Matt Barden has over twenty years’ experience covering roles in both private and public organisations across the Murray Darling Basin and is recognised for delivering water reform infrastructure programs and policy changes throughout the Murray Darling Basin.

Matt’s management credentials were validated with his role as a key member of the Alliance Leadership Team for the $300 million award winning FutureFlow Consortium, the early works delivery vehicle for the largest irrigation reform project in Australia. Matt’s credentials were further validated by his project management of the $120 million program of works for the NSW Murray Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM).

Being a dedicated and passionate leader, Matt has a proven record of delivery and an outstanding ability to negotiate through complex stakeholder situations to achieve tangible results. Matt is a commercially focused project manager with a strong understanding of regulatory and government policy frameworks.

As well as being strong in developing and implementing regional projects, Matt’s relationship management capabilities, along with his practical approach to community and stakeholder engagement, provide his clients with value for money outcomes.

Matt is a founding Director of Fifteen50.

Areas of Expertise

• Project definition and development
• Environmental management and approvals
• Project management
• Stakeholder management
• Asset management

Dean Delahunty has over twenty years’ experience in water resources engineering, water management reform initiatives, and environmental management. His consulting capabilities have been developed and refined through the delivery of a diverse mix of engagements, in both technical and advisory roles.

Dean’s understanding of community drivers, and the role that engineering can play in meeting community demands, has allowed him to develop strong consultation capabilities. Dean has a good understanding of stakeholder management which he utilises in his relationships with landowners, water corporations, agency staff, and government.

His capabilities in the water sector include investigations, project management, site management, design, and business case development. Dean has specific experience in the design of salt interception systems, dewatering works, open channel works, pipelines and pumps, flood control works, drainage, and holding basins.

Dean’s advisory capabilities include the development and review of strategies and policies, at both state and national levels. He has also played significant roles in the delivery of national stocktakes for Australia’s Water Accounting Practice and Australia’s Non-Urban Water Metering Systems. As a Director of Fifteen50, Dean is responsible for Business Controls.

Areas of Expertise

• Project definition and development
• Water resource engineering
• Environmental management and approvals
• Project management
• Stakeholder management
• Asset management

Nathan Heinrich has over 18 years’ experience across a wide range of engineering and consulting applications. His technical strengths extend well beyond his strong civil, water resource and irrigation engineering background. His practical approach to problem definition and resolution has elevated Nathan to being one of the Murray Darling Basin region’s leading consultant engineers.

Nathan is a trusted consultant and project manager, to a diverse range of clients, across both the government and private sectors. His experience is valued for his capacity to undertake investigations, design, contract manage, act as an independent advisor, produce reviews and be an expert witness for licensing and dispute resolution.

As a Director of Fifteen50, Nathan’s key responsibility is project delivery.

Areas of Expertise

• Project definition and development
• Civil / Water / Environmental Engineering
• Environmental management and approvals
• Project management
• Stakeholder management
• Asset management

Jamie Horkings has 20 years’ experience in civil engineering, land development, infrastructure design and project management. Jamie’s responsibilities at Fifteen50 include engineering design, project management, client liaison, services planning, feasibility studies, contract administration, obtaining authority approvals and superintendence of many civil engineering projects.

Jamie is particularly involved in the overall planning, detailed engineering design and superintendence of bulk earthworks, roadworks, sewer reticulation, stormwater drainage, retaining walls, water, gas and underground power reticulation for civil engineering and land development projects.

As Operations Manager at Fifteen50, Jamie is responsible for overall business resourcing, scheduling, and project delivery.

Areas of Expertise

• Project definition and development
• Infrastructure Engineering
• Urban development
• Project management
• Stakeholder management
• Site Superintendence
• Infrastructure Master Planning

Rin Cheok studied architecture, before turning to her passion for engineering, to gain a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Melbourne. She now has more than seven years of consulting experience in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia, specialising in data analytics and water infrastructure design.

Rin is a Chartered Professional Engineer and her work within the water sector has seen her deliver feasibility studies and functional detailed designs for pump and pipeline infrastructure, stock and domestic water supply systems, and waterway and open channel designs. Rin also has well developed capabilities in technical report writing, client engagement, information presentation, and data analytics, including asset management, scheduling, life cycle cost estimation, cash flow forecasting, scenario development, and analysis and dashboard reporting of critical business impacts.

Prior to consulting, Rin spent time in cross-discipline design coordination and management for the civil works of a depot on Malaysia’s Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit System, which helped diversify her skills in civil works and rail infrastructure. Stepping beyond her engineering skills, Rin is also an avid bird watcher, interested in the wellbeing of wildlife and their environs.

Areas of Expertise

• Project definition and development
• Water resource engineering
• Environmental management and approvals
• Project management
• Stakeholder management
• Asset management

Sam Wales is a qualified project manager and engineer who holds an Honours degree in Civil Engineering from La Trobe University. He has over eight years’ experience in delivering regional infrastructure through site investigations, engineering design, hydraulic modelling, feasibility assessments, construction supervision and contract administration. Sam’s practical approach to engineering projects is recognised as an asset to clients.  

Sam’s skillset provides his clients with strong capabilities in the production of technical designs, capital estimation, project control and contract administration. Working in the regional sector has allowed Sam to become an engineer with effective communication skills. This allows Sam to communicate technical information between a diverse range of stakeholders, while also considering the client and communities requirements during design. 

Sam also recently undertook his first 21km half marathon run with the 2022 ‘Run Melbourne’ event.  

Areas of Expertise

• Project definition and development
• Water resource engineering
• Environmental management and approvals
• Project management
• Stakeholder management
• Asset management

Harjot Singh has 14 years’ experience across a wide range of engineering projects, having previously been a Senior Design Engineer with proven expertise in reinforced concrete and structural steel design. He also has civil and structural engineering experience in highway bridges and elevated viaducts on metro rail lines.

Harjot is a trusted technical specialist in design, quality assurance checking, and drafting for structural works. He is constantly updating his skills via training and has strong problem solving and analytical skills, flexibility, resourcefulness, and the ability to work cohesively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Areas of Expertise

• Project management
• Quality Assurance checking
• Concept design
• Project definition
• Detailed design
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Communication

Jeeva Sivaratnam is a highly effective and successful professional with over 20 years’ experience in project and program management and demonstrated ability in both capital expenditure and operational expenditure. He specialises in keeping projects within scope on cost, timeframe, and quality, while maintaining compliance for OH&S, environmental, and social requirements.  

In the implementation of projects, Jeeva uses effective communication and leadership, along with a proactive approach, to identify and manage risks in advance and provide the best possible outcome. He believes that maintaining a professional, positive, and harmonious working relationship with the project’s team, all stakeholders, and other staff, helps in achieving project objectives.  

Aside from Jeeva’s vast project management experience, since moving to Australia in 1993, Jeeva has previously been the resident engineer and consultant for the Department of Water Affairs in Botswana. He has also been a design engineer in Sri Lanka for the Department of Irrigation and the district engineer for the Colombo Municipal Council. Fifteen50 is pleased to welcome Jeeva onboard. 

Areas of Expertise

• Project Planning
• Scope of Works Development
• Quality Assurance
• Project Management
• Stakeholder management
• Risk Management
• Work Schedule Management
• Tender Preparations & Evaluations
• Design Coordination
• Contract Administration
• Project Financial Management
• Regulatory Compliance
• Document Control
• Civil Engineering
• Construction Management
• Environmental Management
• WHS Site Auditing

Jeremy Nolan has over twenty five years’ experience covering roles in the rural and urban water sectors in Victoria.

He has delivered an array of projects connected with the supply of raw and treated water to regional customers, in both Project Manager and Project Director responsibilities.

Major project achievements  include implementation of both the Normanville and Tungamah stock and domestic pressurised pipeline schemes in Northern Victoria, a major engagement and water security undertaking for the regions that are serviced.

Jeremy has demonstrated performance in leadership roles of multi-disciplined technical teams, overlaying strategic thinking across projects and programs that are to be implemented to ensure a best for business approach is adopted in outcome delivery.

Jeremy brings a depth of insight to his work tasks, leading and engaging in a thoughtful and respectful style. He is able to view issues and challenges through a variety of lenses to aid in developing an effective and sustainable way forward.

His personal background in the rural Victoria sector, enhances his practical and deep understanding of the needs and drivers of communities, in tandem with their inter-connected industry stakeholders.

Areas of Expertise

• Project Definition and Development
• Stakeholder Insights
• Public Policy Understanding
• Project Management
• Asset Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Leadership and Mentoring
• Client Relationships
• Water Supply Engineering
• Water resource/sharing Policy

Daham Kumara is an engineering professional, with comprehensive expertise in capital asset delivery, fuelled by his extensive experience in the water and wastewater industry across Australia and overseas. He has a solid reputation as a high performing leader with demonstrated abilities in applying engineering expertise, astute business acumen, and exemplary relationship management.

Daham uses these skills to lead, mentor, and nurture multidisciplinary teams, ensuring strategic and operational objectives are delivered. He is also an analytical and critical thinker with a proven track record in facilitating and driving innovative, out-of-the-box thinking, to find pragmatic solutions and exceed corporate expectations.

With strong stakeholder management, relationship building, and networking skills, Daham enables the ongoing enhancement of personal and organisational capabilities. Safety is also high on Daham’s agenda, developing and improving safety cultures to facilitate the highest levels of safety in design and project delivery possible. Fifteen 50 is pleased to welcome Daham onboard.

Areas of Expertise

• Innovative design skills
• Strong leadership and mentoring
• Developing safety protocols
• Desire to knowledge share
• Out-of-the-box designs
• Proven and extensive project cost savings

Sumit Khakurel is a recent graduate from the University of South Australia with a Master of Engineering degree in Water Resources Management. He also holds a Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering, gained while living near Kathmandu, Nepal. Since arriving in Australia, Sumit has undertaken further studies with Monash University in Professional Pathways Training and Australian Workplace Requirements.

Sumit joined Fifteen50 in 2022 after previously developing his skills in asset management and proposal analysis while working as an intern engineer in both public and private sectors. Sumit held the role of on-site construction engineer, managing multiple projects simultaneously for a large global organisation, before moving on to work as a civil engineer on government projects.

While working for government at community level, Sumit developed skills in stakeholder management and problem-solving, even training local stone masons in the principles of earthquake resistant construction to assist in the disaster recovery of his home country, Nepal.

Sumit uses his engineering, multi-tasking, and problem-solving abilities consistently, to contribute to the realisation of any project and has the enthusiasm to share his engineering knowledge to improve community wellbeing along the way.

Areas of Expertise

• Water resource engineering
• AutoCAD and GIS Software
• Seismic Resistant Construction Knowledge
• Water Sensitive Urban Design Skills
• Asset management

Vish is a recent graduate with a dual degree in Civil Engineering and Master of Engineering degree in Management from Central Queensland University. Vish has experience in the land development sector where he completed land subdivision design works packages in conjunction with design and project engineers.

Vish possesses strong initiatives, problem solving skills and a desire to make a difference. A highly adaptable and motivated employee with an exemplary work ethic and attention to detail. Vish has developed his drafting and designing skills while working on some major land development projects. He has also developed a working knowledge of relevant engineering standards, legislation codes and polices as they apply to projects, and ensure that all engineering work adheres to regulation and requirements.

Areas of Expertise

• Civil Designing and Drafting
• Road and Drainage Drawings
• Sound Knowledge of AutoCAD Software
• Sewer Drawings

Spencer is a Senior Civil / Structural Draftsperson with 10+ years’ experience in major Civil, stormwater and structural projects. Spencer specialised in the documentation for stormwater and drainage projects across residential, commercial, industrial, and major road projects.

A diverse technical engineering background provides Spencer with a thorough understanding of key issues to incorporate into engineering design and documentation.  He seeks to optimise design solutions in terms of cost, constructability, function, and maintenance through open communication with internal and external stakeholders

Areas of Expertise

• Extensive experience in using AutoCAD Land Desktop and AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Working knowledge of geotechnical engineering tools and equipment
• Geometric design & drawing
• Roads & highway drawings
• Drawing of topographic survey maps
• Architectural drawings including interior house design
• Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)
• Structural design
• Electrical Design
• Civil Design
• Water Infrastructure Design
• Maritime Design
• Detailed Design and Documentation for Construction