An ‘a-ha’ moment

“When I was about 15, I had an ‘a-ha’ moment whilst surfing, when I decided I wanted to make a difference,” he said. “So the choices I have made throughout my career have always been about having a positive impact – especially for the natural environment.”

At CleanCo, Ricardo has the chance to make a difference on a grand scale. He joined the company in 2023 with the remit of managing the remediation of the ash dam at our Swanbank site. The dam covers about 100 ha and is a legacy of 50 years of coal-fired power generation at the site. Whilst the coal-fired power stations have been demolished, the ash from decades of power generation remains stored in a man-made dam. Whilst this structure doesn’t pose any risk to the local community, CleanCo is committed to repurposing this area as part of the development of the site as a Clean Energy Hub.

“CleanCo’s goal to remediate the ash dam is a complex piece of work that involves investigating and understanding many factors, such as the ash layer profile and permeability, hydraulic gradient and ground water flow, and interfaces with water bodies in the region.”

Born problem solver

Lucky for Ricardo that he loves problem-solving! He also has the theoretical and practical knowledge for the job, having completed a Bachelor of Sanitation and Environmental Engineering and a Masters of Environmental Engineering as well as post-graduate studies in Work Health and Safety Engineering and an MBA in Project Management.

His roles in Brazil and Australia have including managing environmental impacts for major wharf developments, motorways, high-voltage powerlines and substation projects, service stations and large-scale solar farms.

Ricardo says he feels valued and supported at CleanCo. He is proud to work for a company that is making a difference in the energy sector.

“That moment I had as a young person surfing still resonates with me and I am so happy to have this opportunity to use my skills in support of sustainable development,” he said.