| People People on the move IWP&DC reports on recent appointments in the industry


Malcolm Turnbull appointed as President of IHA


Former Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, has been named the new President of the International Hydropower Association (IHA), taking over the role from Roger Gill. The announcement was made ahead of the World Hydropower Congress in Bali, set to commence on October 31, 2023. On his election, Turnbull said: “The stakes have never been higher. The world is on a catastrophic path to a 2.7 degrees Celsius increase in global warming. This is far beyond the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit that was agreed by the international community as part of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Renewables are key to addressing this challenge. We do not need new technologies; we have the tools to do the job now. It is a matter of political will and choice. Highlighting hydropower’s significant role


as the largest renewable energy source, Turnbull pointed out its unique advantage of complementing solar and wind energy by providing backup power during periods of low sun and wind activity. He expressed his enthusiasm about taking up the position and contributing to the advancement of sustainable hydropower. Turnbull’s appointment comes after a successful tenure by Roger Gill, who oversaw IHA’s transformation into an outward-facing, values-based advocacy organization. Gill, who served as President since 2019, praised the organization’s progress in promoting sustainable hydropower across more than 100 countries. He expressed confidence in Turnbull’s leadership, stating that his personal commitment to the sector makes him an ideal candidate to drive the mission forward. Before entering politics, Malcolm Turnbull


enjoyed a diverse international career in law, business, and media. During his tenure as Australia’s Prime Minister, he announced the ambitious Snowy Hydro 2.0 project, the southern hemisphere’s largest pumped hydro scheme. Since leaving politics, he has continued his involvement in the business sector, serving as a senior adviser to KKR and supporting various Australian technology ventures. He currently chairs the Green Hydrogen


Organisation and has co-chaired the IHA- hosted International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower. Moreover, Turnbull frequently engages in speaking and writing on a range of topics, including cyber security, geopolitics, and renewable energy. ●


Entura’s technical leadership team expands


Two new Senior Principals have been appointed to Entura’s Technical Leadership Team. Dr Andrew Wright will move into the role of Senior Principal, Renewables & Energy Storage, while Dr Colin Terry has been appointed as Senior Principal, Water (Hydraulics/Hydrology). Wright joined Entura in 2005 as a technical consultant. Since then, he has held several positions in Entura’s Renewables Development Team, including Technical Specialist, Technical Lead, Project Manager and Team Leader. He has been involved in several-high profile renewable energy developments, such as Hydro Tasmania’s King Island and Flinders Island hybrid renewable energy systems, Mannar Wind Farm in Sri Lanka, and Tasmania’s Musselroe, Granville Harbour and Cattle Hill Wind Farm projects. Wright has co-authored several industry papers, and is committed to furthering his own professional development as well as that of his peers. Dr Terry joined the business more recently in 2018, but is backed by 30 years of engineering expertise. He has held a strong water focus throughout his career, with skills in modelling, design and construction. He has worked at senior technical levels of small and large organisations, and is well-versed in many aspects of the water cycle within Australia and New Zealand. His experience includes planning town water supplies and sources, civil design to support commercial buildings and subdivisions, and flood management. Through Entura, he has been involved in several flood management projects for councils such as Latrobe, Central Coast and Kingborough; impacts assessment for the hydrodynamics of the new Bridgewater Bridge in the River Derwent, and CFD modelling of the intake for the Tarraleah hydro power redevelopment.. Both join previously announced Senior Principals Paul Southcott, Dams & Headworks, and David Wilkey, Grid & Power.


Southcott joined Entura in 2000 as a senior dams engineer. During his time at the business, he has led the dams team and acted as Entura’s principal civil engineer. He is a respected dams specialist and was recognised as Tasmania’s Professional Engineer of the Year in Engineers Australia’s 2021 Engineering Excellence Awards. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Master of Engineering Studies (Structural and Foundation Engineering) and is a Fellow of Engineers Australia.


He has contributed to many major dam and


hydropower projects in Australia and abroad, including Battery of the Nation, the Tarraleah hydropower scheme, SeqWater, Sun Water, SAWater and Snowy Hydro. His expertise is a crucial part of Entura’s ongoing support for upgrade and safety works for Hydro Tasmania’s and TasWater’s extensive dams portfolios. Entura’s new Senior Principal David Wilkey joined Entura in 2006 as a specialist electrical engineer. He then became a principal engineer for secondary electrical systems, where he provided high-level technical expertise to the electrical teams. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) and a Graduate Diploma in Science (Mathematics). His expertise covers multiple facets of electrical engineering, with a particular focus on electrical protection, power systems studies and rotating electrical machines. He has worked on several key projects for Entura’s clients locally and internationally, including Clermont Solar Farm, Genex Power’s Kidston Pumped Storage Hydropower Project and due diligence for Australia’s Electricity Market Operator (AEMO).i


New CFO at Statkraft


Anna Nord Bjercke has been appointed new Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer and IT (EVP CFO & IT) at Statkraft. Bjercke is currently CFO at Møller Mobility Group. She succeeds Anne Harris, who will retire from the position on 30 June. Nord Bjercke has held several leading positions in Nordic and international companies. Prior to her current CFO position at Møller Mobility Group she was CFO at Norway Seafoods Group AS and has experience from leading management positions in Statoil ASA and Svenska Statoil AB. “I look forward to joining Statkraft, which


is Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy, in a time of rapid growth and exciting opportunities for the company. We are in the beginning of the green energy and industrial transition. Statkraft has the position, competence and financial strength to play a key role in this transition and continue its impressive value creation,” she said. Statkraft’s current EVP CFO & IT Anne Harris has held the position since 2019 and wishes to retire and step down from the position. Nord Bjercke will join Statkraft no later than 1 January 2024. Thomas Geiran, Senior Vice President Performance and Risk Management, will be acting CFO from 1 July until Anna Nord Bjercke starts in the position. ●


www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2023 | 9


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