SELECT PROJECTS
2019-: Business Case Director, Paradise Dam Improvement Project, QLD
Leading, on behalf of the former Building Queensland (BQ), the development of a Detailed Business Case for the Paradise Dam Improvement Project and associated investigations. The contract involved leading an integrated project team from Arup and BQ and coordinating primary stakeholders, (Sunwater, Dept of Regional Development Manufacturing and Water) and other stakeholders including the BQ Board, QLD Treasury, Dept of the Premier and Cabinet, the Dam Safety Regulator, and community and industry representative organisations. Key scope activities for the contract included the administrative and proejct management framework for delivering the works, engagement and management of external advisors undertaking specialist investigations, development and management of governance and assurance plans, and development of a Detailed Business Case in according with the BQ Business Case Development Framework. Prior to the development of the business case, a high level options assessment and a subsequent detailed options evaluation process were undertaken culminating in a report / submission to Government demonstrating a strong case for a preferred option and proceeding with the detailed business case process. Key tasks involve leading and managing the integrated project team, coordinating and engaging with senior stakeholder representatives, internal and external progress reporting, and managing governance and assurance processes.
2019- 2020: Senior Climate Change Readiness Projects Officer working in a team at University of Western Sydney, NSW
Working alongside a team of academics under the leadership of Prof. Phillip O'Neill, on a project that was in response to a successful tender to the NSW government for the following project: Climate Risk Ready NSW: Development of a Climate Change Risk Management Framework, Guidance and Training Course for NSW Government. YTender_2388. Our work was instrumental in the approval of a national course on climate risk assessment, an Australian first. See https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/application-pathways/the-college/rto-programs/climate-risk-ready.html
2019: Strategic Economics Lead, Due Diligence Review for Major Water Infrastructure Sale, NSW
Economics team lead for the consideration of strategic economic and regulatory issues for the due diligence process of Rosehill water recycling plant for a confidential party. This included assessing asset condition in relation to proposed capital and operating expenditure profiles, review of take or pay, maintenance and offtake contracts. The review also covered assessing the vendor and client market growth strategy in relation to asset capacity and current / future utilisation and identifying where additional capacity could result in expanded services and markets.
2018-19: Review of Sydney Water’s PR2020 Submission preparations, NSW
Expert review of Sydney Water’s preparations for their PR2020 Submission including the provision of advice around the IPART review process and the technical review of expenditure, a high level review of the proposed expenditure, and specific advice on business cases prepared for major projects and programs. The review replicated the IPART assessment process while providing specific recommendations on projects and programs to reduce the potential for expenditure reduction after IPART’s assessment.
2018: Review of Qld Biofuels Mandate Implementation, QLD
Project Advisor for the review of the implementation of the QLD Government’s biofuels mandate for ethanol blended fuel and biodiesel. The review involved three key phases; the first, a desktop review of the mandate, available documentation, and an agency and key stakeholder engagement process. The second phase involved external industry consultation with stakeholders while the third phase involved analysis of scenarios or actions that could improve the implementation of the mandate. The final phase being to develop conclusions and final recommendations and priorities.
2018: Independent Review of Expenditure Model, ACT
Independent review of the ICRC’s model for determining the prices for Icon Water’s water, wastewater and other regulated services. The review included assessment of the model structure to check for errors in the model and for consistency and accuracy in the calculations and cell referencing across the multiple worksheets in the model.
2018: Melbourne Water Catchment Management Optimisation Project, VIC
Expert infrastructure advisor for a Catchment Optimisation Program review of the Silvan Water Supply Catchment, the most important of Melbourne’s 11 water supply catchments. The project used a facilitated participatory approach combined with benefit:cost analysis (BCA) using the Investment Framework for Environmental Resources (INFFER) and integration of current research and modelling (water demand and bushfire impacts). Reviewed infrastructure options included a $1.2b WTP to $0.1m fencing upgrades.
2017-18: Review of Victorian Metro and Regional Urban Retail Water Businesses, VIC
Specialist capital consultant for this 2017 review of the Victorian metropolitan and regional urban retail water by the Essential Services Commission with Deloitte and Arup. This multi-phase review under the new PREMO framework involved high level assessment of business submissions for capital and operating expenditure, followed by deep dives into expenditure forecasts and business systems where identified.
2017-18: Review of Seqwater Capital and Operating Expenditure, QLD
Specialist capital consultant to KPMG for this 2017 review of Seqwater’s capital and operating expenditure proposal to the Queensland Competition Authority. Worked in conjunction with a specialist business systems reviewer to assess Seqwater’s corporate business systems and frameworks for capital planning and asset management and their impact on developing forecasts of capital expenditure.
2017-18: Review of Icon Water’s Capital and Operating Expenditure, ACT
Review Manager for this 2017 Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission review of Icon Water assisting Calibre Consulting. The review involved three components – a review of Icon Water’s corporate and strategic business systems and processes, a review of historical and forecast capital expenditure and a review of and historical and forecast operating expenditure. The strategic review involved the assessment of corporate structure, business operating model, strategic planning frameworks, risk management, governance, and asset management strategies and processes.
2017-18: Review TasWater’s Capital and Operating Expenditure, TAS
Project Manager for this 2017 review of capital and operating expenditure of TasWater leading a multi-disciplinary team of engineers and regulatory economists from Arup. The review assessed TasWater’s long term investment planning framework including strategic business and investment plans and procedures, historical and proposed capital expenditure, and historical and proposed operating expenditure.
2017: Review of Busselton Water and Aqwest, WA
Key part of NERA Economic Consulting team engaged in 2016 to develop a system wide average or typical minus and net facilitation costs for the determination of wholesale prices for bulk water and wastewater services. Project involved review of different utility approaches to retail minus pricing, the appropriateness / applicability of methods to bulk water and wastewater service provision, the development of a preferred approach and an estimation of likely wholesale prices using the preferred approach.
2015-16: Review of Regulatory Frameworks in Tasmania, TAS
Reviewed the various regulatory frameworks applicable to TasWater in 2015/16 including economic, environmental and health to benchmark against best practice nationally and internationally and to assess the application of the frameworks in the most recent regulatory review. Assessed the strategic planning, and long, medium and short term asset management systems and processes used by TasWater and how they assisted in the regulatory process. Assessed the tariff model currently used by TasWater and the regulatory model proposed by the Economic Regulator. Recommendations included the development of a long term strategic plan for the business to set its direction and to engage consultants to help lead the regulatory submission process.
2015: Strategic Plan for Sustainable Transport Services, VIC
Initial research, advisory services and preparation of a preliminary strategic plan for a sustainable and efficient, renewable energy based electric transport system options for a Local Government Area in outer Melbourne, Australia.
2015: Supporting a research project with a university team looking at tollway infrastructure, PPPs and their financial structures.
2014: Strategic Business Review for SA Water,
Review of capital planning and asset management strategy and business cases for major expenditure on infrastructure. Analysis of the drivers for capital investment.
2014: The Future of Urban Water 2040, for a major Australian water utility
Identified a range of challenges faced by Australian water utilities, including a changing climate, managing diverse sources of supply, ensuring the health of waterways and ecological systems, maintaining the affordability of water services, and population growth. Urban water utilities need to maximise opportunities to provide services of value, while mitigating future risks and uncertainties.
2013-14: Development of an Asset Management Strategy for Melbourne Water, A ground-up transformational asset strategy reflecting the new customer-centric business model. It involved a strategic delivery plan. implementation roadmap. change readiness plan, future governance plan and benefits realisation plan. Involved multiple internal and external workshops.
2013: Review of Capital Expenditure Submission, The Philippines,
Undertook a review of capital expenditure submissions for concessionaire Maynilad Water in Manila focussing on review of the regulatory submission (capital component) and a subsequent adverse regulatory determination. Reviewed approaches to the regulation and treatment of water, wastewater and IT related capital expenditure assessment used in Australia, USA and UK, specifically the treatment of working capital, delayed expenditure and project variations.
2013: Review of Internal Business Cases, Melbourne Water,
Ensured internal business cases for proposed infrastructure provided best value, holistic outcomes from a cost and process efficiency perspective and that the functional design for the proposed project occurred with minimal need to rework plans. In-depth consultation with staff and sensitive assessment to identify problems and other potential options was important in this project.
* Note this experience covers both SIP Advisory and it's team members