Todd Houstein

Todd is passionate about helping people to live happy lives, particularly through assisting them to meet their energy needs sustainably. With EWB, he initiated the Kooma Energy Project, performing the initial community consultation, audit, feasibility study, recommendations and presenting his findings to the Kooma Elders.

Todd has researched stand-alone renewable electricity systems with the University of Tasmania and the Institute for Energy Technology in Norway, however he is interested in energy much more broadly than just electricity generation... What energy services do people want/need? How can we deliver them most appropriately (environmentally, culturally and economically)? These are questions that often occupy Todd's mind.

Oh yeah, and he works as EWB's Knowledge Manager too. Check out Todd's staff profile.

Melanie Bok

Hello, I'm Melanie Bok! I'm an engineer with most experience in the non-renewable sector. As you might know, lots of people around the world today get their energy from non-renewable sources, such as oil and gas, which is where my experience comes into the team! Right now I'm working as a reservoir engineer delivering gas and oil from offshore platforms to the mainland, but in the not-so-distant past I was working with the Monash chapter on coming up with an effective biodiesel facility from waste cooking oil.

The questions in my head are: 'How do we reduce our strain on the environment that comes from needing energy?, 'How do we cut down our energy use through practical ways?' and 'What is the most appropriate way to ensure people have energy that they need to live?' I am 100% committed to finding sustainable energy solutions, and of course, ensure that all appropriate energy sources are considered.

You can contact me and the rest of the committee via this forum. Love to hear from you!

Jessica Kleinberg

Jessica’s passionate interest in sustainable energy, learning about different cultures and making a positive difference to communities drew her to EWB like a moth attracted to a porch light.  In 2008 she spent three months volunteering with EWB’s partner in Tamil Nadu, India. There she was investigating sustainable energy options for Uluru Children’s Home & Uluru Health Care Centre, as well as eating delicious sambhar and chapatis with her right hand and teaching children to ride bikes. 

With an Electrical Engineering & International Studies degree in hand, she now works at EnergyAustralia. She has been working on EnergyAustralia's energy-efficient 'Smart Home' of-the-future, part of the Smart Grid program, and managing grid construction projects in Sydney.  Jess’ achievements include being blessed by an elephant, learning to speak Italian with an Aussie accent and being seven minutes older than her twin sister.

Nicholas Saunders

Nick is currently studying Environmental Engineering and Development Studies at UNSW. When not at uni, Nick works part time at The Carbon Reduction Institute.  Since 2009 he has also been working a registered home sustainability assessor. Nick heard about EWB in first year uni and has never looked back. Having had a keen interest in water and sanitation as well as energy efficiency since early on, the chance of being involved with the Energy Knowledge Hub was just too good to pass up!

Nick is also really interested in promoting ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and integrating the environment into the economy.  He views the idea of helping communities in developing countries achieve sustainable development as extremely important for the communities and as an interesting challenge. Nick really enjoys travelling, most recently he went to Indonesia where he did some scuba diving and learnt how to make a mean sambal. When he has some spare time up his sleeve he likes to play soccer and guitar.

Daniel Astbury

Daniel first developed an interest in sustainable energy during a trip to Nepal in 2005. Since then, this interest has grown into somewhat of a passion and has directly led to a number of fairly significant life choices (well, significant to him anyway!).

Recent developments have included the commencement and near completion of a Master of Engineering (Sustainable Energy) degree at RMIT, sidestepping into a lead role with global renewable energy consultancy GL Garrad Hassan and of course being actively involved with EWB. Activities have included technical and project management support during the EWB sustainable energy project at Uluru Children's Home in Tamil Nadu, India.    

He grew up in country Victoria before relocating to Melbourne in 2000 to undertake his Mechanical Engineering degree and tries to escape the city whenever possible. When not working, studying or EWBing Daniel spends his time sailing, hiking, and snow/wake/kite-boarding.

Seona Candy

Seona is currently undertaking a PhD in engineering at the University of Melbourne. Her research is concerned with using solar technology to improve food security in remote mountain regions in Nepal. Prior to this, she worked in the automotive and aerospace industries and as a renewable energy and sustainable living consultant.

Praema Ranga

Praema has been working at an Australian energy company for over six years as a mechanical and asset management engineer. She has been a volunteer for EWB since 2009, having been W A's fundraising coordinator and a volunteer for PC's for Refugees program. Praema is currently completing her Masters in Renewable Energy at Murdoch University. Her interest in renewable energy was first tickled when she undertook a project on developing a technology commercialisation proposal for nanosolar platform technology as part of an Innovation unit while completing her MBA at UWA. Her subsequent volunteer work for Oxfam, Make Poverty History and travels in IndoChina helped her understand the impact Climate Change has on vulnerable societies and the urgent need for appropriate technology solutions.

Dev Tayal

Dev thrives on living a life without borders. This unremitting desire to travel has seen him studying engineering in the monsoon jungles of South India, skiing to development lectures to learn from the altruistic Swedes, and embracing the might of the sun while helping to light Laos through solar power.

Dev has recently settled into a role at EnergyAustralia by day, and by night plans ways to shape humanitarian engineering as his lifetime occupation. As a leader in the Energy Hub, Dev is looking to build from personal experiences in the field and encourage more initiatives between Australian engineers and developing communities abroad. In particular, he is a strong advocate of renewable energy and looks forward to raising the profile of energy efficiency and renewable technology solutions.

Anoop Gupta

A member of EWB in spirit long before its inception, Anoop is a retired sailor, adventurer and actor with an activated conscience. His first taste of social justice was during the Gordon-below-Franklin affair in the early 1980’s, when a magistrate asked a friend who’d been arrested for chaining himself to a tree whether he was guilty of this outrageous trangression. Without missing a beat, his friend delivered Voltaire's classic shamer - “everyone is guilty of the good they didn’t do ”. 

Untroubled by the oxymoron, Anoop took this beautifully timed gem to heart and is now both an active agent of change and a renewable energy engineer. His current research is into the socio-political motivators of excessive energy use, which he hopes will also reveal how many PhD's it takes to change a lightbulb. In the meantime, his experience as a curriculum analyst, social reformer, seasoned traveller and experienced short-stay volunteer enables him to bring a broad range of relevant knowledge and skills to EWB.

At home, Anoop is negotiating affairs of state with two machiavellian alley cats, Donna and Kebab, who allow him to think he's saving them from a life of crime.