Can we deliver Melbourne’s future?
With continued population growth across Victoria, major investment in transport and infrastructure, and rising energy, fuel, and construction costs, the real challenge is delivering Melbourne’s future, not just planning it.
Behind every major project lies a complex web of engineering decisions, risk trade-offs, and real-world constraints. From transport networks and energy systems to large-scale urban developments, engineers are being asked to do more, faster, more sustainably, and under increasing scrutiny.
As Victoria accelerates its transition to renewable energy, additional complexity is introduced across grid infrastructure, system integration, and long-term project planning. This panel brings together engineering and industry experts to explore the challenges of growth, energy, and infrastructure, and to discuss what it really takes to deliver Melbourne’s sustainable future.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
- Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00PM
- Location: EIT Melbourne Campus, Level 5, 301 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Attendance: Free in person event, however limited spots available. Please RSVP by 8th September.
Why Attend:
- Understand the challenges of delivering infrastructure and renewable energy projects in Victoria
- Learn how energy transition is influencing engineering and delivery decisions
- Gain insights into balancing sustainability, risk, and project timelines
- Hear from industry leaders on real-world renewable energy and infrastructure projects
What to Expect:
- Panel Discussion: Explore how engineers are responding to growth, energy transition, and increasing delivery pressures, and what this means for infrastructure projects across Melbourne and Victoria.
- Live Q&A: Ask your questions directly to industry experts on project delivery, risk management, stakeholder challenges, and future infrastructure priorities.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, senior engineers, and industry professionals over canapés and drinks.
- Professional Recognition: Receive a digital Certificate of Attendance, potentially eligible for Engineers Australia CPD hours.
Attendance at this technical event may be eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours with Engineers Australia, in accordance with their CPD guidelines.
A digital Certificate of Attendance will be provided after the event.
Panelists:
Nishad Mendis, Business Unit Manager – Renewables at Bureau Veritas
Nishad Mendis is an experienced professional in the energy sector with over 18 years of experience. Currently serving as the Business Unit Manager-Renewables at Bureau Veritas in Australia, he spearheads efforts to drive energy transition strategies. His impressive career trajectory includes roles such as Senior Electrical Engineer at DNV, Solution Engineer at Eltek, and Design and Commissioning Engineer for HV substations at Alstom Grid. He holds a PhD from the University of Wollongong, Australia, and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with honors from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. He further enhanced his expertise with an MBA in Global Sustainable Management from Anaheim University, USA. His professional recognition includes being a Senior Member of IEEE, holding NER credentials, and serving as an Executive Board member of the IEEE Industrial Applications Society. Additionally, he is an Honorary Fellow at Deakin University’s School of Electrical Engineering.
Chido Chandakabata, Senior Engineering Services Manager – Asia Pacific at SEL Asia Pacific
Chido Chandakabata received his Bachelors of Science with honors in Electrical Engineering from the University of Zimbabwe in 2004. He started his career as a Graduate Engineer at Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), later moving to the role of Protection Design Engineer. He currently holds the position of Senior Engineering Manager responsible for the Specification and delivery of Power System Protection and Automation projects in the Asia-Pacific region. He has co-authored published technical papers including the deployment of Ethernet based Line Differential Protection over Passive Multiplexers and the Protection of Phase Shifting Transformers.
Alisha Stafford, Tertiary Engagement Manager – Victoria
Alisha is responsible for leading the Student Engagement Strategy within the Tertiary sector in Victoria and is here to ensure engineering students have access to all the support and resources that Engineers Australia student membership offers. She is focused on engaging with academic staff and university students and is responsible for all on campus student engagement and brand building activity including managing a team of 59 EA student ambassadors across 12 Tertiary institutions.
If you’re interested in presenting or contributing, please get in touch. Contact Pippa Dold, pippa.dold@eit.edu.au
RSVP & Registration
Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. Please RSVP by 8th September to secure your spot.