Keynote Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Dr Ziggy Switkowski Chairman, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Dr Ziggy Switkowski is currently a non-executive director of Suncorp, Tabcorp, Healthscope and Opera Australia, He is a former chief executive of Telstra, Optus and Kodak (Australasia). In 2006 he chaired the Prime Minister’s Review of Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy, and more recently has been appointed to the Chair of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization. Dr Switkowski is a graduate of the University of Melbourne with a PhD in nuclear physics. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
Tim Costello AO CEO, World Vision
Tim is Chief Executive of World Vision Australia, which is our largest overseas aid organization. In this role Tim has established a strong public presence in the fight against global poverty, and its causes. Prior to this Tim has long been recognized for articulating the social conscience for Australians having led many debates on tough international and domestic issues, including gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and human rights.
After studying law and education at Monash University and obtaining his Masters in Theology at the Melbourne College of Divinity, Tim was ordained a Baptist Minister in 1986.
From 1987 – 1994 Tim was Minister at St Kilda Baptist Church and through 1993-94 also served as the City of St Kilda’s Mayor. From 1995 –2004 Tim was Minister of Collins Street Baptist Church and Executive Director of Urban Seed, a Christian not-for-profit organization.
Tim was named Victorian of the Year 2004, was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2005, and Victorian Australian of the Year in 2006.
Brigadier Wayne Budd Director-General, Headquarters Joint Operations Command Project, Defence Force
Brigadier Wayne Budd is a qualified Civil Engineer and Corps of Royal Australian Engineers officer.
He has worked as an Army construction troop commander; a senior construction engineer; been seconded to the John Holland Construction Company; commanded an Army construction squadron and the School of Military Engineering.
He has held both Army and Joint service staff roles including the Chief of Joint Operational Planning. He has also served on exchange with the US Army and in the Coalition Joint Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq in 2003.
Brigadier Budd is the Director General of both the Headquarters Joint Operations Command Project and Defence's new Public Private Partnerships Branch. He is also the Head of Corps for the Royal Australian Engineers.
Wendy Hallgren Vice President, Corporate Compliance, Fluor Corporation
Wendy Hallgren serves Fluor Corporation as its vice president of Corporate Compliance. Her responsibilities include planning, directing and managing the company’s comprehensive compliance and ethics program, including its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, corporate policies and compliance with applicable law. She also has responsibilities relating to the integrity of the company’s financial statements, including acting as a member of Fluor’s Disclosure Committee and supporting the Audit Committee of the company’s Board of Directors.
Prior to moving to Corporate Compliance in June 2004, Hallgren was a member of Fluor’s Legal department from 2002 – 2004. Before joining Fluor, she was an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Orange County, California, and at Hogan and Hartson LLP in Washington D.C., where she represented business organizations in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities transactions. Hallgren received her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University.
Professor Beverley Ronalds FIEAust CPEng CSIRO Group Executive, CSIRO Energy and Chief of CSIRO Petroleum Resources Division
Beverley has broad offshore industry experience, including involvement in design, fabrication and installation of fixed and floating platforms for Australian North West Shelf, the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Beverley has a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Melbourne, Master of Science, Diploma of Imperial College, London and PhD from University of London, UK.
Beverley is a Fellow of ATSE, ICE and IEA. In 2003, she was awarded the Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal “for service to Australian society in Civil Engineering”. She was included in Engineers Australia’s inaugural list of 100 most influential engineers in 2004.
Else Shepherd AM HonFIEAust CPEng Chairman, Powerlink Queensland
Else Shepherd is Chairman of Powerlink Queensland, a Director of the National Electricity Market Management Company (NEMMCO), a member of the Brisbane City Works Advisory Board and a Trustee of the Brisbane Girls Grammar School.
Else graduated in Electrical Engineering in 1965. She first worked as a process control engineer in the Queensland sugar industry and since 1986 has co-founded two engineering businesses making innovative telecommunications products.
Else was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2003. She is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. In 2007 she was awarded the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal.
Tom Quinn FIEAust CPEng Managing Director, Aker Solutions
Tom is an experienced senior executive in Australian and international engineering and construction companies working on major developments in the resource industry.
Since 2003 Tom has been the Managing Director of Aker Kvaerner Australia during a period of rapid growth. In 2007 he was appointed the dual role of Country Manager for all Aker Kvaerner businesses within Australia.
Tom has international and Australian project management experience in the manufacturing, mining, food, and oil and gas industries. Operational roles include start ups, a major knowledge management project, strategic implementation and marketing.
Tom has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA and a trade certificate in fitting and machining.
Andrew Wood FIEAust CPEng Managing Director, Australia / New Zealand Operations, WorleyParsons
Andrew has over 25 years experience in the oil and gas industry and is currently responsible for our Australian / New Zealand operations. Prior to taking this role Andrew spent several years starting up and growing our mergers & acquisitions group.
He played a major role in managing the successful acquisition of Parsons E&C Corporation in November 2004 and The Colt Companies in March 2007 as well as being involved in all the other acquisitions made by the group. Before our acquisitions growth Andrew was responsible for WorleyParsons' early expansion into Thailand and the Middle East, Canada and Chile in his capacity as Managing Director for international operations.
He holds a Bachelor Degree in Engineering and Graduate Diplomas in Financial Management and Labour Management Relations. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.