Industry Advisory Panel

MIEAust CPEng NER

Cherie completed the BE in Civil Engineering at The University of Western Australia in 1994. She is an experienced structural engineer with more than 25 years’ experience in the mining and materials handling industry. Cherie has extensive experience as a Structural engineer in various companies and is currently a Principal Structural Engineer at Rio Tinto, specialised in Asset Management.

BE FIEAust CPEng NER

Declan Barrett is a senior leader in building design at Aurecon experienced in leading exceptional global multinational teams in Australia, Asia and the Middle East to deliver the design of large complex and technically challenging multidisciplinary major projects.

He enjoys technically challenging projects which offer an opportunity to apply innovative design and engineering approaches particularly those that involve complex modelling and simulations, parametric and computational design, and structural optimisation.

Declan also has extensive knowledge of project delivery methodologies, with demonstrable experience successfully leading, managing and delivering design on complex projects within the nuances of corporate and government agency environments, having led the delivery of Perth Children’s Hospital, Brookfield Place and the Oman Museum project. This has included traditional Design Bid Build, Design & Construct, Alliance, and Joint Venture procurement involving bespoke contracts as well as FIDIC, AS4122 and AS4902 contracts.

Experience includes planning and organising 3 major projects with 60,000 to 170,000 hours of resourcing effort including pricing, budgeting & controls. This also involved risk assessment for unique and complex design problems, user group/stakeholder management, robust change management procedures and execution of design specifications/monitoring of construction on site.

B. Eng. Civil (Hons)

Jane earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Western Australia in 2008. She joined Structerre in 2011 as a Graduate Engineer taking on a variety of roles before becoming the National Engineering Manager in 2020. Actively contributing to her industry Jane participates in a variety of ways, including Master Builders WA housing Council and Interengineer. She is currently the National Engineering Manager at Structerre. Prior to this, she worked as a Senior Structural Engineer and CEO Support at Structerre.

Jason completed his BE (Civil Engineering with Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce, majors in Finance and General Management, both in 1999 from The University of Western Australia.

He then studied Authentic Leadership Development, Business/Commerce, General, at Harvard Business School in 2013. Jason has more than 21 years’ experience in the project delivery and strategic business development space.

His key areas of expertise lie around Leadership, Strategy, Project Management, Resource Management, Value Engineering, Construction, Commercial and Contract Management.

During his career he has worked with several key clients including Water Corporation, BHPB, DevWest, MRWA, Dept. of Communities, Hunter Development Corporation, Lendlease, CBH and Wesfarmers to deliver some significant projects like Tonkin Gap Alliance, Mandurah Ocean Marina, Harvey SSDP Pipeline to Summit Tank Trunk Main, Ravenswood Booster Pump Station, Precinct 3 Subdivision and several other key urban, regional and interstate projects. Jason is passionate about people development and sustainable business growth.

Engineering Management, 2014, University of Manchester, UK

PhD, 2003, St. John’s Coll., University of Cambridge, UK

MSc DIC. Soil mechanics, 1999, Imperial College, UK

BE (Civil, 1^st Class), 1998, The University of Western Australia

BSc (Information Technology), 1996, The University of Western Australia

"The only way for the water industry to enhance the quality of potential future employees is to provide input and guidance to university academic programs. IAP support is one way of doing this."

Wayne is the Senior Principal Engineer (Water Resource Recovery) at the Water Corporation. He has 33 years’ water engineering experience, mostly in used water management.  He has extensive expertise in the concept definition, design and commissioning of sewage and industrial effluent management infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on biological nutrient removal and reclamation technologies. He has worked with continuous, intermittent, and immersed membrane activated sludge systems, as well as simpler technologies such as waste stabilisation ponds. Design and operational optimisation of small used water management systems is a key area of interest.

“The satisfaction I get from being on the Electrical Engineering Industry Advisory Board at UWA is sharing my knowledge and experience with the university to help shape the way future engineers are educated while expanding my own network.”

Angelo heads a team accountable for the integrity of a large High Voltage system with onsite generation and managing contracts related to Wholesale Electricity Market participation.

"The IAP is an important mechanism to ensure that UWA remains engaged with industry and takes advice and direction from industry based engineers. It is also used to ensure that students have continued exposure to engineers and industry during their time at UWA."

"As a UWA Engineering graduate, my membership of the Industry Advisory Panel is an opportunity to reconnect with the university and assist in aligning its strategy with the needs of local industry."

Farhad received a bachelor's and master's degree in Electrical Engineering from UWA and co-founded telecommunications spin-out QPSX, where he managed a software development team. Following the system’s licensing to Siemens, he moved to Germany for several years as a consultant. Since returning to Australia he has worked in software, communications, and Intellectual Property with organisations including CSIRO (Sydney), Telstra (Melbourne), ERG, IPernica (now Nearmap), WA Department of Finance, Norwood Systems, Water Corporation, and Western Power. Farhad is an active member of the Perth startup community, as an investor and mentor.

After graduating from UWA in 1989, Jenny has worked extensively in the manufacturing and electronics industry building up expertise in electronic hardware design and mass production processes.

"Education is the key to economic sustainability in these challenging times."

"The IAP is an important conduit to share advice, feedback and news between the University and industry. It’s great to be a part of that."

Matthew graduated from UWA with degrees in both Engineering and Science. Since graduating he has worked for a number of companies doing grassroots R&D. His industry experience has covered technical electronics and sensor design, software development, system design and team and project management.

"I enjoy the time spent with faculty staff and students to build connections between Industry and the University and create opportunities for collaboration."

Rod is currently a member of the Process & Equipment Development team within Alcoa Technology Delivery Group. Delivering expertise on design, operation , maintenance and compliance to standards & regulations of all aspects of Electrical & Instrument Engineering for key stakeholders. 

"It has been an honour to be involved as a sitting member on the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering’s Industry Advisory Panel.  Being able to inject an industry perspective on academic curriculum can hopefully help assist the University of Western Australia to provide students with the most up to date and relevant units in preparation for entry into the workforce.  Having the opportunity to give back to the University which I graduated from and has provided me with such a fulfilling career is also a great privilege."

Shervin Fani is an Adjunct Associate Professor with Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at The University of Western Australia, where he has been involved with the Power and Clean Energy Research Group since 2015.  He is a Chartered Professional Engineer and a Fellow of Engineers Australia.  

Since graduating, Shervin has been working in the power utility industry and in that time has been engaged in a variety of electricity distribution and transmission engineering roles, including:  power systems planning and renewable integration, microgrids, standards, protection, maintenance and design.   Having previously held Management positions at Western Power, he is currently employed by the organisation as a Principal Engineer advising on grid transformation, emerging technologies, alternative energy business models and sustainable network development.

"It is now my 33rd year practising as a professional Electrical Engineer. Since I am a UWA Alumni, I would like to have the opportunity to contribute towards the education of young UWA engineering students. My desire is to be able to help them to be better qualified and industry-ready when they complete their studies."

Simon is also Co-founder and Technical Director of PowerPlus Energy Pty Ltd which was incorporated in late 2017 to design, manufacture, distribute and support Lithium Battery Energy Storage Systems -- right here in Melbourne, Australia. His role is to manage the design and manufacturing processes to ensure the  production of a world-class high voltage Digital Battery Management System. This re-imagined BMS resides inside a modular, rack-mountable, Australian designed and manufactured lithium battery, and is designed to work hand-in-glove with Inverter-charger solutions from around the world.

"Enjoy the opportunity given to share the knowledge with the UWA staff as well as the enthusiastic students on mining related power activities."

 “I am glad to be able to make a contribution to the education of the next generation of engineers from at UWA.”

Jason completed both his undergraduate and PhD at The University of Western Australia, and has 18 years of experience in both the research and engineering consulting industries. 

"I feel honoured to be able to contribute to a better integration and understanding of the role of groundwater into the courses of the WA’s engineers of tomorrow."

Martin's skills include expert consulting geoscience services and project management on geothermal and deep water well projects, wellsite geology, well testing, wireline geophysics and 3D groundwater flow and heat modelling. He has eight years’ experience as a geothermal hydrogeologist including more than six years’ for Rockwater in Perth (the leading low-enthalpy geothermal consultant in Australia) and a year as project manager for CFG Services, a global geothermal energy consultancy in Paris with large-scale projects in France and overseas.

"The Environmental Industry Advisory Board allows me to share an external industry perspective with the University, helping them develop WA’s future environmental engineers."

Nadelle is a civil and environmental engineer, with almost 20 years’ experience ranging from local government, to engineering consulting, to state government, to water utility.  She is passionate about the role of engineering in society, with a particular focus on improving services to Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.  

"Our natural systems are under ever increasing pressures and innovative engineering solutions will play an important role in balancing social development with the preservation of ecological systems. The next wave of engineering graduates will be at the coal-face of these massive challenges."

"After over 40 years' of engineering practise, I wanted to share my experience with young prospective engineers. My hope is to have some small influence on areas of the course that I believe are important for all mechanical engineers."

Chris graduated from UWA in 1969 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Chris has over 40 years' experience in a wide range of engineering fields, including engine research and design, automotive electrical product testing and manufacturing, and machinery design. Prior to becoming a self employed Mechanical Engineer, Chris worked as a Mechanical Design Engineer at Orontide for 10 year's and as a Design Engineer at Orbital Engine Corporation for 21 year's.

“It is satisfying being able to contribute in shaping the next generation of graduates from UWA to prepare them for their careers. The collaboration between Industry and the University will make a material difference to the capability of the students.”

Gareth graduated from UWA with an Engineering Honours and Commerce degree in 1995. He has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 20 years, spending a considerable amount of time in Southeast Asia and more recently in Australia. He currently holds the position of Manager Gas Assets for Santos. His areas of expertise include production operations and major project development.

"University bodies and industry need to cooperate to achieve a common goal of technological development by training well rounded students and staff with the capacity to generate a significant impact in their given field."

"Being on the Mining Industry Advisory Board at UWA allows me to give something back to the University, the students and the approach to their education from my employment and educational  experiences over many years."

Malcolm has over 40 years’ experience in project management, design, and R&D management in Australia, South Africa, UK and US. He has a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering and is a Rhodes Scholar. 

"Being on the IAP for the School of Mechanical Engineering at UWA provides me that wonderful opportunity to 'pay forward'." 

"I enjoy my involvement to the Mining Industry Advisory Board at UWA as it is an opportunity to contribute to forming the education of our industries future professionals."

Andrew is a Mining Engineer and experienced Mining Manager with over 19 years' experience in large scale iron ore, underground gold, base metals, and diamond mines within Australia.  He is results orientated in delivering operational management, life of mine technical planning, feasibility studies, operational/production ramp-ups and productivity/cost/process business improvement.

“Being part of the Mining Industry Advisory Board at UWA give me the chance to help shape the mining engineers of the future and give something back to the industry that has been so good for me and my family.” 

Chris is a mining professional with 30 years’ experience and a proven leadership record at senior levels in Australia and internationally across multiple commodities and aspects of mining from concept to closure. Deep expertise in business, mining operational and technical leadership, technical risk, joint venture management, technology, innovation and project execution in both surface and underground mines. 

"Having experienced the value of a UWA Engineering Degree throughout my career I’m excited about the opportunity to reconnect with the university and give back to the faculty by helping guide the ongoing education of future industry professionals."

Dan is a Mining Engineer with over 10 years’ experience in large scale surface mining operations. In this time Dan has gained first-hand experience, and led teams, across all mine planning and design roles in the short to medium term horizon whilst also spending several years in front line operational leadership roles and as a designated Quarry Manger. Dan’s passion is for mentoring others and driving operational excellence and to that end Dan and his team currently oversee the BHP Graduate Program for Mining Engineers as well as all mentoring, improvement and optimisation initiatives across the Mining Engineering teams in the Iron Ore division.

"I have a strong passion about the mining industry and its continuing relevance plus what it has to offer for people prepared to take on a career in this field. To be part of assisting in connecting the operations and academic streams provides me with a strong sense of achievement."

Mark has 40 years' experience in the Australian mining industry, having started as a Mining Cadet in Broken Hill at CRA’s Zinc Corporation in the early 80s. Mark’s experience has covered a number of leadership positions in operations and technical functions, across a number of commodities within Australia.

"Being on the Mining Industry Advisory Board at UWA allows me to give contribute with an industry perspective to the university."

Scott is a mining engineer with over 20 years’ experience in mining. Scott has worked in underground and open pit mining operations in Australia at Golden Grove and Boddington Gold Mine, and in New Zealand at the Martha Mine. Scott joined SRK Consulting in 2001 and currently works in Due Diligence, Project Management and with technical mine planning arenas.