OUR PEOPLE

The Australian Power Institute is governed by a Board consisting of the following members:

CEO

David Pointing, PhD, FIEAust, CPEng, EngExec, NER, MAICD

Chief Executive Officer, The Australian Power Institute

Appointed by the API Board in December 2019, David is an engineering-sector executive and leader with extensive experience in creating and delivering projects and initiatives that build capacity and capability in communities, with a focus on sustainable development solutions and energy systems.
David has a deep portfolio of skills and experience in program development, project management, business development, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of collaborative solutions, including research and development projects, tertiary education and workforce development initiatives.

David’s key career achievements include:

Research into the use of wind and hydrogen energy technologies to support remote area power systems and operations (using the case studies of Antarctic research communities of the Australian and Norwegian governments),
Developing international partnerships focused on empowering communities to access sustainability solutions for the UN Environment Program (based in Copenhagen),
Establishing a strategic program to drive national and international engagement with the Tertiary sector for Australia’s professional body for engineers (Engineers Australia), and
Leading workforce development initiatives for the engineering sector in Tasmania as the state General Manager for Engineers Australia (following a decade of involvement as an active volunteer member).
Teaching university courses on engineering ethics, sustainability, engineering design, and project management to undergraduate and Masters level student engineers.

David has qualifications in Materials Engineering (UNSW), Antarctic Studies (UTAS), and completed a Ph.D. (UTAS) on the implementation of sustainable energy solutions in isolated communities.

David is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has been recognized with the EngExec credential and is Chartered in engineering leadership and management.

David is originally from Sydney and is now based in Tasmania with his wife and two children.

Chair

Peter Langdon, BEng (Hon), MBA

Head of Asset Planning and Performance, Endeavour Energy

Peter has over 30 years’ experience in the Australian electricity supply industry. In his current role of Head of Asset Planning and Performance, he is responsible for developing the long term investment and maintenance plans for Endeavour Energy’s electricity network as well as the ongoing development the organisation’s asset management systems and strategies. Prior to this Peter has held a variety of roles in areas such as regional management, system control and project management.

Peter has a keen interest in developing the next generation of engineers for our industry and for the last 10 years has led his organisation’s engineer development program. Peter is also an active member of the NSW chapter of the Electric Energy Society of Australia.

Board Member

Sarah Huang, BElecEng, MEngScience, CPEng, RPEQ, NER

General Manager Design Solutions, Powerlink Queensland

Sarah Huang is a leader and electrical engineer in the electricity transmission industry with more than 24 years’ professional experience in Australia and overseas. In her current role as General Manager Design Solutions in Powerlink Queensland, Sarah leads a group of more than 100 engineering professionals to provide specialised technical advice and design services to support Powerlink’s transmission network operation, re-investment projects and renewable energy transformation.

Sarah is an active member in Powerlink’s Graduate Development Committee, and is motivated by building career succession pathway and great workplace culture for young professionals in our industry at this very challenging and exciting time.

Board Member

Gair Landsborough,

Executive Manager, Asset Management, Western Power

Gair joined Western Power in December 1993 as a cadet engineer, commencing his graduate program in 1995.

His career spans senior management roles since 2006 in operations, program and project management, contracts and finance. Technical roles have included network planning, maintenance strategy and investigations. Gair’s financial background focused on strategic financial modelling that involved working closely with Government stakeholders to implement electricity market reforms.

Gair holds a Master of Applied Finance, Bachelor of Commerce (Management) and Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) from the University of Western Australia.

Asset Management is accountable for managing overall asset lifecycles, asset performance management strategies, network planning, engineering and design and safety, environment, quality and training. As the major network operator in Western Australia, Western Power is a significant employer of engineers and is a foundation member of the API.

Board Member

Patrick Matweew

Chief Executive Officer, Redback Technologies

Patrick is the CEO of Brisbane-based clean-tech start-up Redback Technologies Group. Redback Group develops and markets platform, software and hardware solutions in the solar inverter, battery technology and electricity network industry verticals. Patrick’s career in the renewable energy industry spans 18 years across 4 continents. He is an enthusiastic ambassador for the transition to a carbon free energy future and cares specifically about consumers access to clean energy.

Board Member

Violette Mouchaileh

Executive General Manager, Emerging Markets and Services, AEMO

"Violette has over 18 years experience in the energy industry. In December 2018, Violette was appointed in the EGM Emerging Markets role at AEMO, which focuses on developing and implementing strategies for emerging areas, including integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER), and developing value-add data and information services. Prior to this role, Violette held various roles at AEMO across gas and electricity in market design development, market change implementation and operations.

Prior to joining AEMO, Violette held roles driving energy market policy in the Commonwealth government and working on competition policy initiatives at the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Her experience includes economic regulation, energy policy development, development of regulatory frameworks, market development and design, and market change implementation."

Board Member

Lance Wee

Head of Asset Management, TransGrid

Lance has more than 20 years of experience in the Australian energy and infrastructure industries. In February 2015 Lance was appointed to the role of Head of Asset Management, accountable for asset management activities that optimally balances asset risk, cost and performance of TransGrid’s network.

Prior to that role, Lance gained his extensive experience in developing, designing, constructing and maintaining substations and transmission lines throughout Australia in different roles at TransGrid, Downer Australia and Powerlink Queensland.

He has a passion and reputation for building and leading strong professional teams while providing the direction and support needed to implement sustainable competitive commercial strategies in line with stakeholder and customer expectations.

Lance has a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) Honours Degree from the University of Queensland and Diploma in Project Management from the University of New England. He is currently completing his Masters of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Deputy Chair

Heidi Sick

Industry Director for Energy in Australia & New Zealand, Aurecon

Heidi is the Industry Director for Energy (ANZ) for Aurecon with 20 years of experience. Heidi's experience stretches across three continents within a number of industries, covering the complete lifecycle of multidisciplinary complex projects. Over the last 10 years Heidi has been an advisor to the energy sector, with a focus on renewable and low emission technologies and the integration of these into the overall energy system. Heidi was awarded the inaugural 2019 Clean Energy Council and Monash University Women in Renewables Your Leadership Voice scholarship for her experience in establishing diverse high performing teams to help clients through the energy transition.

Aurecon has been an active supporter of the API since 2008 and regularly provides early industry experience and employment for API Bursary holders. As well as being the Deputy Chair of the Australian Power Institute (API), Heidi is a Technical Advisor on the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Advisory Panel, assessing program funding applications across a broad range of renewable and emerging/enabling technologies to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy.

Board Member

Renee Anderson

Executive, People, TasNetworks

Renee is a member of TasNetworks’ Executive Team and leads the People Team, consisting of Technical Capability, People Development, Health Safety and Environment and People Experience streams.

With over 15 years’ experience as a senior HR executive, Renee joined TasNetworks from the Tasmanian Department of Health, where she was the Chief People Officer. She has previously worked in the mining, engineering and energy sectors, and has held roles within Australia, Brazil, USA and United Kingdom. Renee holds a Bachelor of Business (Management) from the University of Queensland.

Renee is active in the community, volunteering HR expertise to a number of community organisations.

Board Member

Jason Hall, BEng(Hons), GradCertMgt, RPEQ, MAICD

General Manager Grid Technology, Energy Queensland.

Jason Hall is the General Manager Grid Technology at Energy Queensland, a government owned corporation responsible for the distribution of electricity across Queensland via their two electricity distributors - Energex and Ergon Energy. He is accountable for ensuring safe and reliable protection, telecommunications, and control systems exist for the Energy Queensland electricity network including the introduction of new technologies to transition to an intelligent grid.

Jason has a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Computer) Honours Degree from the Queensland University of Technology and a Graduate Certificate in Management from Deakin University. He is also a trade qualified electrical fitter mechanic and has over 30 years of experience in the Queensland Electricity Supply Industry comprising of positions in generation, transmission, and distribution. Jason is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland and is also Energy Queensland’s member representative of CIGRE Australia.

Board Member

Jess Hui

Asset Investment Strategy Manager, Ausgrid

Jessica is an experienced senior leader in the electricity utilities industry, with an extensive background in distribution network design, performance, operations, customer strategy, and business transformation. Jessica currently leads the Asset Investment Strategy team at Ausgrid, where she delivers investment strategies for Ausgrid’s future networks.

Jessica is committed to supporting the professional development of engineers in the energy industry. She is a committee member and membership coordinator of the NSW/ACT Chapter of the Electric Energy Society of Australia, and she teaches a Master of Engineering course in Distribution Reliability at the University of Wollongong.

Jessica is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion and is a member of Ausgrid’s Inclusion and Diversity Council. At home, she has three young children, two with disability. Through her life experience and skills gained from her career, she and her husband have co-founded a disability tech startup called sameview, to improve the lives of families like theirs through better coordination of disability care.

Board Member

Ed Wilson, B.Eng.(Hons)

Managing Director, Wilson Transformer Company Pty Ltd (WTC)

Ed is the Managing Director of Wilson Transformer Company Pty Ltd (WTC) with more than 20 years of experience in the manufacturing and energy industries. Ed is a third-generation member of the Wilson family and is now leading WTC as the largest Australian-owned and based manufacturer and solution provider of power and distribution transformers. After graduating as a Mechanical Engineer (Hons) from Monash University in 2001, he has enjoyed many roles across various business functions, including Industrial Engineering, Quality and Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Management, Sales and General Management of the Power Transformer Business. In August 2015, Ed was appointed Managing Director with overall responsibility for the transformer business.

As well as being a member of the Australian Power Institute (API), Ed is a director of the Australian National Committee of CIGRE and a member of the Finance Risk and Audit sub-committee of CIGRE, an international organization whose members include leading electrical utilities and suppliers.

WTC has been an active supporter of the API since its inception. The Company regularly provides employment for API Bursary holders to help young engineers gain early industry experience as part of their professional development.