John Hele

John Hele (FIEAust CPEng) has over 35 years of work experience in the engineering industry. John has held various roles in different companies throughout their career.

Starting in 1987, they worked as a Cadet Engineer at the Electricity Commission (ECNSW), gaining experience in plant investigations, equipment testing, and project management.

In 1992, they joined Pacific Power as a Graduate Engineer, where they completed several rotational placements in network system analysis, design, and maintenance.

In 1994, they moved to TransGrid, where they initially worked as a Transmission Planning Engineer, responsible for assessing options for future electricity supply developments. John later became a Project Engineer, managing the design, contractual issues, budget control, and commissioning of major electrical construction projects.

From 1999 to 2001, they worked at ALSTOM T&D DISTRIBUTION SWITCHGEAR LTD as a Technical Sales Engineer (Bid Manager), overseeing tender submissions for medium to large power projects.

John then joined Endeavour Energy (NSW) in 2001 as a Network Planning & Development Engineer, responsible for project development, economic evaluation, and business case submission for transmission and distribution network augmentations. John also served as a Senior Project Manager during this time.

In 2005, they joined Ausgrid, where they held various roles including Manager of Capital Development, Manager of Network Investment, and Program Manager of New Assets. In these roles, they managed capital and maintenance programs, set objectives and strategies, led project development and review, and sought regulatory approval for major capital work. John was also involved in staff management and performance evaluation.

From 2021 to 2022, they worked as a Principal Electrical Engineer at Ventia Pty Ltd, overseeing electrical infrastructure management for Australian Defence sites. John developed maintenance strategies, trial new technologies, and led sustainability and EV charging infrastructure development. John also prepared business cases and negotiated with clients.

In 2022, they joined GHD as a Technical Director, specializing in transmission and distribution.

In 2023, they joined Transgrid as a Principal Engineer - Strategic Network Development.

Overall, John Hele has a strong background in electrical engineering, project management, and leadership roles in the energy industry.

John Hele (FIEAust CPEng) obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Technology Sydney in 1991. In 1996, they pursued a Master of Business Administration degree from Deakin University. In 1995, they also completed a Graduate Diploma of Management from Deakin University. Additionally, they obtained a Diploma of Project Management from the University of New England (AU) in 2019. John has also received several certifications, including Certified Practicing Project Practitioner (CPPP) from the Australian Institute of Project Management AIPM in 2021, FIEAust CPEng from Engineers Australia in 2018, and memberships in professional organizations such as Electric Energy Society of Australia and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.