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Executive Leadership Team

Richard Amato
Richard Amato
Executive General Manager

Richard has more than 20 years' experience in the construction, wine, manufacturing, and energy industries, both in the public and private sectors. As the Executive General Manager of Enerven he is responsible for managing and growing Enerven's electrical infrastructure, construction, and maintenance projects, both in the renewable and traditional sectors nationally. Richard is a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant and holds a degree in Accounting and a Master's of Business administration. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.

Alison Bussey
Alison Bussey
Head of People & Support Services

With over 10 years of experience in health, safety, environment and training management, Alison brings a depth of knowledge to any project that is difficult to surpass. As an experienced Safety, Quality & Environment (SQE) manager, Alison offers unique expertise to support project and contract leaders; and ensure SQE excellence across all operations. She is adept in developing SQE strategy, including integration of work groups, development of core risk programs, and technology and resource planning. Alison also provides leadership, performance management, mentoring, and growth opportunities to the SQE team. She also regularly liaises with external industry bodies relating to workplace health, safety and environment, to ensure her employer is both compliant, and abreast of any key developments within the sector. 

Leon Cocchiaro
Leon Cocchiaro
Head of Development & Renewables

Leon has over 14 years of experience across a variety of senior roles. He has successfully managed lump-sum turnkey bids for renewable and thermal energy projects, coordinated green and brown field development opportunities, and has lead and coordinated Mergers and Acquisitions for green and brownfield development projects across the Australian and EU region. Prior to joining Enerven, Leon held the position of Corporate Development Manager at ElectraNet.
As the Head of Strategic Business Development and Growth for Enerven, Leon is accountable for developing, securing and maximising new revenue generation opportunities, whilst maximising market share and ensuring business viability.
Leon holds degrees in Mechatronic Engineering, with honours, and completed his MBA through RMIT University.

Nikki Cheesman-Dutton
Nikki Cheesman-Dutton
Head of Operations

Nikki has over 15 years of experience in design, construction, engineering and power industries.  Nikki is a business turnaround specialist, delivering through others, building effective teams by developing individuals, executing strategic plans to adapt to environmental challenges, growing organisations with sustainable systems and controls poised to continue to deliver. She gains strong positive outcomes in transformation of multiple businesses, delivering profitable growth from successful execution of major contracts resulting in strong customer stakeholder relationships. Nikki has a key focus on achievement through others by building strong one-on-one relationships to maximise potential of individuals, provide a voice to staff closest to customers and issues and build trust, cohesiveness and energy. She has introduced a number of successful productivity improvement measures into client business through QQIP (self-developed) Process Improvement Methodology. She has demonstrated capability to make difficult decisions requiring practical and often creative solutions, combined with the aptitude to quickly grasp complex and highly technical concepts and support a team to adapt to change.

Nikki holds a Master of Philosophy and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide, she has completed a European Summer School for Advances Management from Aarhus University (Denmark), a Bachelor of Business (Enterprise Development) from La Trobe University, and an Associate Diploma of Business (Small Business Management) from La Trobe University. She has previously been a Board Member on PEER VEET Group Training & Registered Training Not-for-Profit Organisation, and has been a member of NECA SA and B2 Overhead Lines Committee.

Richard Tyrer
Richard Tyrer
Head of Finance and Commercial

Richard has over 20 years of experience working across the defence, aviation, commercial, marine, banking, consulting, and mergers & acquisitions markets. An Executive Director with a Chartered qualification, his skills include strategy development and implementation, financial and commercial management, and compliance and risk management. He has a proven track record of delivering significant growth, innovation, continuous improvement, change leadership, and transformation.

Richard is a strategic and analytical thinker responsible for the development and execution of strategies to grow organisations. He identifies, develops and implements innovations, continuous improvements, and change management strategies to aid strategic objectives.

Richard holds a Bachelor’s Degree (with honours) in Biological Science from Durham University (United Kingdom), is a Chartered Accountant, and completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.

Mike Forster
Mike Forster
Head of Major Projects

Mike is a highly regarded Construction Professional with more than 30 years of experience in management and project delivery roles. He has recent experience on large-scale infrastructure projects with a global tier 1 contractor and has proven success in project delivery, particularly in design and project management, client liaison, cost reporting, programming, staff management, and team leadership.

He has a highly developed technical background in structural engineering in bridge construction and civil works. In addition to this, he has gained the ability to deliver infrastructure projects safely, on time, and budget in a range of other disciplines including road and aircraft pavements, earthworks, rail, and street-scaping. With extensive experience in the pre-contracts roles of Business Development and Bid Management, he has well-developed skills in negotiating win-win arrangements with clients.

Mike holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Adelaide and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.