Stephen Yarwood is a renowned Futurist, highly respected Urbanist and the Former Lord Mayor of Adelaide. Serving as a catalyst for change for both corporate and community organisations, his passion extends beyond envisioning the future; he educates, motivates and empowers people to shape it.

With a strong skill set in cross-disciplinary strategic foresight, Stephen is deeply fascinated by the dynamic interplay between people, places, technology and change. Recognised as an international thought leader on "the future citizen," Stephen is committed to collaborative leadership that aids corporate and community leaders in navigating the rapidly changing and complex social, environmental, and economic landscape, allowing them to explore possible futures and create preferred outcomes.

Stephen has a Bachelor of Arts in Planning, Graduate Diplomas in Regional & Urban Planning and Environmental Studies, an MBA from Adelaide University and is an award-winning Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.

He has a wealth of international experience working around Australia and in NZ, Asia, the Middle East and North America. He has been on a global advisory board for Airbnb, worked on mega projects in Saudi Arabia and provided keynote presentations to over 150,000 people in the last 10 years in several countries.

During his time as Lord Mayor (2010-2014), his emphasis on collaboration with the private sector and State Government delivered many outcomes and saw Adelaide recognised internationally as an innovative destination by Lonely Planet, National Geographic and The New York Times.

Prior to being Lord Mayor, Stephen worked in the South Australian Government and Parliament, in Local Government, and internationally as a planner, researcher, educator and speaker. His planning experience is exceptionally diverse; from strategy to implementation on many large projects dealing with most land use types and a diverse range of environment, economic, community, design and development issues.

Romilly Madew was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Engineers Australia in 2022. 

Prior to joining Engineers Australia, Ms Madew was CEO of Infrastructure Australia where she was responsible for overseeing the organisation's critical role in helping governments prioritise projects and reforms that best serve our communities. 

Ms Madew served as CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) for 13 years. In acknowledgment of her contribution to Australia’s sustainable building movement, Ms Madew was awarded an Order of Australia in 2019.

In her capacity as CEO of Engineers Australia, Ms Madew sits on the STEM and Health Champions of Change committee. She is currently a Member of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) Infrastructure Forum, Director of Placemaking NSW Board, Chair UNSW Institute of Industrial Decarbonisation IAC, Member Industry Skills Australia IAC, Independent Chair of the Currawong State Park Advisory Board (NSW), Member Infrastructure Net Zero Steering Committee, Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers Enabling Better Infrastructure Steering Group (UK) and Director of Minerva Network (supporting Australia’s elite sportswomen).

Ms Madew has previously been a Federal Government appointee on the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group and G20 EMPOWER – Empowerment and Progression of Women's Economic Representation, Member of the Urban Policy Consultation Network, Member of the National Women in Transport CEO Advisory Group and Director of Sydney Olympic Park.

Ms Madew is an active surf life saver. She was previously President of Bilgola Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), is a Patrol Captain at Bilgola SLSC and a Duty Officer for Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches Branch.

Susan Close is the Deputy Premier of South Australia and the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water; Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science; and Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy. 

Susan has been the Member for Port Adelaide since 2012. 

Before entering parliament, Susan was an executive in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and played a key role in the establishment of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary as a community advocate. She previously worked at the University of Adelaide managing student services and holds a PhD from Flinders University.

Prof Mark Howden is Director of the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, a Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Chair of the ACT Climate Change Council and contributes to several other major national and international science and policy advisory bodies. 

Mark has worked on climate variability, climate change, innovation and adoption issues for more than 30 years in partnership with many industry, community and policy groups via both research and science-policy roles and is a high profile public communicator. He helped develop the national and international greenhouse gas inventories that are a fundamental part of the Paris Agreement and pioneered sustainable ways to reduce emissions. 

He has been a major contributor to the IPCC since 1991, with a record number of roles across all four dimensions of the IPCC: climate science, impacts and adaptation, mitigation and GHG inventories, sharing the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with other IPCC contributors and Al Gore. 

Professor Cheryl Desha is the Science and Innovation Director at Natural Hazards Research Australia. Cheryl has a long history and interest in sustainable development, disaster resilience and decision support. Previously leading the resilient infrastructure and communities research group within the Cities Research Institute, she founded Griffith University's Disaster Management Network and established a Disaster Resilience Management Facility to support the government's state disaster centre.

Cheryl also co-founded the Queensland Disaster Research Alliance of seven universities to improve the extent and calibre of multi-university disaster research. Cheryl is passionate about being 'ahead of ready'– empowering resilient and regenerative communities through evidence-based, locally-relevant action.

 

Dr Kala Senathirajah, the 2023 WA Professional Engineer of the Year, is an enthusiastic water industry engineer with more than 20 years’ experience throughout the water supply cycle. Notably, she focuses on enhancing water security and quality through sustainable, place-based solutions. She has extensive experience locally and internationally, having worked with private sector, governments, NGOS and academia. Her PhD research centred on strategies to reduce and remove microplastics from water supplies. Committed to addressing the global plastic pollution crisis, Kala has made contributions to advancing understanding of plastic pollution and inspiring action. 

Kala is an active, long-term volunteer with Engineers Australia, and the Australian Water Association, sharing her expertise and passion for water management and environmental sustainability. Her commitment to professional development and knowledge exchange underscores her dedication to advancing the field and ensuring sustainable outcomes for all. Kala strongly believes in the pivotal role we can play in advocating for community well-being and the environment.

Geoff Hurst is an experienced and strategic thinking mechanical engineer providing advice and expertise working with a range of senior executives both internal and external to an organisation. He has worked in large organisations including semi government, construction, heavy industrial, education and other service environments.

Through the collection and review of data and information, he designs and facilitates the development and implementation of risk engineering solutions OS Systems workshops that are needs specific and shape best practice in the relevant sector.

With honed leadership and communication skills he fosters collaborative working relationships at all levels and as a respected team leader and network partner, Geoff is regularly invited to participate in working parties and as a conference presenter. 

Jack is a sustainable systems engineer within Aurecon’s Climate Change Risk and Resilience team, working closely with clients to help them address the impacts of climate change on their assets and infrastructure. His experience covers multiple markets, including transport, energy, health, agriculture, Defence, telecommunications, water and aviation. 

He has a passion for designing solutions that help organisations and communities become more resilient to disruptions faced due to a changing climate. Notably, he worked, as part of the Aurecon team, with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to develop the world-first Principles for Resilient Infrastructure Scorecard, a framework for assessing preparedness for disruptions known and unforeseen.

Tim is a sustainability professional with a proven innovation track record and a value-driven commitment to an ecologically sustainable future. His professional experience in climate adaptation and resilience overarches many of the major infrastructure and property projects across Australia and New Zealand. 

Tim's focus on improved sustainability decision-making is complemented by his strong technical background and broad experience across resource management, property development and agricultural sectors. He aims to utilise creative approaches to develop the best sustainability outcomes through productive collaboration with our clients and innovative digital solutions.

Ali is a construction project planner with more than 19 years of experience planning projects in Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe in a variety of industries, including energy transmission and generation, rail, water, resource, defence and major engineering and infrastructure projects as well as ICT projects and commercial and residential developments. These days Ali brings his experience in managing project and commercial risks and resolving disputes with respect to time and cost and helps his clients deliver complex major infrastructure projects. 

In the power industry, Ali has been engaged in various capacities to advise on time, cost and risk components of 40-plus transmission and renewable generation and storage assets. In the past five years, Ali has led provision of strategic advice to complex matters pertaining a number of major transmission projects such as Project EnergyConnect, CopperString, Marinus Link and Humelink and also provided advice on the development and the delivery of a number of renewable generation and storage assets. He has significant experience in programming, planning and scheduling, project control, earned value, forensic planning, extension of time claims and disruption claims.

Adi is an Chartered risk professional with more than 15 years' international experience in a broad range of industries, supporting a bespoke underwriting team assessing complex risks. He is informed by a strong background in engineering for international projects throughout the construction lifecycle and experienced in the full range of natural hazards and man-made exposures cognisant of industry specific risks, property risk engineering and underwriting considerations. 

Adi is curious by nature and an innovative mindset, passionate about people, the energy transition and identifying emerging risks with a sustainability lens.

Associate Professor Geoff Boughton works as a structural research engineer with the Cyclone Testing Station at James Cook University and has been involved in teams that have investigated damage following extreme wind events. He has worked on many projects in Australia and the Pacific to evaluate and improve resilience in buildings. He is a member of several Australian Standards Committees including the committees for the wind loadings standards, AS/NZS 1170.2 and AS 4055.

Geoff has a PhD in Structural Engineering, is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia and a member of the Australasian Wind Engineering Society.

James's aim is to contribute to a well-rounded vision for a more sustainable, desirable and equitable world. To this end, his research involves the study of big-picture sustainability problems such as the limits to the planet’s energy supplies, climate change and economic growth. He also examines the technical and socioeconomic aspects of solutions to some of these problems, from the global scale (e.g. assessing the world's renewable energy potential and ecological footprint) down to the local scale (e.g. growing food in urban gardens). 

James has a mixed background in civil engineering and environmental science and puts himself under the broad heading of 'environmental engineering'. At UniSA, he coordinates courses relating to water, environmental modelling and climate change adaptation and gives guest lectures and public talks relating to various aspects of sustainability.

James is a founding member of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WE-All). 

As an electrical engineer working in the renewable energy industry, Echo is passionate about developing energy transition solutions that support sustainable outcomes for communities. This extends to playing an active role in volunteering to explore the challenges that communities face as they adapt to a changing climate. 

Her experience spans across solar, battery energy storage, defence and water industries. This includes solar and BESS balance of plant design, BESS due diligence, solar and BESS owners engineer support, low voltage electrical design and power system study.

Nicholas is experienced across a broad field including civil, geotechnical and structural detailed design, design integration and management, forensic structural assessment and structural repair including expert witness advice. Nick has developed niche experience contributing and advising on foundational design management and delivery of natural disaster recovery programs spanning multiple natural disaster events in the last decade in Queensland.

Nick is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) in Civil and Structural, a Road Safety Auditor and holds Traffic Management and Design (TMD) qualification. 

Christophe, Chair of Engineers Australia's Western Sydney Regional Group, is a civil engineer specialising in steel, fibre-reinforced concrete and railway engineering. Graduating with first-class honours and recipient of the University Medal in recognition of academic excellence, he completed his Bachelor of Engineering in 2018. He later pursued a PhD into the feasibility of using macro synthetic fibre reinforced concrete for railway sleeper applications, showcasing his commitment to sustainable engineering solutions. 

As an academic at Western Sydney University, Christophe actively collaborates with industry partners, applying his knowledge to develop innovative materials for advanced structural applications. With a passion for excellence and sustainability, he continues to make impactful contributions to the field of civil engineering and the construction industry.

Saad Haque is a sustainability leader with extensive experience embedding sustainability in infrastructure and city development in Australia and the Middle East. As the National Lead for Environment and Sustainability at Tonkin, an infrastructure design company in Australia, he has spearheaded a refreshed sustainability practice, leading the firm’s vision for climate action and emissions reduction.

 In addition to his corporate leadership, Saad is an ICF-certified coach, helping professionals and sustainability leaders unlock their potential. He provides career and leadership coaching, enabling individuals to navigate the complexities of sustainability-driven industries with confidence and clarity. Saad actively partners with universities, mentoring the next generation of sustainability professionals.

Dr Balston has been an applied climate and environmental scientist for the past 25 years during which time she has researched the impacts of climate variability, climate change and environmental degradation on agriculture, natural resources, ecosystems, emergency management and the built environment across Australia. She currently works as Director of Sustainability for the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), as a member of the South Australian Government Climate Science Advisory Committee and as a private consultant to local, state and federal governments and other organisations nationally.

Deepti Wagle is a civil and structural engineer with experience in the design and analysis of structures (residential, commercial, public). She is highly skilled in forensic investigation of distressed buildings and other structures. Deepti has also designed dams and hydropower structures and has a sound knowledge of seismic design of structures.

In recent years, she gained expertise in the design review analysis and load rating of bridges and culverts for railways. Deepti has prepared technical documents, specifications, work instructions, procedures and standards for various transport infrastructure.

Yingying is a civil engineer, currently working as an Infrastructure Officer at Infrastructure Canberra. Yingying completed a PhD at UNSW, which included research topics covering green cement, ECC, geotechnical engineering and mechanical engineering.

Yingying is an active member and coordinator of Engineers Australia's Canberra Division’s Women in Engineering Committee.

Dr Yuekai Xie's research interest includes geoenvironmental behaviour of municipal solid wastes, sustainable cementitious and geopolymer materials and geoenvironmental impacts of microplastic contamination on natural soils.

He obtained his PhD in civil (geotechnical) engineering in 2022. 

Sasika Perera specialises in the design and construction of high-rise buildings, offshore structures and various infrastructure assets, both in Australia and overseas. Her primary focus is integrating sustainable design practices into engineering solutions. 

She has contributed to numerous projects, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions through design efficiency, supply chain innovation and industry research. One of the key research initiatives driven by Sasika is repurposing excavated spoil as calcined clay for use as a cement and fine aggregate replacement in concrete.

Brecht has more than 10 years' experience in the energy sector and has held various roles across different disciplines. Since 2019 he has worked as site manager for Keppel Seghers at Australia's first energy from waste project, in Western Australia.

Brecht holds a masters degree in chemical engineering from the University of Antwerp.

Tai is a design engineer and the Head of Sustainability at GHD, for the Asia Pacific region. He has designed buildings and precincts that have been awarded for their sustainability outcomes, globally. 

Tai is currently working with some of the world’s largest brands, to help them meet their net zero, climate positive and sustainability targets. He works across a broad range of physical assets and operations, is an expert in building physics, sustainability assessment systems and the application of emerging technology in the built form. 

For nearly 25 years, Tai has collaborated with notable architects to integrate science-based approaches, into the design of built environments.

SmartCrete CRC’s mission is to deliver the long-term viability of vital concrete infrastructure in Australia. As Chief Executive Officer, Clare has set up the CRC as an industry innovation collaborator that invests in sustainable concrete R&D to help align and transform Australia’s concrete ecosystem to meet its net zero obligation. Clare has extensive CRC expertise, having worked as Industry and research participant, CRC manager and government program manager. She is an agile practitioner, passionate about unlocking the collaborative potential by bringing together world leading research and industry specialists to solve real-world problems. 

Before joining SmartCrete in 2022, Clare worked as Chief Operating Officer with the Food Agility CRC where she demonstrated her strong networking and people management skills. She was instrumental in securing government and industry investment to run research projects to improve the sustainability, productivity and profitability of Australia’s food supply chain.

Evan Smith brings more than 21 years of environmental and sustainability experience across the rail, road, infrastructure, construction and resources sectors. He is actively involved as the chair of the Material Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance working group for concrete and cement, where he leads efforts to address embodied carbon in construction materials and drive industry-wide sustainability initiatives. Evan played a pivotal role in several ground breaking initiatives, including the delivery of Australia’s first Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for ready-mix concrete, the first Process EPD Certification, and the first Climate Active certification for ready-mix concrete. 

He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering and is recognised as a Chartered Engineer, Green Star Accredited Professional and Infrastructure Sustainability Accredited Professional.

Heidi Lee has been CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) since 2020. With two decades of experience in sustainable design and architecture, Heidi brings a wealth of expertise in environmental advocacy and leadership to her role. Under her stewardship, BZE has spearheaded numerous groundbreaking initiatives, including comprehensive plans for renewable energy transitions and decarbonising industries. BZE was recognised as one of the three most impactful Australian organisations by Giving Green in 2021 and 2024.  

Heidi's work focuses on practical, scalable strategies that empower communities and businesses to achieve ambitious climate goals, driving Australia towards a prosperous, zero-emissions future. She has been listed by The Australian as one of Australia’s ‘Top Green Power Players’ in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and is a regular keynote speaker and contributor to leading green industry events. Heidi holds a Masters of Science (Architecture) from Deakin University.  

Cathy is a sustainability leader with extensive experience in driving infrastructure sustainability across multiple sectors through policy and projects. She is passionate about planning, design and delivery of projects that not only reduce impacts but also provide better outcomes for our environment and communities. 

Cathy leads the implementation of Mott MacDonald’s Carbon Reduction Plan for Australia, key to achieving our SBTi commitment to net zero. 

A materials engineering specialist, Rob has more than 25 years’ global infrastructure project delivery experience gained across Australasia, the Middle East and UK. Rob leads WSP’s Materials Performance capability nationally. 

He has extensive experience in durability planning, architectural and structural detailing, concrete technology, materials selection and condition assessment of timber, reinforced concrete and steel structures. He also has extensive experience in the delivery of techno-economic assessments for decision support including assessment of the carbon emission impacts of materials selections, and emissions avoidance through asset life extension, refurbishment and recycling.

Ross Brookshaw is the Sustainability Manager within M80 Ring Road Completion (M80RRC), a consortium of ACCIONA, MACA and AECOM. As a direct employee of ACCIONA, Ross has the objective of implementing ACCIONA’s global strategy, SMP 2025, within the context of the project and the project KPI being a 38 per cent reduction in construction phase greenhouse gas emissions. 

Ross has been driving change within the construction industry for over 20 years towards a low carbon future, with experience spanning rail, road, transmission and renewable sectors.

Evelyn Storey is Director of Eminence and Sustainability at Aurecon, responsible for technical excellence and embedding sustainability across all capabilities and projects at Aurecon, bringing appropriate thinking, solutions and technology to respond to the challenges of sustainable development and climate response. 

Graduating from Imperial College in London in 1986, Evelyn has more than 35 years’ experience as a structural engineer, design director and engineering leader and has successfully delivered a portfolio of complex and award-winning buildings and transport infrastructure in both Australia and the UK. Evelyn has also held numerous leadership roles at Aurecon and was most recently the Managing Director for Queensland. 

She is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors. Evelyn is a Director and Board Member of Aurecon Ltd and co-chair of the Structural College Board of Engineers Australia.

Ken has advised both the public and private clients on sustainability across a number of sectors including transport infrastructure, property, water, education and resources. He is an Infrastructure Sustainability Accredited Professional as well as a Verifier and Trainer for the Infrastructure Sustainability Council. He has provided sustainability advice for many of the infrastructure mega projects in Australia including road, rail, light rail, road and social infrastructure. He advises major corporations, projects and government on the development of organisational sustainability strategy to manage environmental and social impacts. 

Ken has almost 20 years of sustainability experience advising the private and public sector. His career started with Hyder Consulting focusing on carbon management and climate change adaptation strategy. In 2013, Ken joined a small consultancy specialising in sustainability strategy, life cycle thinking and value creation across the built environment, manufacturing, food and FMCG sectors. As part of the leadership team, the business grew to one of Australia’s largest dedicated sustainability consultancies. 

At Arcadis, his focus is moving from the “what” to the “how” for a sustainable future. He is devoted to weaving sustainability into design and engineering processes. Ken’s motivation is to work alongside engineers and designers to realise positive sustainability impact through clear visualisation and storytelling.

Damian is a consulting engineer managing a multidisciplinary engineering team with extensive experience in the gold, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, nickel, lithium, vanadium and iron ore industries with particular emphasis on gold. He has expereince in plant operations feasibility studies, detailed design, construction and commissioning, and all unit operations. 

Damian is an internationally recognised specialist in mineral processing and hydrometallurgy having worked in North and South America, South East Asia, Africa and Europe and is highly sought after as an international expert. He has spent the last 30-plus years working as a principal consulting engineer on many resource projects and for mining, banking and engineering companies has provided a broad range of experience. 

Damian is a Registered Expert Witness and has been engaged on many cases. He is the author of more than 220 technical papers on mineral processing, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy.

Prof Raymond Johnson Jr. is currently General Manager of Technical Services at Novus Fuels, Professor of Well Engineering and Production Technology in the University of Queensland, Centre for Gas and Energy Transformation and Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Queensland. He has 44 years' experience, a PhD in mining engineering, a MSc in petroleum engineering, a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology and a BA in Chemistry. 

Ray is a Life Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), past Queensland SPE Section chair, twice co-Chair of the SPE Unconventional Reservoir Conference Asia Pacific, 2019 co-Chair and 2021 Advisor of the URTeC Asia Pacific Conference, three SPE Regional Technical Award Recipient (Production Operations, Management and Information, and Completion Optimisation) and 2023 SPE Regional Service Award Recipient. 

Ray has served in a number of numerous technical and management positions in service, operating and consulting companies in the US and Australia. Ray is a Fellow of Engineers Australia.

Jodie is Aurecon’s Design Director Circular Economy. She is a globally recognised sustainability leader with more than two decades of professional experience working with industry, research and policymakers in Australia, Dubai and France. Jodie has trained hundreds of professionals and worked with governments and businesses to develop circular economy projects and strategies. Working in partnership with Aurecon’s engineering and advisory experts, she specialises in helping clients find pragmatic ways to thrive in a resource and carbon-constrained world. 

She is a board member of Circular Australia, and member of Industry Innovation and Science Australia’s Cooperative Research Centres Advisory Committee. 

Professor Ali Abbas is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and the Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney. He is also the Founding Director of the Waste Transformation Research Hub within the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Professor Abbas has over 20 years of experience in the field of Process Systems Engineering (PSE), with applications spanning clean energy and biological systems. He has published more than 170 papers in international scientific and engineering journals. In recent years, he has focused on circular economy transitions, identifying ways to translate circular economy principles into practice through a PSE approach.

He collaborates closely with industry and government partners on challenges related to low-emissions technologies, eco-industrial parks, waste management and clean energy. Renowned for his visionary leadership, Professor Abbas also plays an active role in innovation governance, engaging with government, industry and think tanks to shape transformative outcomes in policy, technology and collaboration across the innovation ecosystem. He is actively involved in the commercialisation of research, developing breakthrough deep technologies across multiple industry sectors as a company founder and director.

In 2022, Professor Abbas was appointed as Australia’s first ‘Chief Circular Engineer’ by Circular Australia. He is the Founding Chair of the ‘Australian Circular Economy Conference’ (ACEC) and was a finalist in the 2023 Eureka Prize for Innovative Research in Sustainability.

Associate Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox is a Principal Research Fellow in Applied Geochemistry at the W.H. Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre within the Sustainable Minerals Institute and the founding leader of the Mine Waste Transformation through Characterisation (MIWATCH) group. Anita's research is focused on mine waste characterisation to improve mine planning and waste management practices where she has worked with mining industry, METS sector and government stakeholders. 

Most recently, Anita is leading government and industry funded projects characterising a range of mine waste materials across Australia to evaluate their economic potential with a focus on critical metal recovery. 

Anita is an Australian ‘Superstar of STEM’ and a twice winner of the IOM3 Materials World Medal.  

Mark Rawson is a leading specialist in waste, recycling and resource management, with over 20 years of experience in the field. With a background in Chemical Engineering, he has worked extensively with industry and government to improve resource efficiency and drive sustainable outcomes.

Before founding Rawtec in 2007, Mark was the Regional Manager for Cleanaway (SA/NT), where he gained hands-on experience in large-scale waste and recycling operations. His passion lies in helping businesses and governments optimise material resources and accelerate the transition to a Circular Economy, creating smarter, more sustainable systems for the future. 

Jeff brings over 25 years of experience in innovating and leveraging emerging technologies within the engineering and infrastructure sectors. He has held key roles at some of Australia's largest companies, including leading innovation and operational technology at Downer EDI and Transurban. Before joining Hexagon, Jeff was an Associate Partner at EY, where he led their Digital Twin practice.

Jeff's expertise spans multiple industries, including construction, telecommunications, transportation, utilities, mining, and health. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. Jeff is passionate about driving efficiencies through the digitisation of infrastructure.

Simon Kuestenmacher is a Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group. He presents on demographic and global trends that are shaping Australia today and into the future and his observations are enjoyed by corporate, government and industry audiences alike. 

Simon is a columnist for The New Daily newspaper and a regular contributor to The Australian newspaper; and he is a media commentator on demographic and data matters. 

In his spare time Simon has authored three books on maps and runs what is by now the world’s largest X (formerly Twitter) account dedicated to maps and data. His social media posts reach more than 35 million people every month. Simon ranks as one of the world’s top 10 influencers in data. 

Bernadette Foley was appointed Acting Chief Engineer in March 2024. Bernadette first joined Engineers Australia in 2019 as the Head of Accreditation. She has been General Manager of Professional Standards since 2021.

Bernadette is a civil engineer with more than 30 years of experience across industry and education in Australia and the UK. Her technical expertise is in urban concept planning, water resource management and sustainability. Prior to joining Engineers Australia, Bernadette was the Associate Dean (Curriculum and Accreditation) in the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Adelaide.

Bernadette has a background in engineering education, including curriculum reform, improving educational outcomes and graduate employability, improving professional standards and strengthening connections between academia and industry. She was an International Engineering Alliance working group member for the 2021 review of the international Graduate Attributes and Professional Competencies for the engineering profession.

Bernadette holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with First Class Honours and a Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education) from the University of Adelaide. 

Elisha is a PhD-qualified structural engineer with over 25 years of experience encompassing structural design, assessment and reporting, design management, project management, construction phase services, research and teaching.  Her technical abilities are complemented by her legal qualifications which aid in her ability to identify, simplify, address and resolve core issues.

Ten years ago, she founded Harris Kmon Solutions which she continues to run with her business partners.  With 50 team members, the company provides services in structural, electrical, mechanical and hydraulic engineering, project management and Defence HOTO services, with offices in Darwin, Townsville, Cairns, Geelong and Ballarat.

In addition to this work, Elisha is the current Chair of the NT Building Appeals Board and the NT Building Advisory Committee and a member of the NT Building Practitioners Board.

Erin is a business leader whose mission is to contribute to resolving the world’s most pressing natural resource management issues. With 18 years’ experience in management consulting and research, she has worked across multiple sectors advising clients on climate change adaptation, corporate water risk, water markets and water policy.

In her role at Jacobs, Erin supports clients with climate response planning through understanding climate change risks and opportunities, developing adaptation plans and advising on climate-related financial disclosure requirements. To do this, she uses the best available data and information to define strategies that focus on what really matters. 

Working as a Fire Safety Engineer at Lucid, Julian designs sophisticated and sustainable solutions that benefit community safety and future generations. 

As the Vice Chair of Young Engineers Australia SA, Julian strives to foster an inclusive community in South Australia and create opportunities for others to grow. Julian serves on the Young Engineers Shadow Board to amplify the voices of young engineers in national engineering forums, and supports fellow migrant engineers through mentorship and sharing his success stories. 

Recognised as a motivational public speaker, his captivating speeches at major industry events often inspire others to make positive impacts in the industry. In 2025, Julian was named the City of Adelaide – Young Citizen of the Year.

Heidi Lee has been CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) since 2020. With two decades of experience in sustainable design and architecture, Heidi brings a wealth of expertise in environmental advocacy and leadership to her role. Under her stewardship, BZE has spearheaded numerous groundbreaking initiatives, including comprehensive plans for renewable energy transitions and decarbonising industries. BZE was recognised as one of the three most impactful Australian organisations by Giving Green in 2021 and 2024.  

Heidi's work focuses on practical, scalable strategies that empower communities and businesses to achieve ambitious climate goals, driving Australia towards a prosperous, zero-emissions future. She has been listed by The Australian as one of Australia’s ‘Top Green Power Players’ in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and is a regular keynote speaker and contributor to leading green industry events. Heidi holds a Masters of Science (Architecture) from Deakin University.  

Rainer Korte is an experienced senior leader in the electricity industry. His career includes extensive executive responsibility for the planning and development of the South Australian electricity transmission network, including integration of world-leading levels of variable renewable energy.

He has led key energy transformation initiatives in South Australia and significant business changes, including strengthening customer and stakeholder engagement and implementing best-practice asset management. Throughout his career, Rainer has been at the forefront of addressing challenges related to the transition to a low-carbon energy future, balancing the needs for system security, reliability and affordability.

His extensive leadership experience within the market and regulatory frameworks of the National Electricity Market has developed his deep knowledge of the industry's complexities and challenges.

Rainer’s power systems engineering experience and understanding of the energy sector's intricate regulatory landscape are invaluable in his role as an AEMC Commissioner.

A DER Specialist and a Director at The Superpower Institute, Dr Gabrielle Kuiper is an energy, sustainability and climate change professional with over twenty years’ experience in the corporate world, government and non-government organisations and academia. She was previously the DER Strategy Specialist with the Energy Security Board. Prior to that, Dr Kuiper held senior executive or senior advisory energy-related positions in the Office of the Australian Prime Minister, at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and in the NSW Government.

Dr Kuiper currently works internationally and in Australia on policy and regulation to support consumer and distributed energy resources (DER) - rooftop solar, electric vehicles, smart appliances, etc. She is a Guest Contributor with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) Australia and works with Integrate to Zero (I2Z).   

Dr Ian Oppermann is co-founder of ServiceGen, an Industry Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and member of the board for multiple deep technology start-ups. Ian is also the Chair of the Commonwealth’s Data Standards Committee and an Advisor to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

From 2015 to 2023, Ian was the NSW Government’s inaugural Chief Data Scientist (CDS) and was the founding CEO of the NSW Data Analytics Centre (DAC).   

Satya Tanner is the CEO of LAUTEC Australia, a Danish renewables consultancy. She has a background of 16 years in the Royal Australian Air Force as a pilot and aeronautical engineer. Satya spent 10 years overseas in a variety of project management and senior management positions including three years in the aerospace industry in the US and seven years in the offshore wind and oil and gas industries in Denmark.

Satya has a keen interest in strengthening local economies through a focus on national resilience and energy system shifts. She is trained in futures thinking tools, with a particular focus on volatile uncertain contexts and supports organisations with executive leadership coaching.

Satya has a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering and a Master of Leadership. She is a Chartered Professional Engineer, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow of the Institute for Integrated Economic Research and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). 

Dr Lisa Ehrenfried leads the development and drives the implementation of Yarra Valley Water’s climate resilience plan and circular economy strategy. She has 15 years of experience in the water sector across strategic planning, innovation, and engineering roles both at Yarra Valley Water, the Victorian Government and the Water Services Association. 

Lisa has a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich and a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Cambridge.

Robran Cock is a chemical and environmental engineer with more than two decades of experience in all aspects of water and wastewater engineering. His career has seen him work across a wide range of technologies on water and wastewater treatment plants; desalination plants; network operations and irrigation schemes. He has unique experience having worked in senior roles through the project life cycles including in development phases, design, construction and commissioning into operations. 

He is currently an Associate Director with Ricardo in Adelaide as well as a part time teacher at the University of Adelaide in the School of Chemical Engineering. 

In 2024 Robran was awarded the Professional Engineer of the Year award for South Australia by Engineers Australia.

Dr Mohammad Amin Shoushtari is a Fellow of Engineers Australia with more than 25 years of industrial experience across the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia. He has worked with international organisations, national and local governments, NGOs and the private sector, bringing a unique multicultural and hands-on approach. His expertise includes engineering analysis, energy industry advisory, operator performance assessment, petroleum approval processes and environmental impact assessments, with contributions to green hydrogen production and storage. 

Dr Shoushtari holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering, a MSc in Chemical Engineering and a BSc in Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer.

Asemeh Pousti is a PhD researcher specialising in the optimisation of freshwater supply chains for green hydrogen production in Australia. With a strong background in project development and supply chain management, her research integrates engineering, business and policy perspectives to enhance sustainability and efficiency in hydrogen production. Her work focuses on developing resource allocation models to optimise water supply for hydrogen production, ensuring sustainable use while addressing cost and logistical challenges. By leveraging advanced modelling techniques, she aims to create strategic frameworks that balance water availability, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability in the hydrogen sector. 

Beyond her research, she has around 20 years of experience in higher education management across different countries. She serves as an external reviewer for academic accreditation bodies, contributing her expertise in research development, quality assurance and higher education governance. Additionally, she has been involved in institutional audits, advising on program quality and strategic development.

Asemeh holds degrees in computer engineering and business management, equipping her with analytical and problem-solving skills to tackle complex supply chain challenges.

Faisal currently works as a Program Director for Master of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure and Water Resources Management) program at UniSA. His current research focuses on infrastructure compliant stormwater management strategies for developed and developing countries. 

Faisal completed BSc Civil Engineering and Master of Engineering Management degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2002 and 2009 respectively. He obtained Australian Commonwealth Scholarship (Endeavour Award) to perform PhD research on water engineering at UniSA in 2010 and his PhD was conferred in 2014. 

Faisal is a member of Engineers Australia, editorial board member of Water Conservation Science and Engineering Journal, associate editor of Frontiers in Sustainable Cities Journal and guest editor for Sustainability Journal.

Jeremy has been at the ANU in roles across research, education and commercialisation since 1998. This has included industry-focused research and collaborations across the automotive and aerospace sectors in Australia, Europe and the US. 

In 2009-2010, Jeremy worked part-time for Engineers Without Borders Australia to support the development of their research program and university engagement. Since then he has been involved in the growth of humanitarian engineering in Australia, leading the development of new initiatives, collaborations and education programs at the ANU and nationally. This has included engagement across the community development sectors in countries including Australia, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia and Timor-Leste. 

Jeremy been responsible for delivering, coordinating and developing courses in engineering at both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework level since 2007 across humanitarian and systems engineering.

Bernadette May is a leading road ecology practitioner with more than 10 years experience in transport planning and road safety. She is currently engaged by the City of Moreton Bay (South East Queensland) and coordinates the city's Green Infrastructure and Active Transport Programs.

Jessica Holz is Aurecon’s subject matter expert for integrating sustainability into design work across its technical capabilities. She is a mechanical engineer and holds a Master of Environmental Management majoring in Conservation and Natural Resource Management. 

Jessica’s project experience includes designing high efficiency air conditioning and ventilation systems, optimisation of controls and independent commissioning for multidisciplinary building services. She has expertise in passive design, building performance, energy auditing, energy demand reduction strategies, organisational sustainability strategy and third-party voluntary sustainability ratings. She is experienced in understanding the projected effects of climate change on an asset, site or region and working with design teams to adapt their designs to be resilient in a changing climate. Jessica is especially interested in nature and biodiversity conservation and enhancement in urban landscapes and through project lifecycle, She is working on Aurecon’s approach to nature positive design solutions. 

Jessica has published papers on topics including nature valuation, life cycle assessment, sustainability opportunities from autonomous vehicles, green buildings, nature opportunities in urban landscapes, and building design adaptation under climate change. She has held roles for professional bodies including Engineers Australia, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, and the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating.

Tim is an environment and sustainability specialist with 30 years' experience in construction, mining, government and professional consulting. He recognises the value of a responsible organisation in a changing world and understands that business and the environment must function together for the whole system to work. 

Tim's environmental philosophy was established through a strong connection with nature, developed as child in the Australian landscape while birdwatching with his dad. His curiosity resulted in first of type research into the micro temperatures and humidity of seaweed on sandy beaches, its role in the body temperature regulation of migratory shorebirds and application for conservation management
 

Alan Thomas is a power generation practice leader at Aurecon, with an electrical technical background in power generation, transmission and distribution. He is an expert in the engineering and delivery of major Australian EPC power projects specialising in electrical, control and commissioning. He has recently completed a long-term engagement leading the Aurecon owners engineering team for the design, construction, commissioning and management of the Barker Inlet 210MW dual-fuel reciprocating engine Power Station. This role also included 275kV substation works and liaising with AEMO and ElectraNet. 

Alan has recently commenced a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project supporting Wärtsilä in delivering the Torrens Island Battery Energy Storage System for AGL. He has overseen projects for other similar organisations including generators and developers across Australia’s National Electricity Market as well as Western Australia.

Stephen Cook is a Systems Engineering Advisor with Shoal Group and the Professor of Defence Systems at the University of Adelaide, where he researches and teaches system engineering and complex project management. Until June 2014 he was the Professor of Systems Engineering at the University of South Australia where he led numerous research concentrations for over 15 years. Preceding this he accumulated 20 years of industrial R&D and SE experience spanning aerospace and defence communications systems. 

Professor Cook is an INCOSE Fellow, a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Member of the Omega Alpha Association.

Matthew Wylie is an INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) with experience in the conceptual design and development of complex systems within the defence, automotive and electronics domains. Matthew has demonstrated experience in leading systems engineering teams and managing systems engineering activities in all phases of the system lifecycle. 

As a Principal Systems Engineer at Shoal, Matthew has led complex defence capability design projects and supported organisations in the development of their systems engineering capabilities. 

Matthew Wylie is an INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) with experience in the conceptual design and development of complex systems within the defence, automotive and electronics domains. Matthew has demonstrated experience in leading systems engineering teams and managing systems engineering activities in all phases of the system lifecycle. 

As a Principal Systems Engineer at Shoal, Matthew has led complex defence capability design projects and supported organisations in the development of their systems engineering capabilities. 

With more than 15 years of experience in process simulation and techno-economic analysis, Dr Hosseini specialises in sustainable bio-energy technologies through thermochemical conversion methods. Previously she worked as a Future Fuels CRC fellow and lecturer at the University of Adelaide (2019–2022). She was also a research fellow at Monash University (2016–2019). 

Dr Hosseini has a background in mineral processing through hydro and pyrometallurgical techniques. As a process engineer in the oil, gas and mineral industries in Australia and overseas, she developed expertise in the design and development of chemical and mineral processes, process simulation and techno-economic analysis.

Asemeh Pousti is a PhD researcher specialising in the optimisation of freshwater supply chains for green hydrogen production in Australia. With a strong background in project development and supply chain management, her research integrates engineering, business and policy perspectives to enhance sustainability and efficiency in hydrogen production. Her work focuses on developing resource allocation models to optimise water supply for hydrogen production, ensuring sustainable use while addressing cost and logistical challenges. By leveraging advanced modelling techniques, she aims to create strategic frameworks that balance water availability, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability in the hydrogen sector. 

Beyond her research, she has around 20 years of experience in higher education management across different countries. She serves as an external reviewer for academic accreditation bodies, contributing her expertise in research development, quality assurance and higher education governance. Additionally, she has been involved in institutional audits, advising on program quality and strategic development.

Asemeh holds degrees in computer engineering and business management, equipping her with analytical and problem-solving skills to tackle complex supply chain challenges.

Sean is a senior director with more than 30 years of experience in major project and program management positions spanning the government, industrial, utilities, construction, aerospace and defence sectors. He has delivered multiple programs up to $21 billion in value and managed significant industrial and manufacturing facilities, delivering projects ranging from major construction to industrial automation and security. 

As an accredited Senior Lead Auditor, he also leads management system certification audits across Australia in quality, safety, environmental management, information security, asset management and aerospace, space and defence systems certification.

Graham has global experience in energy (renewables, thermal, storage, hydrogen), resources and manufacturing from concept through to commissioning, and operations. He has a keen focus on innovation and has three commercialised patents.

Graham has had extensive involvement with Engineers Australia including as SA President, National Chair of the Sustainable Engineering Society and member of the Energy Advisory Panel. He was also a key author of Engineers Australia's climate and sustainability policies and also Implementing Sustainability Principles and Practice (ISP&P) guidelines. He has published and presented on issues of sustainability, energy, technology and economics over many years.

Adrian Piani is an executive leader who has spent more than 25 years working across the infrastructure, water, environment and sustainability sectors in both policy and delivery roles. As the ACT Chief Engineer, Adrian was responsible for delivering around $500 million worth of capital works per year. He also delivered whole of government policy initiatives for the ACT Government, including a workforce plan for engineers to lift capability and capacity. He also led the creation and delivery of the concessional loan program to rectify flammable cladding and the ACT Government's first electrification projects to support its transition to net zero. 

Adrian is currently the Regional Market Leader for GHD in the ACT, which includes a national role to manage the federal government account. Adrian has presented at international, national and local conferences, recently travelling to Prague to present to the World Engineering Convention. Adrian is also a representative on the World Federation of Engineering Organisations Energy Committee.
 

Kipp Richter has been in the construction industry for more than 20 years – a passion that’s grown strong since his early years helping out his Dad as a labourer – sweeping and wheel barrowing concrete around numerous construction sites. Since joining ITW in 2016, Kipp has played an integral role in developing the industry’s best-in-class technical and compliance data for the range of Danley engineered slab-on-ground joint management systems. 

He currently leads a high-performance team as the Reid Construction Systems' R&D Manager, while maintaining a passion for sharing best-practice design and construction methodology from industrial floors through to light-duty pavements with specifying engineers across Australia and New Zealand.

Jorge has significant experience in the execution and management of international railway projects with a focus on sustainable mobility and energy decarbonisation. His experience covers the feasibility study and business case for net zero emissions rail commuter services in South Australia. Previous project experience includes 4.5 years managing several aspects of the Regional Rail Project ($2.8 billion), which will deliver a new bi-mode regional fleet to Transport for NSW. Championing innovation, energy decarbonisation and sustainable mobility.

Jorge is a Chartered Engineer with an Executive MBA from the AGSM and Kellogg School of Management in Chicago and a Diploma in Project Management. He sits of the board of the South Australian Hydrogen Cluster.

Tilo Franz was the Executive Regional Director of DB Engineering and Consulting in Australia and New Zealand before he joined the Ricardo team in Melbourne as the Signalling and Infrastructure Lead in July 2024.

From November 2017 until November 2020 Tilo was the General Manager of the Canberra Metro Light Rail Operations and Maintenance, the operator running the Canberra Metro Light Rail Stage 1 project in the ACT. Under his leadership, the first light rail system in the ACT was launched successfully in 2019 and has been running since then at a 99.99 per cent overall reliability level.

Tilo holds a Master of Science Degree for Mechanical Engineering of design, operation and maintenance of rail vehicles from the University of Transport “Friedrich List” in Dresden, Germany where he graduated in 1991. He is also a Chartered Member of Engineers Australia. 

Jim Salter-Duke is the CEO of SparkHorizon, a venture that develops skilled engineering and technical talent in the Philippines to support Australia’s clean energy transition. He previously held senior roles at EnergyAustralia, Telstra and British Telecom. He holds a Master’s in Energy Systems from the Melbourne School of Engineering. This multidisciplinary program covers electrical and power system engineering, energy markets and renewable energy. 

Professionally, he’s deeply committed to people development, especially for groups that are historically underrepresented in STEM careers. He lives with his wife and their one-year-old son, and they divide their time between Melbourne and Manila.

Evan Franklin is an Associate Professor in Energy and Power Systems and the Associate Head – Research at the School of Engineering at the University of Tasmania. Evan graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Tasmania in 1996 and a PhD from the Australian National University in 2006, with a career spanning both large EPC companies and small tech start-ups and universities. 

He has authored more than 130 journal papers, conference papers and patents in the field of solar photovoltaics and electrical power systems, with a strong track-record in industry and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Evan’s current research and teaching interests include renewable generation and energy storage technologies, the integration of renewables into power systems, and the role of energy storage in future energy systems. 

Evan is a member of Engineers Australia, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the IEEE Power and Energy Society.

Loren innovates across the education spectrum, from school curriculum, vocational training, tertiary courses and professional development to drive training and upskilling for our future hydrogen and energy workforces. She founded the National TAFE Hydrogen Network and represents Deakin in numerous forums to ensure hydrogen training is nationally consistent. 

With a passion for creating new education products, Loren collaborates closely with industry, community and government to both build broader awareness of hydrogen and provide opportunities for more technical or advanced training in hydrogen and other energy technologies – all of this to establish a safe, reliable hydrogen and clean energy industry in Australia to drive emissions reductions and create meaningful job opportunities.