Australia’s offshore wind future is fast approaching, promising large-scale clean energy driven by digital innovation, policy alignment, and infrastructure planning. But delivering this vision demands cross-sector collaboration, smarter systems, and new ways of working.
Moderated by William Burrows, Senior Manager of Project Delivery at InEight, this panel brings together experts from industry, academia, and infrastructure delivery to explore the technologies and partnerships transforming offshore wind.
With global insights and a focus on local readiness, the discussion will unpack what makes offshore wind delivery distinct, how integrated data enhances performance, why shared infrastructure is critical, and how Australia can scale its workforce, supply chains, and community engagement.
Moderator: William Burrows, Senior Manager, Project Delivery, InEight
Prior to joining InEight William Burrows spent 22 years working in construction contracting across many roles including Estimating, Field Execution, Project Management and Management. He started his career in the family steel fabrication
from a small business to part of a publicly listed Engineering Services group servicing capital projects and asset owners across Australia. For the last 5 years he has worked with InEight and currently leads the team of Project Delivery consultants that work with asset owners and construction contractors to implement InEight solutions. Willam and his team are passionate about the education and change management that drive business transformation and innovation in the capital projects space.
Andrew Harris, SVP, InEight, APAC & Japan
Andrew Harris is Senior Vice President at InEight, leading the company's growth and customer engagement strategy across the Asia-Pacific region. Since joining InEight in 2018 as Vice President of Sales for APAC, Andrew has played a pivotal role in driving the company's regional success-strengthening customer relationships, advancing strategic partnerships, and championing nEight's commitment to delivering outstanding customer outcomes.
He brings a wealth of experience in client-focused ICT and managed services, having delivered high-value solutions to some of the region's most prominent cloud-based technology organisations. Prior to joining InEight, Andrew held various senior technology roles, helping enterprise and government clients realise the benefits of digital transformation through strategic technology solutions.Andrew holds an MBA from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.
A/Prof. Shiaohuey Chow, Associate Professor, Geotechnical Engineering, The University of Melbourne & Director, Australian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy
Shiaohuey Chow is an Associate Professor and the Discipline Leader for Geotechnical Engineering at The University of Melbourne. Her expertise includes offshore geotechnical site investigation, anchoring solution in sand, strain rate effects in soil and sample disturbance effects on soft soils. Her works have received several international best paper awards, including the Telford Premium Prize in 2016 and Manby Prize in 2014 from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), UK.
She is also the Director of the Australian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy, and a member of the Executive Committee for the Melbourne Energy Institute. She collaborates widely with both academic and industry partners nationally and internationally. She also enjoys engaging with the community to share her passion in geotechnical engineering and to promote more girls in STEM.
Richard McAllister, Director, Bardex
Richard McAllister assumed the role of Director at Bardex Corporation’s Australia office in August 2023, bringing with him an impressive breadth of experience across government, private sector, and non-governmental organisations. Prior to joining Bardex, Richard led Crowley Australia’s expansion in the Indo Pacific as Director Projects – Australia, driving significant energy and infrastructure growth on behalf of US and Australian Defence interests.
Richard’s holds a Bachelor of Engineering specialising in Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Geomechanics, and a Master of Environmental Engineering Science, and is an Adjunct with the School of Engineering, IT and Environment at Charles Darwin University. He previously served as President of Engineers Australia's Northern Division, and is currently Deputy Chair of the Gippsland Chapter of Engineers Australia.
Deepak Sharma
Deepak Sharma is Director of Project Delivery at VicGrid. An initiative-taking and enthusiastic leader with over 20 years of domestic & international experience in leading diverse teams across sectors including: power systems engineering and design, project management, renewables infrastructure and heavy marine engineering.
Deepak has led the development of the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan (VTP) at VicGrid. 2025 VTP is the first strategic plan for transmission and renewable energy development for Victoria. This plan needed to find the right balance with competing priorities of stakeholders. Deepak enjoys working in diverse teams and values the need for proper engagement with both internal and external stakeholders.
Prior to VicGrid, Deepak led the Major Projects teams at AusNet and CitiPower/Powercor. He has a deep understanding of the distribution and transmission electricity networks, in particular the challenges and opportunities to transition to renewables. He won the National award with Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) in 2012 for best project team member of the year for his role in successful delivery of a major project at Citipower/Powercor.
Deepak obtained his executive MBA from Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) in 2015, and his MEng degree in telecommunications engineering from Monash University in 2003. He also has a BEng in electronics engineering from Nagpur University in India and is a certified practicing project executive (CPPE) with AIPM.
