Panel Discussions

Matthew joined Mytilineos (now Metlen Group) in 2018, focussed on project financing and investment in the solar division (previously Metka EGN, now M Renewables), and has been involved in acquisitions, project development, PPAs, financings and divestments in Australia, Europe, Latam and Asia. Previously he worked for 12 years in project financing and advisory in London, for Mizuho, BNP Paribas, CBA and several advisory firms, covering onshore and offshore wind, solar, conventional power and other infrastructure sectors. He has a BSc in Physics (Hons) from UWA, PhD in Materials Engineering from UNSW, did an engineering postdoc at Cambridge and is a CFA Charterholder.

Niluksha Herath is Executive Manager Engineering at Pacific Blue Australia, where she leads the Engineering functions of the business for grid-scale renewable energy and storage developments and supports the operation Pacific Blue’s existing portfolio of renewable energy assets.A Chartered Electrical Engineer with 20 years of experience in the energy industry, Niluksha has previously held various engineering, program and senior management roles at the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), including the planning and delivery of several major multi-million-dollar transmission and renewable energy infrastructure projects. Her experience spans across government and industry, where she has also leveraged her technical and industry expertise to deliver strategic regulatory and energy policy reform in a highly complex and rapidly evolving market.  Her diverse background additionally includes roles across network businesses and consultancies, both in Australia and internationally. Niluksha holds a Bachelor of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering from Monash University, an MBA from Melbourne Business School and currently serves as an Honorary Fellow for the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Melbourne.

Preeti Arora is the General Manager of Infrastructure Engineering – Power at APA Group. In this role, she leads engineering services, grid connections, and project development management for power growth projects including hybrid off-grid, energy storage, gas power generation, and grid-connected renewable projects. Previously, she was the Executive Manager of Engineering and Delivery at Pacific Blue Australia, where Preeti established capabilities to support strategic direction and successfully advanced their development pipeline with multi-technology renewables energy hubs.  Preeti holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Auckland, NZ, and an MBA from Melbourne Business School. Her academic background, combined with her industry experience, equips her with a strong perspective on the synergy of empowered teams, sustainable energy solutions, and the alignment of customer and business requirements. Preeti is dedicated to supporting decarbonisation goals across the industry. She likes to stay updated on the regulatory landscape as the energy market evolves in Australia, participating in industry forums, and mentoring young professionals in the field.

Nishad Mendis is currently working as the Energy Transition Manager for Bureau Veritas, Australia. Prior to this, he worked for DNV as a senior Electrical Engineer, Eltek as the Solution Engineer, Alstom Grid as a Design and Commissioning Engineer for HV substations. Nishad completed his PhD from the University of Wollongong (2012), MBA from the Anaheim University USA (2020), and Bachelor’s degree from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (2005). He is currently serving as an Honorary Fellow for School of Electrical Engineering at Deakin University and an industry advisory board member at Federation University. Also, he is serving as a Council Member for IEEE IAS.

Vanyssa brings two decades of diverse leadership experience in the energy sector, specialising in corporate development, strategic business operations and executive leadership. She has a proven track record in originating and executing infrastructure projects, driving organic and inorganic growth opportunities, and establishing strong partnerships. She thrives on her unique blend of technical acumen and commercial insight for strategic planning and corporate development, particularly the renewable energy industry. Vanyssa is passionate about the energy transition through building a united community of people who share a collective mission and vision, she is also passionate in supporting women and people of diverse gender backgrounds to step up as empowered leaders within their organisations. Additionally, Vanyssa co-chair of the Women in Renewables (WiR) Victoria networking group that aims to celebrate and support all the incredible women and people of diverse gender backgrounds in our professional network within the Renewables industry.