Current Bio as of 12/04/2023

Martin Thomas read engineering at Cambridge University graduating with Class 2(1) Honours in 1957.  After early years in the UK he migrated in 1967 with his family to join Merz Australia in Pert, WA, managing isolated power generation projects for developing iron ore, nickel and eventually uranium mining companies.  He then moved to Sydney in 1976 to manage the firm’s Sydney office, retiring as a Principal of Sinclair Knight Merz following an amalgamation. 

 

Industry roles include chairmanships of export association Austenergy (of which he was founder); the NSW Electricity Council and the 2000 Olympic Energy Panel; deputy chairman of electricity utility Australian Inland Energy; inaugural managing director of the Australian Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Renewable Energy; Chancellor of the Asia Pacific International College and currently chair of Dulhunty Poles P/L.  He has chaired and held directorships in a number of listed and unlisted energy technology companies.

 

He was a member of the CSIRO’s 2002, 2006 and 2018 external Energy Science Reviews, being chairman of the latter two.

 

In 2006 he served on Prime Minister Howard’s Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy Review (UMPNER), undertaking in depth research including numerous interviews and the inspection of nuclear facilities in nuclear enabled nations worldwide.  He has contributed professionally to several Commonwealth and State Government energy system inquiries and has delivered over 300 invited presentations on energy management in industry, renewable energy, nuclear power and electricity generating systems.  His professional career has included leading several national and international power generation and industrial energy management projects for the World Bank (IBRD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

 

He has served his profession as President of Engineers Australia; President of the Australian Institute of Energy; President of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of South-East Asia and the Pacific; Vice-President of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and founding chair of its Energy Forum; and a founding member of The Warren Centre Energy Hub at Sydney University.  

 

He has been awarded Engineers Australia’s Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal, its highest award; its AGM Michell Medal; the Australian Institute of Energy’s Institute Medal; the James Kirby Award; the Australian Nuclear Association’s Annual Award and the Australian Centenary Medal.  He is a Member of the Order of Australia for services to energy and engineering. 

Martin Thomas read engineering at Cambridge University graduating with Class 2(1) Honours in 1957. After early years in the UK he migrated in 1967 with his family to join Merz Australia in Pert, WA, managing isolated power generation projects for developing iron ore, nickel and eventually uranium mining companies. He then moved to Sydney in 1976 to manage the firm’s Sydney office, retiring as a Principal of Sinclair Knight Merz following an amalgamation.

Industry roles include chairmanships of export association Austenergy (of which he was founder); the NSW Electricity Council and the 2000 Olympic Energy Panel; deputy chairman of electricity utility Australian Inland Energy; inaugural managing director of the Australian Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Renewable Energy; Chancellor of the Asia Pacific International College and currently chair of Dulhunty Poles P/L. He has chaired and held directorships in a number of listed and unlisted energy technology companies.

He was a member of the CSIRO’s 2002, 2006 and 2018 external Energy Science Reviews, being chairman of the latter two.

In 2006 he served on Prime Minister Howard’s Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy Review (UMPNER), undertaking in depth research including numerous interviews and the inspection of nuclear facilities in nuclear enabled nations worldwide. He has contributed professionally to several Commonwealth and State Government energy system inquiries and has delivered over 300 invited presentations on energy management in industry, renewable energy, nuclear power and electricity generating systems. His professional career has included leading several national and international power generation and industrial energy management projects for the World Bank (IBRD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

He has served his profession as President of Engineers Australia; President of the Australian Institute of Energy; President of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of South-East Asia and the Pacific; Vice-President of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and founding chair of its Energy Forum; and a founding member of The Warren Centre Energy Hub at Sydney University.

He has been awarded Engineers Australia’s Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal, its highest award; its AGM Michell Medal; the Australian Institute of Energy’s Institute Medal; the James Kirby Award; the Australian Nuclear Association’s Annual Award and the Australian Centenary Medal. He is a Member of the Order of Australia for services to energy and engineering.