Our Team
Our dedicated team for the brings a wealth of passion and expertise. With a collaborative approach and deep technical knowledge, we leverage our extensive experience and industry contacts to deliver practical and sustainable solutions tailored specifically for our clients.
Ryan McKenzie
Managing Director
Ryan McKenzie is the Managing Director of Volta Advisory, leading client engagements and company growth & operations. Recognised as a Certified Practising Project Director and Fellow by the Australian Institute of Energy, Ryan brings over 16 years of experience leading diverse teams. He excels in strategic leadership, major project development and delivery, and power systems engineering within the renewable energy, utilities and transport sectors.
With a wide network across major projects, utilities, construction, government, developers and startups in the energy sector, Ryan excels at connecting the dots. From on-site commissioning roles, to project delivery, strategic planning and advisory services, Ryan has experience across diverse facets of the energy transition. His blend of leadership, techno-commercial brilliance, and project management skills enable him to achieve results without compromising on relationships or integrity.
When he’s not working, Ryan is hanging out with his family, playing tennis or hunting down good food.
JJ Wang
Director
As a Director and co-founder of Volta Advisory, JJ is deeply involved in all aspects of the business. She oversees Volta's operations, which include delivery of engagements, marketing, sales, finance, leadership and more. With over 16 years of experience in project management and leadership roles, JJ excels at steering project outcomes, navigating the complexities of project execution and ensuring objectives are met with innovation and strategic insight.
Her experience spans people leadership, strategic workforce planning, project delivery, human resources, and change management across sectors including Major Projects, Renewable Energy, Manufacturing, Energy & Resources, and Higher Education.
Beyond work, JJ enjoys spending time with her daughter and exploring new places. She is equally passionate about keeping fit on the Peloton as she is about being in nature, and is a big fan of true crime podcasts.
Sam Wanniarachchi
Senior Project Manager (Power Systems)
Sam is a commercially strategic Project Manager, boasting proven experience in spearheading projects within the Power System, Utilities and Energy Storage industries. With experience across a number of Tier 1 Contractors, Sam delivers projects from inception to completion.
Excelling in stakeholder engagement, simultaneous project management, and end-to-end execution, Sam is an expert in scheduling, strategic planning, financial analysis, and proposal preparation.
With a strong focus on prioritising client satisfaction, Sam’s skills span across hands-on project management skills, contractor management, and a successful track record in commissioning.
Outside of work, Sam enjoys playing guitar, video games, and travelling.
Joe Billich
Manager, Project Development and Engineering
Joe is our Manager of Project Development and Engineering, specialising in the development and delivery of large-scale electrical infrastructure and power systems projects in rail, utilities and renewable energy industries.
Joe is skilled in navigating projects with multi-disciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders including utilities, construction partners, engineering design houses, and councils, as well as driving technical teams toward achieving significant operational improvements.
Joe is skilled in power systems, electrical engineering, project management, network development, stakeholder engagement and project delivery.
When he’s not working, Joe is hanging out with his fam and checking out the local eateries.
Stephen Tan
Manager, Energy Advisory
Stephen is an expert in advising large-scale government investments in renewable energy generation infrastructure, navigating the commercial and financial intricacies and challenges to balance the interdependencies between the public and private sectors.
With a passion for the energy transition and backed by strong techno-commercial know-how, Stephen excels in energy modelling and forecasting, market research, business case development, financial package structuring, tender design, market sounding, due diligence and financial modelling.
When he's not at work, Stephen is on a culinary quest, constantly seeking out the next hidden gem to satisfy his love for great food.
Sophie Whiteside
Senior Consultant, Energy Advisory
Sophie is a Senior Consultant who leads deep-dive research and analysis to pinpoint key trends and strategic levers, ensuring optimal project outcomes for clients. With an eye for detail, Sophie excels in crafting high-impact deliverables and strategically balancing the interdependencies of project costs, quality, and time.
Her background in major infrastructure, state government, and law provides her with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale projects and organisations, enabling her to effectively navigate unique challenges and consistently achieve successful outcomes for clients.
Outside of work, Sophie is full of energy, whether she's training for marathons or perfecting her Pilates technique.
Emily Belleville
Junior Project Manager
Emily is a Senior Consultant and Project Manager who excels at handling highly complex projects within the renewable energy and major infrastructure industries. Emily's expertise spans procurement, commercial strategy, and project management, as demonstrated by her successful handling of multiple vendor procurement processes, cost analysis of contractor workforces, and junior project management of a 1MW solar farm.
Her extensive experience in Major Infrastructure, State Government, and the Medical industries equips her with a deep understanding of complexities inherent in large-scale projects and organisations. This expertise enables her to navigate unique challenges and successfully execute projects to deliver exceptional results.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Emily finds joy in long walks with her energetic border collie and nurtures her passion for Pilates and Yoga.
Shanuka Bandara
Senior Project Engineer / Electrical Engineer
Shanuka is experienced across the full lifecycle of Solar Energy Systems, with hands-on experience spanning design and development, project management, site assessments, system installation, and performance monitoring. His proficiency with industry-specific software for techno-commercial modelling adds a layer of expertise to the Volta team.
Shanuka applies his exceptional attention to detail while balancing client expectations to create and deliver solar and BESS system designs utilising a range of software.
Outside of work, Shanuka loves hanging with his family, hitting up the gym and eating good food.
Ian MacLeod
Senior Project Engineer
Ian is a Senior Project Engineer with experience in the renewable energy sector, specialising in a diverse range of technologies, including solar PV, wind, green hydrogen, battery energy storage systems, and renewable heat solutions.
With a strong background in planning assessments, project management, site evaluations, and energy modelling, Ian also brings technical expertise in tools such as AutoCAD, PVsyst, Solar GIS, WindPro, and QGIS.
Outside of work, Ian enjoys exploring Melbourne and checking out its vibrant and trendy scenes.
Gabriella Elliott
Consultant
Drawing from diverse experiences across client services at Boston Consulting Group, legal practice in a law firm, and project management within the healthcare sector, Gabriella thrives in propelling project initiatives forward. Her detailed and analytical problem-solving abilities allow her to methodically tackle projects and execute deliverables. Gabriella's legal expertise combined with project delivery experience ensures professionalism and above-standard solutions.
Gabreilla is continuing to broaden her horizons as she pursues a Bachelor of Law at Deakin University, further enriching her understanding of legal intricacies that intersect with the energy field.
Outside of work, Gabriella loves doing Pilates, visiting her coastal home, and spending time with her border collie Maggie.
Sadie Cai
Graduate Electrical Engineer / Project Coordinator
Sadie holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Management and has worked with Tier 1 companies including Siemens and TW Solar.
With experience working across the technical pre-sales support on projects varying from 50 to 350MW, Sadie brings industry knowledge, a strong work ethic, and a deep commitment to advancing the energy transition.
Outside of work, Sadie enjoys eating great food, travelling, yoga and hanging with her dog DiDi.