--- title: Machines & HV Assets 2026 | Agenda --- # 2026 Agenda - [ Register Now ](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/register?hsLang=en-au) ![Part of (11)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Part%20of%20(11).svg) ###### Event Schedule - Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One - Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two - Tuesday, 9 June - Pre-conference Masterclass ![calendar](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/calendar.svg) Day/Stream - Day/Stream - Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One - Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two - Tuesday, 9 June - Pre-conference Masterclass ![podium](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/podium.svg) Session Type - Session Type - Break - Panel Discussion - Roundtables - Opening Remarks - Closing Remarks - Event Dinner - Women in Energy Breakfast - Masterclass ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) Time - Time - Morning - Afternoon - Night [Reset Filter](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/agenda) 08:30 Masterclass Tuesday, 9 June - Pre-conference Masterclass #### Masterclass: Overcoming technology and operational challenges for Battery Energy Storage Systems Speaker Speakers ![Steve Lilliss pic](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Steve%20Lilliss%20pic.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Steve%20Lilliss%20pic.jpg) Steve Lilliss Senior Manager Asset Management **Horizon Power** ![Claude Morris pic](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Claude%20Morris%20pic.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Claude%20Morris%20pic.jpg) Claude Morris National Sector Leader- BESS **GHD**  Learn More Tuesday, 9 June - Pre-conference Masterclass Masterclass ### Masterclass: Overcoming technology and operational challenges for Battery Energy Storage Systems ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 08:30 Specifically for engineers and technical specialists responsible for the installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance of Battery Energy Storage Systems, this masterclass is designed to address the practical challenges of operating BESS assets in the Australian market. It is suited to BESS engineers working at utility-scale or large commercial installations who need to move beyond vendor manuals and understand how batteries actually perform in the field — under regulatory pressure, extreme conditions and evolving grid requirements. If you are grappling with degradation, safety obligations, inverter complexity or changing performance expectations, this masterclass is for you. Upon completion of the masterclass, attendees will: - Understand the key drivers of battery degradation and how operational decisions impact asset life and project economics - Be able to operate and maintain BESS safely under Australian environmental, safety and regulatory conditions - Gain practical insight into managing fire risk, safety standards and compliance obligations for high-density deployments - Develop confidence in meeting new technical expectations, including PFR, FCAS and grid-forming inverter requirements **Outline:** 08:30 Registration and coffee 09:00 **Managing battery degradation and lifetime performance** - Understanding degradation mechanisms to protect capacity, availability and revenue - Designing operating envelopes and cycling strategies to extend asset life - Using data, diagnostics and warranties to align maintenance decisions with project economics 10:30 Morning tea 11:00 **Operating utility-scale BESS under real-world conditions** - Managing thermal, environmental and load stress to maintain performance in extreme heat, dust and humidity - Commissioning and maintaining systems to avoid latent faults and early-life failures - Integrating operational lessons from Australian utility-scale deployments to reduce downtime 12:30 Lunch 13:30 **Designing for safety in high-density BESS deployments** - Identifying fire, thermal runaway and propagation risks to protect people and assets - Implementing detection, suppression and emergency response strategies that work in practice - Translating incident learnings into installation, maintenance and operational procedures 15:00 Afternoon tea 15:30 **Meeting new technical and regulatory expectations** - Adapting inverter, control and protection systems to meet PFR, FCAS and grid-forming requirements - Navigating safety standards, performance obligations and registration pathways with confidence - Preparing for national harmonisation of fire safety rules and grid-forming inverter standards to future-proof assets 17:00 Concludes **Continuing Professional Development (CPD)** This masterclass qualifies as **Type II CPD **under Engineers Australia’s CPD framework. Delegates may claim the full number of hours attended as CPD so please retain the program and any other relevant information for your personal CPD log. Speaker Speakers ![Steve Lilliss pic](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Steve%20Lilliss%20pic.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Steve%20Lilliss%20pic.jpg) Steve Lilliss Senior Manager Asset Management **Horizon Power** ![Claude Morris pic](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Claude%20Morris%20pic.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Claude%20Morris%20pic.jpg) Claude Morris National Sector Leader- BESS **GHD**  08:15 Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Registration and welcome tea and coffee 08:50 Opening Remarks Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Opening remarks from the Chair Speaker Speakers ![Mushfiq Rahman](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mushfiq%20Rahman.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Mushfiq%20Rahman.jpg) Mushfiq Rahman Group CEO **3C Energy** ####  **Australia’s HV assets crisis** 09:00 Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Australia’s HV asset turning point and why critical equipment is failing faster and what must change Speaker Speakers ![Dr Shantanu Kumar (1)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar%20(1).png?width=53&height=53&name=Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar%20(1).png) Dr Shantanu Kumar Associate Principal | Energy – HV Substations Technical Lead **Arup** Learn More Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One ### Australia’s HV asset turning point and why critical equipment is failing faster and what must change ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 09:00 - Examining what decades of transformer, cable, and machine failure investigations tell us about hidden ageing mechanisms - Clarifying how voltage fluctuations accelerate thermal, dielectric and mechanical stress in legacy fleets - Demonstrating how modern modelling, advanced diagnostics and predictive asset strategies are reshaping engineering decisions and improving asset risk visibility Speaker Speakers ![Dr Shantanu Kumar (1)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar%20(1).png?width=53&height=53&name=Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar%20(1).png) Dr Shantanu Kumar Associate Principal | Energy – HV Substations Technical Lead **Arup** 09:30 Panel Discussion Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Fireside chat: Reinventing HV asset strategy for a DER-heavy, BESS-driven future Moderator ![Annelieke de Wit](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Annelieke%20de%20Wit.png?width=53&height=53&name=Annelieke%20de%20Wit.png) Annelieke de Wit, PhD Manager, Projects and Partnerships **Monash Energy Institute** Speaker Speakers ![Dr Shantanu Kumar (1)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar%20(1).png?width=53&height=53&name=Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar%20(1).png) Dr Shantanu Kumar Associate Principal | Energy – HV Substations Technical Lead **Arup** ![Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mehdi%20Seyedmahmoudian.png?width=53&height=53&name=Mehdi%20Seyedmahmoudian.png) Prof Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian Director - Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, Professor & Major Discipline Coordinator – Electrical & Electronics - School of Engineering **Swinburne University of Technology** Learn More Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One Panel Discussion ### Fireside chat: Reinventing HV asset strategy for a DER-heavy, BESS-driven future ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 09:30 - How is rising system instability, short-circuit variability, and harmonic distortion changing the way HV assets experience stress, and what emerging risks are engineers now observing in the field? - How are utilities rethinking their protection philosophies, cooling approaches, and loading strategies to cope with today’s more dynamic and less predictable grid conditions? - How can the integration of cross-functional data detect issues earlier and prevent major failures? - Which investments should be priortised to maintain system reliability, strengthen asset resilience, and support a high-electrification network? Moderator ![Annelieke de Wit](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Annelieke%20de%20Wit.png?width=53&height=53&name=Annelieke%20de%20Wit.png) Annelieke de Wit, PhD Manager, Projects and Partnerships **Monash Energy Institute** Speaker Speakers ![Dr Shantanu Kumar (1)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar%20(1).png?width=53&height=53&name=Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar%20(1).png) Dr Shantanu Kumar Associate Principal | Energy – HV Substations Technical Lead **Arup** ![Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mehdi%20Seyedmahmoudian.png?width=53&height=53&name=Mehdi%20Seyedmahmoudian.png) Prof Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian Director - Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, Professor & Major Discipline Coordinator – Electrical & Electronics - School of Engineering **Swinburne University of Technology** 10:20 Break Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Morning Tea in the Energy Week expo hall ####  **Advanced diagnostics & failure prevention**  11:00 Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Online monitoring of end-winding vibration and partial discharge in a 225 MVA generator Speaker Speakers ![Giacomo Ciotti](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Giacomo%20Ciotti.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Giacomo%20Ciotti.jpg) Giacomo Ciotti Divisional Manager – OptMonitor **Machinemonitor** Learn More Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One ### Online monitoring of end-winding vibration and partial discharge in a 225 MVA generator ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 11:00 - Identifying developing end-winding defects by combining online vibration and partial discharge monitoring, enabling earlier detection of abnormal mechanical behaviour - Improving diagnostic confidence through multi-parameter analysis of vibration, PD, load and temperature data, allowing engineers to locate faults and prioritise intervention decisions - Maintaining safe operation through automated alarms and condition-informed operating strategies, reducing risk while enabling controlled operation until planned outage inspection Speaker Speakers ![Giacomo Ciotti](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Giacomo%20Ciotti.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Giacomo%20Ciotti.jpg) Giacomo Ciotti Divisional Manager – OptMonitor **Machinemonitor** 11:30 Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Protecting power transformers from catastrophic failure Speaker Speakers ![Francisco Dutra (2)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Francisco%20Dutra%20(2).png?width=53&height=53&name=Francisco%20Dutra%20(2).png) Francisco Dutra International Transformer Expert **Sergi Transformer Protector (France)** Learn More Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One ### Protecting power transformers from catastrophic failure ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 11:30 - Reducing the consequences of internal transformer faults by deploying ultra-fast mechanical protection systems to  limit tank  rupture and collateral damage - Improving transformer safety outcomes by integrating last-line protection devices into HV substations and generation sites, strengthening defence-in-depth strategies alongside conventional protection and monitoring schemes - Supporting safer asset operations through close collaboration between asset owners, OEMs and protection specialists, ensuring transformer protection solutions are correctly specified, installed and aligned Speaker Speakers ![Francisco Dutra (2)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Francisco%20Dutra%20(2).png?width=53&height=53&name=Francisco%20Dutra%20(2).png) Francisco Dutra International Transformer Expert **Sergi Transformer Protector (France)** 12:00 Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Applying Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) principles for ongoing optimisation of rotating machinery performance Speaker Speakers ![victor edo](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/victor%20edo.png?width=53&height=53&name=victor%20edo.png) Victor Edo Senior Electrical Engineer - Capital Projects **Alcoa ** Learn More Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One ### Applying Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) principles for ongoing optimisation of rotating machinery performance ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 12:00 - Leveraging advanced diagnostic tools for precise fault detection and analysis - Enhancing equipment longevity through the continuous application of reliability-centred maintenance - Fine-tuning how often specific types of machinery should be assessed - Using RCM to guide decisions regarding equipment repair or replacement Speaker Speakers ![victor edo](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/victor%20edo.png?width=53&height=53&name=victor%20edo.png) Victor Edo Senior Electrical Engineer - Capital Projects **Alcoa ** 12:30 Break Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Lunch in the Energy Week expo hall 13:30 Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Ready for take-off: Effective spares management for operational resilience at Brisbane Airport (Pre-Recorded Video) Speaker Speakers ![Mitchell OShea](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mitchell%20OShea.png?width=53&height=53&name=Mitchell%20OShea.png) Mitchell O'Shea Reliability Engineer **Brisbane Airport Corporation** Learn More Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One ### Ready for take-off: Effective spares management for operational resilience at Brisbane Airport (Pre-Recorded Video) ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 13:30 - Why 'critical spares optimisation' projects often go wrong - Handling the challenge of third-party maintenance contracts - Aligning diverse stakeholders and overcoming organisational silos: towards unified asset management Speaker Speakers ![Mitchell OShea](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mitchell%20OShea.png?width=53&height=53&name=Mitchell%20OShea.png) Mitchell O'Shea Reliability Engineer **Brisbane Airport Corporation** 14:00 Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Arc Flash Risk Management at SEW, Engineering Electrical Systems for Safety, Reliability and Long-life Performance Across Essential Services Speaker Speakers ![Milinda Senanayake](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Milinda%20Senanayake.png?width=53&height=53&name=Milinda%20Senanayake.png) Milinda Senanayake Principal Electrical Engineer **South East Water** Learn More Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One ### Arc Flash Risk Management at SEW, Engineering Electrical Systems for Safety, Reliability and Long-life Performance Across Essential Services ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 14:00 Speaker Speakers ![Milinda Senanayake](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Milinda%20Senanayake.png?width=53&height=53&name=Milinda%20Senanayake.png) Milinda Senanayake Principal Electrical Engineer **South East Water** 14:30 Break Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Afternoon Tea in the Energy Week expo hall 15:00 – 16:30 Roundtables Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Intensive engineering roundtables Learn More Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One Roundtables ### Intensive engineering roundtables ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 15:00 – 16:30 Roundtables are informal 30 min discussions, each facilitated by a leader who will introduce the topic before inviting delegates to join the conversation. Delegates can attend three sessions of their choice from the following:    **15:00    Discussion 1  ** **15:30    Discussion 2  ** **16:00    Discussion 3  ** Roundtables Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Roundtable 1 — Torsional stress on generator shafts — when is this an issue, why, and potential solutions Speaker Speakers ![Elizabeth Ratnam](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Elizabeth%20Ratnam.png?width=53&height=53&name=Elizabeth%20Ratnam.png) Dr Elizabeth Ratnam Associate Professor - Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering **Monash University** Roundtables Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Roundtable 2 - Vibration, cooling and fatigue clues that predict the worst Speaker Speakers ![victor edo](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/victor%20edo.png?width=53&height=53&name=victor%20edo.png) Victor Edo Senior Electrical Engineer - Major Capital Projects **Alcoa** Roundtables Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Roundtable 3 - Transformer failure forensics and the early indicators that are easy to miss Speaker Speakers ![Francisco Dutra (2)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Francisco%20Dutra%20(2).png?width=53&height=53&name=Francisco%20Dutra%20(2).png) Francisco Dutra International Transformer Expert **Sergi Transformer Protector (France)** Roundtables Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Roundtable 4 - Taking a precautionary approach to risk mitigation (complying with OHS and energy safety laws) Speaker Speakers ![Nathan Bitsas](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Nathan%20Bitsas.png?width=53&height=53&name=Nathan%20Bitsas.png) Nathan Bitsas Head of Electricity Network Safety **Energy Safe Victoria** Roundtables Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Roundtable 5 - Arc-flash risk in modern HV systems: exposure pathways, protection gaps and practical mitigation Speaker Speakers ![Dr Shantanu Kumar](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar.png?width=53&height=53&name=Dr%20Shantanu%20Kumar.png) Dr Shantanu Kumar Associate Principal | Energy – HV Substations Technical Lead **Arup** Roundtables Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Roundtable 6 - Managing alert fatigue and false confidence in continuously monitored assets Speaker Speakers ![Mladen Sasic (3)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mladen%20Sasic%20(3).png?width=53&height=53&name=Mladen%20Sasic%20(3).png) Mladen Sasic Manager of Rotating Machines Technical Services **Iris Power (Canada)** 16:30 Roundtables Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Roundtables conclude 17:00 Break Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### Networking Drinks in the Energy Week expo hall Event Dinner Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One #### The Official Machines & HV Assets Dinner — Elvis Edition 07:00 Women in Energy Breakfast Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Women in Energy Breakfast Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two Women in Energy Breakfast ### Women in Energy Breakfast ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 07:00 Back by popular demand: **Australian Energy Week’s Women in Energy Breakfast ** Start your day with a thought-provoking discussion over breakfast. This exclusive event, an integral part of Australian Energy Week, offers you a chance to gain insights from industry leaders, and connect with like-minded professionals, all while supporting a great cause.  With last year’s event selling out, early registration is recommended. Tickets ($50) are available exclusively to Australian Energy Week and Machines & HV Assets attendees.  Registration opens at 7:00 am for a prompt 7:30 am start.  #### **How failures propagate, and how engineers stop them ** 08:15 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Registration opens 08:50 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Introduction by Day 2 Chair Speaker Speakers ![rui li (1)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/rui%20li%20(1).png?width=53&height=53&name=rui%20li%20(1).png) Dr Rui Li Lecturer - Electrical Engineering **Victoria University ** 09:00 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Strategic insights into engineering failures and what that means for HV engineers Speaker Speakers ![Katherine Richards AM CSC](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Katherine%20Richards%20AM%20CSC.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Katherine%20Richards%20AM%20CSC.jpg) Rear Admiral (Retired) Katherine Richards AM CSC Chief Engineer **Engineers Australia** Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Strategic insights into engineering failures and what that means for HV engineers ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 09:00 Rear Admiral (Retired) Katherine Richards AM CSC, will show her knowledge from working on HV and compact systems as Chief Engineer at Engineers Australia. Speaker Speakers ![Katherine Richards AM CSC](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Katherine%20Richards%20AM%20CSC.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Katherine%20Richards%20AM%20CSC.jpg) Rear Admiral (Retired) Katherine Richards AM CSC Chief Engineer **Engineers Australia** 09:30 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Understanding condition-based maintenance and when continuous monitoring becomes essential Speaker Speakers ![Mladen Sasic (4)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mladen%20Sasic%20(4).png?width=53&height=53&name=Mladen%20Sasic%20(4).png) Mladen Sasic Manager of Rotating Machines Technical Services **Iris Power (Canada)**  Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Understanding condition-based maintenance and when continuous monitoring becomes essential ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 09:30 - Demonstrating how condition-based maintenance replaces time-based servicing through continuous asset data and trend analysis, enabling earlier intervention and reduced unexpected failures - Justifying 24/7 online monitoring for remote and high-cost Australian operations, lowering labour deployment requirements while improving visibility of emerging asset risk - Reducing operational uncertainty by continuously tracking asset condition and performance trends, preventing missed warning signs and strengthening maintenance decision confidence Speaker Speakers ![Mladen Sasic (4)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mladen%20Sasic%20(4).png?width=53&height=53&name=Mladen%20Sasic%20(4).png) Mladen Sasic Manager of Rotating Machines Technical Services **Iris Power (Canada)**  10:00 Break Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Morning Tea in the Energy Week expo hall #### **In-conference workshop** 10:45 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Reverse engineering and rewinding large HV stators: transitioning from GVPI to resin-rich insulation Speaker Speakers ![Ron Scollay (1)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Ron%20Scollay%20(1).png?width=53&height=53&name=Ron%20Scollay%20(1).png) Ron Scollay Principal Engineering Consultant **Machinemonitor** Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Reverse engineering and rewinding large HV stators: transitioning from GVPI to resin-rich insulation ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 10:45 This in-depth technical workshop examines the engineering, testing and reliability considerations involved in rewinding a 9375 kVA, 11 kV generator stator from Global VPI (GVPI) insulation to a resin-rich system. Using a real project as the foundation, the session explores how insulation philosophy, mechanical constraints and diagnostic findings influence long-term machine performance. Participants will walk through the technical decisions required to redesign an existing stator, validate insulation suitability, address hidden machine defects and establish monitoring strategies that protect reliability over the next operating lifecycle.   - Comparing GVPI and resin-rich insulation systems, understanding differences in dielectric behaviour, thermal performance, mechanical robustness and lifecycle risk - Analysing conductor configuration, insulation build, slot geometry and mechanical tolerances to ensure rewind compatibility and long-term winding integrity - Qualifying insulation performance through a comprehensive electrical and mechanical test program, including acceptance criteria and reliability validation methods - Detecting and rectifying rotor inter-turn faults while establishing condition monitoring strategies that safeguard the new winding and support reliable operation for the next two decades Speaker Speakers ![Ron Scollay (1)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Ron%20Scollay%20(1).png?width=53&height=53&name=Ron%20Scollay%20(1).png) Ron Scollay Principal Engineering Consultant **Machinemonitor** #### **Engineering under constraint and uncertainty  ** 12:00 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Down-conductor detection and public safety Speaker Speakers ![Mark Ragusa](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mark%20Ragusa.png?width=53&height=53&name=Mark%20Ragusa.png) Mark Ragusa Head of Asset Management and Planning **Ausgrid** Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Down-conductor detection and public safety ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 12:00 - Applying sensors, analytics, and automation in distribution and transmission environments to detect faults earlier and enhance network safety - Integrating detection systems with protection, SCADA, and cloud-based intelligence, to enable faster and more coordinated response to line failures - Extracting lessons learned from utility pilots and deployments to refine implementation strategies and improve insights into real-world performance Speaker Speakers ![Mark Ragusa](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mark%20Ragusa.png?width=53&height=53&name=Mark%20Ragusa.png) Mark Ragusa Head of Asset Management and Planning **Ausgrid** 12:30 Break Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Lunch in the Energy Week expo hall 13:30 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Panel discussion: Engineering leadership when assets age faster than budgets allow Moderator ![David Pointing-1](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/David%20Pointing-1.png?width=53&height=53&name=David%20Pointing-1.png) David Pointing Chief Executive Officer **The Australian Power Institute** Speaker Speakers ![Praema Ranga](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Praema%20Ranga.svg) Praema Ranga Product Services Manager | Chair of Women in Engineering Queensland  **Boeing Defence Australia | Engineers Australia** ![Chris Dumbrell](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Chris%20Dumbrell.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Chris%20Dumbrell.jpg) Chris Dumbrell Senior Manager – Maintenance, Reliability Engineering and Condition Assessment **Sydney Water** ![Myra Nolan (1)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Myra%20Nolan%20(1).png?width=53&height=53&name=Myra%20Nolan%20(1).png) Myra Nolan Technical Director **Clean Energy Finance Corporation ** Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Panel discussion: Engineering leadership when assets age faster than budgets allow ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 13:30 - How do you approach prioritising investment when budgets are tight, but asset risks are rising? - In what ways can greater transparency and better-quality data help leaders secure funding, build organisational alignment and justify long-term asset strategies? - What engineering capabilities do you believe organisations must develop now to prepare their teams for a digital sustainable future? - Looking ahead, what leadership decisions will matter most in building resilient assets that can withstand growing operational and environmental pressures? Moderator ![David Pointing-1](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/David%20Pointing-1.png?width=53&height=53&name=David%20Pointing-1.png) David Pointing Chief Executive Officer **The Australian Power Institute** Speaker Speakers ![Praema Ranga](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Praema%20Ranga.svg) Praema Ranga Product Services Manager | Chair of Women in Engineering Queensland  **Boeing Defence Australia | Engineers Australia** ![Chris Dumbrell](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Chris%20Dumbrell.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Chris%20Dumbrell.jpg) Chris Dumbrell Senior Manager – Maintenance, Reliability Engineering and Condition Assessment **Sydney Water** ![Myra Nolan (1)](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Myra%20Nolan%20(1).png?width=53&height=53&name=Myra%20Nolan%20(1).png) Myra Nolan Technical Director **Clean Energy Finance Corporation ** 14:10 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Future-Proofing Network Assets: Resilience Strategies for an Electrified and Decentralised Grid Highlights Speaker Speakers ![Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mehdi%20Seyedmahmoudian.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Mehdi%20Seyedmahmoudian.jpg) Prof Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian Director - Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, Professor & Major Discipline Coordinator – Electrical & Electronics - School of Engineering **Swinburne University of Technology** Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Future-Proofing Network Assets: Resilience Strategies for an Electrified and Decentralised Grid Highlights ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 14:10 - Leveraging community microgrids and local energy systems to reduce network stress and improve supply resilience - Managing the growing impact of EV charging infrastructure through smarter coordination and grid-aware charging approaches - Building timing resilience in power systems through emerging quantum technologies and advanced synchronisation frameworks Speaker Speakers ![Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mehdi%20Seyedmahmoudian.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Mehdi%20Seyedmahmoudian.jpg) Prof Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian Director - Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, Professor & Major Discipline Coordinator – Electrical & Electronics - School of Engineering **Swinburne University of Technology** 14:40 Break Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Afternoon Tea in the Energy Week expo ha 15:00 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Fire risk management for utility-scale BESS projects in Australia Speaker Speakers ![Shaikat Debnath](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Shaikat%20Debnath.png?width=53&height=53&name=Shaikat%20Debnath.png) Shaikat Debnath, PhD Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Specialist **Potentia Energy** Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Fire risk management for utility-scale BESS projects in Australia ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 15:00 - Aligning OEM fire protection design with Australian regulatory and approval requirements - Delivering a bankable Fire Safety Study covering hazard analysis, thermal runaway risk, and fire water demand - Developing a practical Emergency Management Plan that satisfies regulators, insurers, and asset owners Speaker Speakers ![Shaikat Debnath](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Shaikat%20Debnath.png?width=53&height=53&name=Shaikat%20Debnath.png) Shaikat Debnath, PhD Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Specialist **Potentia Energy** #### Approaches to asset and people management 15:30 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Asset management, asset replacement and public private partnerships Speaker Speakers ![Jeremy Culberg](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Jeremy%20Culberg.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Jeremy%20Culberg.jpg) Jeremy Culberg Senior Electrical Engineer **Watersure** Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Asset management, asset replacement and public private partnerships ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 15:30 - How contractual risk can become the dominating factor in risk equations, particular around handover requirements - The lead time between start of works (the replacement) and when decisions need to be made - The challenges of explaining technical reasoning to non-technical people Speaker Speakers ![Jeremy Culberg](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Jeremy%20Culberg.jpg?width=53&height=53&name=Jeremy%20Culberg.jpg) Jeremy Culberg Senior Electrical Engineer **Watersure** 16:00 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Brownfield Projects – Dealing with the complexities of legacy assets? Speaker Speakers ![Kellie Kininmont](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Kellie%20Kininmont.png?width=53&height=53&name=Kellie%20Kininmont.png) Kellie Kininmont Lead Engineering Delivery Services **SA Water** Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Brownfield Projects – Dealing with the complexities of legacy assets? ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 16:00 - Communicating the known unknowns, missing drawings, areas unable to be accessed and changes in standards over time - Preparing for unexpected unknowns, what to do when they appear mid project - Case study: unexpected unknowns encountered - what worked (and what didn't!) - Ensuring that all rural projects’ risk assessments cover cows Speaker Speakers ![Kellie Kininmont](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Kellie%20Kininmont.png?width=53&height=53&name=Kellie%20Kininmont.png) Kellie Kininmont Lead Engineering Delivery Services **SA Water** 16:30 Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Building the next-generation reliability workforce: Skills, systems and culture for data-driven asset performance Speaker Speakers ![Shantanu Bendre](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Shantanu%20Bendre.png?width=53&height=53&name=Shantanu%20Bendre.png) Shantanu Bendre Mechanical and Electrical Reliability Engineer **Yarra Valley Water ** Learn More Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two ### Building the next-generation reliability workforce: Skills, systems and culture for data-driven asset performance ![clock-three](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/clock-three.svg) 16:30 - Identifying the critical capability gaps across asset management, reliability engineering and control systems to prepare teams for more complex, data-rich operational environments - Embedding practical data interpretation and condition-based decision making into day-to-day maintenance and lifecycle planning to reduce failure risk and improve long-term asset performance - Designing an operating model that links engineering, operations and maintenance through consistent frameworks, governance and digital workflows to deliver safer, more reliable infrastructure outcomes Speaker Speakers ![Shantanu Bendre](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Shantanu%20Bendre.png?width=53&height=53&name=Shantanu%20Bendre.png) Shantanu Bendre Mechanical and Electrical Reliability Engineer **Yarra Valley Water ** 17:00 Closing Remarks Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two #### Closing remarks from the Chair ![calendar](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hubfs/Energy%20Week%202024/calendar.svg) Day/Stream - Day/Stream - Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One - Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two - Tuesday, 9 June - Pre-conference Masterclass - Wednesday, 10 June - Conference Day One - Thursday, 11 June - Conference Day Two - Tuesday, 9 June - Pre-conference Masterclass ## Download the Brochure   - [ Download Brochure ](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/download-brochure?hsLang=en-au) - [ Register Now ](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/register?hsLang=en-au) ![Screenshot 2026-03-06 102358](https://www.machinesconference.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-06%20102358.png?width=905&height=1284&name=Screenshot%202026-03-06%20102358.png)