Event Overview

The Australian Tunnelling Society Young Members (ATSym) and the British Tunnelling Society Young Members (BTSym) are proud to host their first-ever joint international event, uniting early-career professionals from opposite sides of the globe for a shared discussion on one of the most critical energy transition technologies: pumped hydro.

With pumped storage schemes gaining momentum as a key enabler of large-scale renewable energy storage, this technical session will explore two major projects shaping the underground infrastructure landscape in their respective regions.

Join us for an engaging and collaborative session as we learn from each other’s challenges and achievements in delivering complex underground works for pumped hydro storage.

This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from professionals on two of the world’s most significant pumped hydro developments – don’t miss it.

NOTE: If you are based in Sydney, please consider attending in person from 6PM. It will be great opportunity for a catch up with colleagues and networking with new contacts. 

Who Should Attend

This event is ideal for:

• Young professionals and students in tunnelling, geotechnical, civil, and hydro engineering
• Engineers and project managers working on energy infrastructure
• Those interested in large-scale underground construction and global perspectives on energy transition
• ATS and BTS members and the wider tunnelling community

Event Agenda

• Welcome and Opening – ATSym
• Introduction to BTSym
• BTSym Presentation: Tobias Bisenberger & Aitor Perez Suescun
• ATSym Presentation: Igor Buvac & Sean Edwards
• Joint Q&A and Closing Remarks

Speakers – United Kingdom

Tobias Bisenberger
Construction Manager – Tunnels, STRABAG
Tobias studied Civil Engineering in Vienna and completed his PhD in Mechanised Tunnelling, focusing on contract models dealing with deviating construction timelines. He joined STRABAG in 2021 and has been involved in Pumped Storage Hydro schemes in the UK since 2022. Based in Vienna, Tobias supports UK projects on a rotational basis, contributing his tunnelling expertise to energy infrastructure.

Aitor Perez Suescun
Senior Project Manager – Dams, STRABAG
Aitor is a passionate civil engineer with over 12 years of global experience in ground engineering and dam construction. Having studied in Spain and Denmark, he has worked across five countries and now resides in London, UK. Aitor brings a deep understanding of multidisciplinary civil infrastructure delivery in complex environments.

UK Presentation Overview
The presentation will outline the UK government’s “Clean Power 2030” action plan and its implications for pumped hydro development. Aitor and Tobias will provide an overview of the UK’s pipeline of pumped storage schemes and present a case study from the Scottish Highlands. The project, supported by STRABAG, involves optimising the reference design’s underground structures and represents a key step in the UK’s clean energy future.

Speakers – Australia

Igor Buvac
Experienced Engineer – Tunnels, SMEC 
Igor is a Civil Engineer with over 5 years of experience across major infrastructure projects. He holds degrees from UNSW in Civil Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering. Igor has been a central part of the Snowy 2.0 Owner’s Team for over three years, working across design, TBM operations, grouting, and permanent linings.

Sean Edwards
Graduate Engineer – Tunnels, SMEC 
Sean is a Graduate Engineer from Western Sydney University, with hands-on experience in TBM and drill-and-blast tunnelling, segmental linings, caverns, and intake shafts. He has contributed to automation and modelling tools using RS3, FLAC, and Strand7, and brings a strong interdisciplinary approach to underground engineering and data-driven design.

Australia Presentation Overview
Snowy 2.0 is Australia’s largest renewable energy project, adding 2,200 MW of pumped hydro capacity and deep energy storage to support the national transition to renewables. The presentation will provide a project update and technical insights into the construction of over 40km of underground works, including a cavern complex 800m below ground. Igor and Sean will share lessons learned from design, construction, and coordination within one of Australia’s most iconic infrastructure projects.