Meet the Technology Translation Squad

We work with professionals across UNSW, providing access to a diverse skillset and expertise.

The Core TTS Team

The Core TTS Team are full-time members of the TTS and are primarily responsible for providing support to you.

Headshot of Dr Matthew Priestley

Dr Matthew Priestley

Lead Technology Translator

  • Dr Matthew Priestley is an electrical engineer who is passionate about revolutionising the way universities provide value to industry. He specialises in lithium-ion battery safety, green hydrogen power systems, power converters and power electronics, grid-tied inverters, drone propulsion and electric vehicle motor drive systems, electric motor control and fault-tolerance and health-monitoring of electric motor drives. A former academic and start-up founder, Matthew has numerous publications and patents and has a media presence including interviews on ABC and SBS.

Headshot of Dr Thomas McNeill

Dr Thomas McNeill

Technology Translator

  • Dr Thomas Mc Neill is an engineer with over three decades of experience in product design, from conceptualization to manufacturing. Proficient in CAD and electronic development, he excels in problem analysis, specification, design, prototyping, validation, and testing. His expertise includes full product cycle management, systems analysis, electronic and schematic design, PCB layout, and firmware development. Having studied the design process in his PhD in 1999, Thomas applies this knowledge daily in the TTS, collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders to drive innovation.

Headshot of Peter McNair

Peter McNair

Technology Translator

  • Peter McNair is an Electrical Engineering graduate from UNSW, excelling in electrical automotive systems and embedded systems. He was a team leader for Sunswift and helped develop a solar-electric vehicle that won first place in the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. As an intern at Millibeam, Peter contributed to 5G chip design. Peter has extensive experience in circuit design, software programming, and communication systems. His skills include Verilog, Python, C/C++, and PCB design tools like Altium Designer and KiCAD.

Beyond the expertise of the core TTS Team, we can assist you to leverage the vast expertise at UNSW. This may include access to UNSW academics, researchers or high-quality students from Science and Engineering Schools.

Other Available Expertise

Some example academics who are available to help with TTS work are:

Prof John Fletcher

Theme Lead Electrification and Energy Systems and Storage (Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy and NSW Government’s Decarbonisation Innovation Hub)

Director of Industry Engagement at UNSW Energy Institute, Industry Research at UNSW School of EE&T and UNSW Digital Grid Futures Institute

Discipline Head of Energy Systems Research Group at UNSW

  • Professor John Fletcher is an expert in the practical application of power electronics, electric machine drives, renewable energy and electric vehicle traction and propulsion. He has extensive experience in developing and supporting power conversion equipment development including motor designs, motor control systems, power conversion interfaces for microgrids, renewables, energy storage and many other application sectors. As an academic, John has been awarded research and development grants in excess of AU$20M and has six patents awarded in drive systems and power electronic control.

Associate Prof Rukmi Dutta

Chair, IEEE IAS Electric Machine Committee,

Lead Researcher at Power Electronics and Drive Systems Lab at UNSW School of EE&T

  • Associate Professor Dutta is a world-leading expert in electric machine design and drive systems. She has extensive experience developing advanced motor-drive systems for various industrial applications, including high-speed systems (up to 100,000 rpm). She has secured research funds of more than AU$10M. Rukmi is a named inventor in three patented motor technologies.

Dr Clay (Guoyu) Chu

Lead Motor Design Engineer at ConryTech

ARC Early-Career Industry Fellow at UNSW

  • Dr Clay Chu is a senior research associate within the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications. He is an expert in electric motor design and electric motor drive systems. Clay has received the ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship for developing a rare-earth-less motor. He has developed a design optimization program for various advanced motors and developed a patented record-breaking high-speed motor topology achieving 5 kW at 100,000 rpm.

Dr Felipe Arraño-Vargas

Research Fellow in Energy Systems with the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications

Member of the Real-time Simulations Laboratory (RTS@UNSW) research group

  • Dr. Felipe Arrano Vargas is an Engineering Early Career Academic Fellow within the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications. He is also a Research Fellow at the university’s Real-Time Simulations Laboratory (RTS@UNSW). Felipe’s expertise lies in power system digital twins, real-time digital modelling and simulation, synthetic grids, and grid integration of renewable energy resources and energy storage systems.

Sharon Swift

Senior Manager of UNSW Digital Grid Futures Institute

  • Sharon Swift is a visionary leader with 25 years of experience in strategy and business development. Skilled at distilling complex concepts, she excels at identifying opportunities to amplify and deliver impact through collaboration. With a passion for innovation and building strong partnerships across research and industry, Sharon is committed to tackling complex challenges needed to affect meaningful change.

Marlize Nel

PhD Candidate at UNSW

  • Marlize is a PhD candidate at UNSW, developing a decarbonisation curriculum. In her previous role as a Policy Officer at NSW’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), she co-led initiatives to advance low-emission technologies and renewable energy manufacturing. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Electrical Engineering from UNSW and has experience in emissions reduction consulting. Marlize is a member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

With access to UNSW’s extensive network of experts, the TTS can connect your business to the required expertise for your challenge

Reach out to us today to get started.

Helping clean technology businesses keep pace with evolving markets and reach their growth potential

  • Up to five days of free support

  • Quick turnaround with minimal paperwork

  • Access to a wide range of experts and resources