Summary

The NSW ATS invites all members, non-members and students to participate in this captivating hybrid (in person and webinar) panel discussion centred on the challenges and opportunities for tunnels and underground works to assist Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) projects in harnessing sustainable and renewable energy sources.

During this event, you will have the unique opportunity to hear from a panel of experts who will share their experiences and insights working in Australia’s burgeoning PSH industry.

The panel discussion will be followed by the ATS NSW Chapter Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Timing

In-person – please arrive 5.30pm for a 6pm start

Online – please arrive 5.55pm for a 6pm start

About the panelists

Sabrina Kost – Underground Expert

Sabrina obtained a Master of Civil Engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) Lausanne in 2006. Sabrina has 17 years of experience in the planning, design, management, construction and certification of complex major underground civil infrastructure and hydropower projects in Australia and overseas. Her expertise covers support systems in challenging ground conditions and encompasses all construction techniques and lining systems.

Sabrina’s specific experience encompasses the entire lifecycle of a project, from its inception (Feasibility Studies, Reference Design) to Detailed Design and Construction Phase Services. Sabrina has also gained extended experience as Client-Side Owner’s Engineer and has a strong track record in undertaking proof engineering, risk management, due diligence, design review and compliance verification and certification roles.

Sabrina is the Managing Director of Pini Australia and member of the Australian Tunnelling Society (ATS), NSW Chapter, and the Diversity in Tunnelling Sub-Committee of the ATS.

Hamid Alaedini – Associate Civil/Structure Engineer

Hamid is an Associate civil/structure engineer at Aurecon with over 22 years of experience in design, design management and delivery of projects. Over his career, Hamid has worked on a number of major hydropower, dam and transport projects in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and South America. He has worked on detailed design of the tunnels and caverns, intake, outlet and other dam appurtenant structures to construction methodologies for underground works, feasibility assessments, option review and construction services. Some of the key projects that Hamid has worked on are Snowy 2.0 and Borumba Pumped Hydro in Australia, SiahBishe Pumped Storage, Shahriar Dam and Bakhtiari Dam in Iran, Malea Hydroelectric project in Indonesia and Quijos-Baeza Hydroelectric project in Ecuador.

Helen Barbour-Bourne – Hydropower Sector Market Lead

As the Hydropower Market Leader at GHD within the hybridized Australian energy landscape, Helen Barbour Bourne has cultivated a reputation for strategic project leadership from inception through to construction.

Helen’s published work on collaborative strategies in major infrastructure projects underscores her understanding of the complex interplay between risks and opportunities, focusing on the efficient allocation of risks. Recognized for her thought leadership, she actively bridges dialogues across government and private sectors, advocating for policies and frameworks that support sustainable investment in Future Energy, aligning with the evolving dynamics of energy investment in Australia.

Jeremy Kent-Johnston – Managing Director

Jeremy Kent-Johnston is a hydropower engineer and managing director of AusHydro, a specialist hydropower consultancy based in Sydney, NSW. In the past decade, Jeremy has been heavily involved in Australia’s pumped hydro development, with key design roles on projects like Borumba, Pioneer-Burdekin, Oven Mountain, Bells Mountain, and Snowy.

AusHydro specializes in front-end hydropower design, project optimization, and economic assessment, in addition to providing owners’ advice for hydropower projects. This work requires AusHydro to bridge the gap between the operational and technical aspects of pumped hydro projects, and the ever-evolving government policy landscape.

Prior to focusing on pumped hydro in Australia, Jeremy contributed to significant global projects such as Grande Inga in the Congo, boasting a capacity of 40 – 70 GW, and the Purari/Wabo project in Papua New Guinea, with a capacity of 5 – 7 GW.

Beyond large-scale projects, Jeremy is passionate about environmentally conscientious, low-impact high-head hydro projects. He has several active development interests in British Columbia and New Zealand, aiming to balance energy generation with ecological preservation.

Moderator

Register now:

Sponsors

Contact

For any queries regarding this event, please contact Julius Lumsden (Julius.Lumsden@aurecongroup.com).