PhD in condition monitoring and diagnostics of electrical power equipment, which he completed in 2011. Throughout his career, he has authored or co-authored 37 international research publications and has presented at conferences and seminars worldwide.
Dr Mitchell has extensive experience in both industry and academia, having served as a lecturer at the University of Newcastle, where he taught embedded hardware and software design, RF, and analog electronics to undergraduate students in Australia and Singapore. His leadership extends to securing research funding for innovative industrial solutions and supervising postgraduate students in their PhD and Master of Engineering programs.
Currently serving as the Engineering Manager at Ampcontrol CSM, Dr Mitchell provides technical and managerial leadership, guiding engineering and product management teams. His recent work includes pioneering hybrid power system technology for marine vessels. He also maintains a Conjoint Senior Lecturer position at the University of Newcastle, continuing to bridge the gap between industry and research to drive technological advancements.
Speaking at
19 June, 11:35
Engineering the future with hybrid power solutions
Dr Ana Kuusk
Senior Advisor - Data & Solution ArchitectureSecora
Specializing in optimizing asset management across mining, defense, manufacturing, construction, and utilities, Ana leverages data to enhance maintenance, risk, and investment decisions. As a seasoned specialist in engineering asset, technology and data frameworks, she streamlines operations by integrating and visualising complex data sets. Recognised for reducing inefficiencies in data and architecture practices and enhancing decision-making processes, she has advised and led technical teams to deliver engineering solutions for Rio Tinto, BHP, BAE, Raytheon, SA Water, Mott McDonald and Australian Navy . Her expertise spans I5.0, Digital Twins, solution architecture, AI integration, IIoT systems, SCADA Production, control and alarm systems and OT / IT convergence, supported by accolades including Fellowships of Australian Computer Society and International Society Engineering Asset Management. Co-Chair of The Asset Institute's Virtual Twin Committee and contributes to cutting edge engineering practices as an Adjunct at the Industrial AI Research Centre at the University of South Australia.
Speaking at
19 June, 12:00
Integrating data and digital twins into HV asset management
Andrew Mears
Chief Executive Officer & FounderTesseract ESS
Andrew Mears is a seasoned entrepreneur, CEO, and strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience driving innovation in renewable energy and climate technology. As the founder of SwitchDin, a market-leading software company providing utility operational solutions for distributed energy resources (DER) such as solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle chargers, he has been at the forefront of transforming the energy landscape.
With deep expertise in climate technology innovation, DER solutions, and the circular economy, Andrew has successfully led technology ventures and advised on high-impact strategies across corporate, academic, not-for-profit, and multilateral sectors. His work with organisations such as the World Bank and the United Nations has contributed to the global transition toward clean, efficient, and resilient distributed energy systems.
Andrew’s leadership extends to executive management and board roles, where he applies his experience in scaling sustainable business solutions, driving policy innovation, and enabling technology-driven decarbonisation. Passionate about leveraging technology for a sustainable future, he continues to shape the future of energy through bold, forward-thinking strategies and industry collaboration.
Speaking at
19 June, 13:40
Digital innovations transforming asset maintenance and performance
Christopher Breslin
Technical AdvisorEnvironment One Corporation (E/One) (USA)
Christopher has worked with E/One for more than 18 years and has been involved with manufacturing engineering and management, sales, pre/post-sales support and contract management. Known as an expert source for information pursuant to critical hydrogen auxiliary equipment serving large steam turbine generators, Christopher has presented at GE user groups; Siemens 501 User Group; EUEC; EPRI; and for various utilities across North America. He holds a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In addition to E/One, Christopher has held various engineering and management roles at Howmet Casting, SKF Bearings, IMAR Group, and Atlas Copco. He’s also a pretty good water-skier!
Speaking at
19 June, 14:05
International Address: Monitoring generator cooling systems for risk mitigation
Monaaf Al Falahi
Technical Program CoordinatorEnergy Networks Australia
Monaaf currently works as a Technical Program Coordinator at Energy Networks Australia (ENA). He manages ENA’s research program and industry’s technical standards and guidelines. He has 10+ years of experience in industry and academia.
Before he joined ENA in 2019, he worked at the University of Tasmania as a lecturer and researcher. Monaaf’s research was on the electrification of maritime transport and hybrid power systems optimisation.
Monaaf interests are in Distribution Energy Resources (DERs) integration, EVs and maritime power systems.
Monaaf holds Bachelor and PhD of electrical engineering.
Speaking at
19 June, 14:25
Integrating AI, EVs, and DER into the future energy grid
Victor Edo
Senior Electrical Engineer - Major Capital ProjectsAlcoa
Victor Edo is an astute leader with 15 years’ experience working as Maintenance, Reliability and Project engineer within the Mining, Oil & Gas and Manufacturing industries across Nigeria and Australia.
Currently working at Alcoa of Australia WA, Victor is a Senior Electrical Engineer within the Capital Projects Team with the primary responsibility of ensuring that electrical designs meet company specifications as well as Australian standards and ensuring construction is per approved design.
Victor holds a Bachelor degree of Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the University of Benin, Nigeria. A Master of Science in Engineering Control Systems & Instrumentation from the University of Huddersfield, England and a Certificate in Project Management Practice (PMP) from Australian Institute of Management (AIMS).
Speaking at
19 June, 14:50
Minimising equipment failures for enhanced reliability
Kalpesh Patel
Senior Electrical EngineerAlinta Energy
Kalpesh Patel is a highly experienced engineering and operations professional with over 19 years of expertise spanning Transport, Power Generation Utilities, and High Voltage (HV) Electrical Manufacturing industries. His extensive background covers operations management, contract and project management, business development, and engineering leadership across industrial, mining, rail, and utilities sectors.
With deep technical expertise in HV electrical design, maintenance, long-term service contracts, and power, control, and instrumentation testing, Kalpesh has successfully led site-based projects involving power transformers, switchgear, and HV switchyard operations. His experience also includes estimating and tendering, sales, customer support, and commissioning of complex power systems.
A results-driven leader, Kalpesh excels in optimising processes, driving innovation, and ensuring the seamless execution of high-risk, high-value projects. His ability to integrate engineering expertise with business strategy makes him a trusted partner in delivering reliable, high-performance infrastructure solutions.
Speaking at
19 June, 15:40
Transformers conditioning monitoring – From time-based maintenance (TBM) to condition-based maintenance (CBM)
Ian Burgwin
GM Regulatory OperationsEnergy Safe Victoria
Ian Burgwin is an internationally experienced senior manager with a strong background in both public and private sector infrastructure management. With expertise in asset management, operations, maintenance, and change management, he has successfully led large-scale projects that enhance efficiency and long-term sustainability.
His specialties include high-voltage transmission and distribution (HVDC and HVAC), submarine cables, safety management, environmental compliance, and government liaison. Ian’s ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and drive strategic change has made him a trusted leader in the industry.
With a career spanning critical infrastructure projects worldwide, Ian continues to deliver innovative solutions that optimise performance, ensure compliance, and support the transition toward more resilient and sustainable energy systems.
Speaking at
19 June, 16:05
Panel Discussion: Strengthening safety: Preventing failures, enhancing training, and reducing risk
Download the Brochure
