Emmet N. Satgunalingam
Melbourne,Australia
Summary
I am a Chartered Professional Engineer and executive leader with 25 years of global experience delivering complex, high-value infrastructure and energy projects across Australia and Southeast Asia. With a proven track record spanning over AUD $4.2 billion in landmark developments including Kellogs, Evo Energy, RPF, Opal, Origin, Merdeka 118, KL Sports City and national grid infrastructure projects, I lead with commercial acumen, operational excellence, and integrity. My leadership style blends strategic foresight with decisive execution, having transformed organisations through performance-driven cultures, ESG-aligned operations, and innovative delivery models. At O'Brien Energy, I spearheaded a 26% business growth and introduced a subscription-based service model that shifted industry paradigms. I bring to every role the discipline of an engineer, the vision of a strategist, and the agility of a results-focused leader. I thrive in high-stakes environments where governance, stakeholder alignment, and delivery certainty are non-negotiable. I now seek to contribute this experience to forward-thinking organisations seeking to accelerate infrastructure development, drive energy transition, and embed sustainable value.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Operating Officer
O’Brien Energy Services
, Australia
06.2024 - Current
- Achieved 26% year-on-year business growth, with a 10% increase in EBIT, by spearheading strategic business expansion and optimizing operational efficiency.
- Innovated a subscription-based service model in the industrial energy sector, shifting client costs to operational expenses, thus enhancing financial flexibility and customer satisfaction.
- Transformed the company’s culture by implementing a Performance-Driven Culture across both Australian and Indian operations, improving employee engagement and productivity.
- Launched advanced technological solutions to enhance service delivery, resulting in improved operational excellence and positioning the company as a leader in energy services.
- Reengineered service offerings, focusing on value-based selling rather than price, which increased sales revenue and solidified long-term client relationships.
- Led a company-wide business transformation, enhancing customer experience and driving significant profitability improvements through strategic operational enhancements.
- Ensured complete ESG and regulatory compliance, meeting evolving industry standards and reducing operational risk.
- Oversee P&L management, cost control, and budgeting, enabling sustained profitability while enhancing financial oversight across all operations.
Chief Projects Officer
O’Brien Energy
, Australia
08.2023 - 06.2024
- Successfully delivered multiple national projects within budget and ahead of schedule, ensuring high-quality execution and client satisfaction.
- Streamlined project methodologies and restructured the PMO to increase project volume by 40%, meeting customer business goals while maintaining consistent delivery standards.
- Spearheaded project alignment with Australian and New Zealand regulatory frameworks, ensuring all projects adhered to industry regulations, mitigating risks, and ensuring compliance.
- Reorganized project teams and enhanced operational efficiency, allowing for the handling of increased project load without compromising quality or timelines.
- Played a key role in aligning PMO processes to deliver high-impact results, driving improved project consistency and higher client retention rates.
Project Commissioning Director
CMD (M) Services Pte Ltd
, Malaysia
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Company Overview: Merdeka 118, Malaysia (2nd Tallest Tower in the World)
- Led the commissioning of M&E works for Merdeka 118, the second tallest tower globally, overseeing the execution of complex systems and ensuring flawless integration across all stages of the project.
- Managed and directed the coordination between main contractors, consultants, and client teams, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration to achieve project milestones.
- Developed and implemented strategic commissioning plans to meet the project's stringent timelines and quality standards, driving operational efficiencies and minimizing delays.
- Led the commissioning of highly complex mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems, including state-of-the-art building management systems, HVAC, power distribution, and fire safety systems, ensuring full compliance with design specifications and regulatory standards.
- Implemented comprehensive risk management strategies to address potential project challenges, ensuring that all commissioning activities were completed on time, within scope, and in full compliance with local regulations and international standards.
- Worked closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure all systems were fully integrated and functional, coordinating testing, troubleshooting, and optimization to ensure peak performance across all infrastructure components.
- Provided leadership in system integration, managing the detailed sequencing and synchronization of complex systems within a large-scale, high-rise project environment.
- Played a key role in quality control and assurance, performing rigorous testing and validation procedures to ensure systems operated to the highest standards, meeting both the project and client requirements.
- Drove the project’s commissioning activities to successful completion, ensuring all milestones were met under the pressure of tight deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality and operational readiness.
- Fostered effective stakeholder relationships, ensuring a smooth handover and achieving final project sign-off through collaboration and proactive problem-solving.
- Managed a team of commissioning engineers and technical specialists, ensuring that all team members were aligned with project goals and equipped to meet the challenges of a high-profile, complex project.
- Merdeka 118, Malaysia (2nd Tallest Tower in the World)
Vice President & Director
Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB)
, Malaysia
08.2014 - 03.2020
- Spearheaded nationally significant infrastructure projects, including KL Sports City (AUD $570M), Malaysia’s 500kV transmission corridors, and MRT rail integration.
- Successfully led high-profile government collaborations, achieving 3 million LTI-free hours, fast-tracked stadium redevelopments for SEA Games 2017, and commissioned critical grid assets enhancing national resilience.
- Championed ESG and cost-efficient delivery across live environments, urban corridors, and high-risk terrains.
- Oversaw design, construction, and stakeholder coordination across 26+ contractors and ministries.
- Recognized for delivering legacy-defining projects ahead of schedule, under budget, and to world-class standards—setting new national benchmarks in mega project execution.
General Manager & Vice President
Mecomb Malaysia Sdn Bhd
, Malaysia
07.2008 - 04.2014
- Company Overview: A wholly owned subsidiary of the Sime Darby Group
- Directed national operations across diverse sectors including building services, energy, water infrastructure, and transport systems, managing a team of 168 and reporting to the Group MD.
- Delivered consistent 18% year-on-year revenue growth, achieving AUD 75M in annual turnover through strategic sales expansion, key account development, and operational efficiencies.
- Led major organisational restructure, enhancing functional alignment, workforce utilisation, and project delivery capability—resulting in a 15% uplift in profitability across four consecutive years.
- Implemented company-wide KPI frameworks and Personal Excellence Programs (PEP) to enhance individual performance and team accountability.
- Championed customer-first culture and introduced cross-divisional collaboration practices to improve service delivery and client satisfaction.
- Selected by Sime Darby for a prestigious Senior Leadership Program at Tsinghua University, Beijing, strengthening global leadership exposure and strategic thinking.
- A wholly owned subsidiary of the Sime Darby Group
Education
Doctorate in Business Administration - Project Management
Riviera University
France12.2022
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - Hons
University of Hertfordshire
UK12.2022
MBA -
Victoria University
Melbourne, VIC, Australia12.2012
Senior Management Program -
Tsinghua University
China12.2009
BEng (Mechanical) - Hons
University of Northumbria
UK12.1999
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering -
Charles Darwin University
Australia12.1997
Skills
- Business Strategy & Operations
- P&L & Financial Oversight
- Project Delivery & Governance
- Risk Mitigation & Safety Leadership
- Government & Regulatory Liaison
- Mega Project Execution (AUD $500M)
- Contract Management & Negotiation
- ESG & Sustainability Integration
- Cross-functional Team Leadership
- Infrastructure & Energy Projects
- Cost Optimization & Resource Planning
- Engineering Compliance & Design Standards
Languages
- English, Full professional proficiency (spoken and written)
- Tamil / Sri Lankan Tamil, Native fluency
- Malay / Bahasa Malaysia, Fluent (spoken and written)
- Bahasa Indonesia, Working proficiency
- Arabic, Reading and writing proficiency
Global Talent Visa
0049563777281 (PR)
Certifications Memberships
- Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), Engineers Australia
- Member, Australian Institute of Project Management
- Member, Institution of Engineers Malaysia
- Member, Board of Engineers Malaysia
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer
O’Brien Energy Services
06.2024 - Current
Chief Projects Officer
O’Brien Energy
08.2023 - 06.2024
Project Commissioning Director
CMD (M) Services Pte Ltd
01.2021 - 01.2023
Vice President & Director
Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB)
08.2014 - 03.2020
General Manager & Vice President
Mecomb Malaysia Sdn Bhd
07.2008 - 04.2014
Doctorate in Business Administration - Project Management
Riviera University
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - Hons
University of Hertfordshire
MBA -
Victoria University
Senior Management Program -
Tsinghua University
BEng (Mechanical) - Hons
University of Northumbria
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering -
Charles Darwin University
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