After 40 years in the dams industry, water still flows downhill. 

For Paul Southcott, Entura’s Senior Principal – Dams & Headworks, that reflection captures an important lesson from this episode: technology may evolve, but the fundamental engineering principles are something every engineer needs to master regardless of advances in new technology.

Joined by host Donald Vaughan, Technical Director Power, Paul and Donald discuss Paul’s early years as a dams engineer, how he has seen the industry change, what the future looks like and more recently, Paul’s role as the Convenor of ANCOLD’s Guidelines for Dam Instrumentation and Monitoring Systems Working Group. 

With ANCOLD 2026 just around the corner, this episode is a great insight into some of the ways our people are contributing to the industry, what we are bringing to the conference, and the things that dam owners need to look out for in the future.

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They say after 10 years of doing the same thing, you become an expert.

Stuart Robertson, Team Leader Spatial and Data Services, has been surveying for the past 25 years, measuring to a level of precision few people ever need to consider

In this episode of The Entura Effect, Stuart and host Donald Vaughan dig into how surveying and metrology support crucial stages of the Gordon Power Station refurbishment. 

In an environment where some measurements need to be correct down to fractions of a millimetre, across an area the size of a school bus, Stuart explains the often hidden but crucially important role surveyors play in these refurbishments.

Whether it’s the complexities of measuring the pivot ring for a turbine (and watching it physically grow and shrink as it cools down and heats up) or finding creative methods to measure hydropower equipment in tight spaces, Stuart shares some of the unique challenges involved in collecting data engineers can rely on.

Listen now to hear the story behind how Stuart’s measurements are the keystone for the engineers disassembling, refurbishing and reassembling hydropower infrastructure at Gordon Power Station.

Connect with us on our website: www.entura.com.au or Facebook and LinkedIn 

What do the arts and architecture have to do with civil engineering?

For Jaretha Lombaard, our Senior Engineer, a lot more than you might think. 

In this episode of Behind the Scenes, Jaretha shares how a love of architecture and the arts led her into a career in civil engineering and eventually brought her to Australia.

Jaretha shares some of the key learnings from her career journey, including the importance of a “never say never” mindset and how developing resilience, adaptability, and curiosity are key for successful engineers. 

Listen to hear why curiosity and critical thinking remain some of the most valuable skills an engineer can develop and how saying yes to opportunities can take your career in unexpected directions.

Connect with us on our website: www.entura.com.au or Facebook and LinkedIn 

What do you do when you need to replace critical infrastructure that’s 18m underwater on a live hydropower asset?

At Trevallyn power station, that was the challenge facing Professional Mechanical Engineer Eli Pharaoh. The existing trash rack had been cast directly into the concrete intake, meaning it couldn’t be simply unbolted and replaced. 

Draining the lake was not an option. None of the original hardware could be used, and the power station needed to remain operational for most of the upgrade to manage lake water levels.

This was far from a standard engineering problem.

In this episode of The Entura Effect, Eli discusses the distinct technical challenges he faced on the project, the innovative solution he designed and how the outcome not only managed every project constraint but also was a cost-effective solution for the client

Listen now to hear the story behind this project and the clever engineering that made it possible.

Connect with us on our website: www.entura.com.au or Facebook and LinkedIn 

How would you describe an engineer?

For Tim Griggs, our Principal Civil Engineer, he describes his role in our latest podcast episode as a facilitator, problem solver and storyteller. 

Starting his career in Hobart, Tim was inspired by a childhood friend's father and has since travelled all around the world, from Malaysia to Uganda, working on critical power and water infrastructure. 

In this episode, Tim discusses his unique career journey, gaining important skills along the way, and how he has managed a great work-life balance in the midst of it all.

Listen now!

Connect with us on our website: www.entura.com.au or Facebook and LinkedIn 

How has the renewable energy landscape changed over the past 20 years? 

In this episode of Behind the Scenes, we speak with Silke Schwartz, Entura’s Director – Power, one of the pioneers of renewable energy in Australia, to discuss this question and many others. 

Passing her two-decade milestone at Entura over the next few days, Silke’s journey with Entura is a testament to the deep expertise and knowledge we bring to the work we do. 

From her early beginnings in Germany, studying Naval Architecture and working in a shipyard, to leading major renewable projects in Australia, Silke shares how her love of sailing led to a career at the leading edge of the renewable energy transition.  

Connect with us on our website: www.entura.com.au or Facebook and LinkedIn 

From a school exchange program in Tasmania to leading a team of specialists facilitating the energy transition, Hendryk Klempke’s career path has been anything but ordinary.

In this episode of Behind the Scenes, we explore how Hendryk’s love for Tasmania eventually led him to join Hydro Tasmania as a vacation student, following a brief stint as an assistant teacher. 

Tune in to hear how Hendryk balances his team of high-performing specialists with dedication to family life through flexible working.

Connect with us on our website: www.entura.com.au or Facebook and LinkedIn 

How much water is just enough?

Water can be dangerous, whether there is too much or too little.

In this episode of Behind the Scenes, we get an insider's view of all things water from one of Australia’s leading experts, Dr Colin Terry, Entura’s Senior Principal - Water (Hydrology and Hydraulics).

As well as discussing his career journey and how his love for water and the natural environment has led him all around Australia, Colin discusses topical challenges, including how climate change is influencing how we prepare for future water conditions.

Connect with us on our website: www.entura.com.au or Facebook and LinkedIn 

From installing a wind turbine on the roof of the University of Newcastle to working on aircraft engine aerodynamics in the United States, Andrew’s career journey has been anything but ordinary.

In this episode, we explore how a lecture in the United States prompted Andrew to make a decision that would change his career journey forever, leading him to pursue a career in renewable energy and positioning him as one of the pioneers designing some of Australia’s early wind farms.

Tune in to hear how Andrew’s career in renewables has led him all around the world, with no two projects the same.

Connect with us on our website: www.entura.com.au or Facebook and LinkedIn 

Join Specialist Hydropower Engineer, Pradipta Swain, and Technical Director Power, Donald Vaughan, as they discuss Entura's work as Lender's Engineer on the recently completed Kuther hydropower project in Himachal Pradesh, India. 

From landslides to 6-hour taxi rides to visit the site, no two days working on this project have been the same. 

Working with the lender on this project since the beginning, Pradipta knows this project well. Listen now to find out how our team of passionate specialists acted as the lender's technical eyes and ears throughout this challenging project. 

Learn more about the Kutehr hydropower project: https://entura.com.au/projects/11643/ 

Join our team of passionate professionals: https://entura.com.au/about/careers-new/

Connect with us on our website: www.entura.com.au or Facebook and LinkedIn