Hey, I’m Don!
I'm driven by a passion for driving business growth and transformation in the energy sector. My career trajectory—from hands-on grid operations in Australia to leading multi-million dollar product portfolios in the US—reflects a consistent pursuit of bridging technical possibilities with real-world impact. This journey has uniquely positioned me to excel as a strategic business and technology leader in the Energy SaaS industry.
Want to explore my perspectives on the future of energy?
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My foundation in electrical engineering at Ergon Energy (2009-2011) provided invaluable experience with grid operations, asset management, and implementing alternative energy solutions. Honing my skills with SCADA and control systems, I focused on optimizing grid performance and reliability, gaining a deep understanding of the energy grid's intricacies. This experience instilled a core appreciation for reliability and efficiency.
As an E.S. Cornwall Scholar (2011-2013), I tackled cutting-edge energy challenges internationally. At UK Power Networks, I spearheaded program and project management for a £28 million smart grid pilot, establishing pilots focused on EVs, distributed generation, active network management, smart meters, and demand response. This ignited my passion for driving innovation in the energy sector.
At DNV KEMA in the Netherlands, I led the development of a novel modeling suite for optimizing electricity distribution networks, creating the "grid of 2050" model to evaluate the long-term impacts of emerging technologies. This sharpened my strategic foresight.
I then joined ECOtality in Phoenix as Product Manager for E-mobility Demand Response, serving as the power system subject matter expert on a $100 million EV charger program and developing their demand response market entry strategy. This immersed me in the burgeoning EV and demand response space.
Returning to Australia, I continued to hone my technical and strategic skills, leading utility transformation initiatives and establishing world-leading connection policies that facilitated 1.5GW of new renewable generation. This experience instilled in me the importance of balancing technical feasibility with commercial and regulatory realities—a crucial skill that continues to inform my approach today. One particularly impactful project involved leading a PMO to deliver a $54M smart grid program. By focusing on efficient execution and meticulous planning, we completed the program 36% under budget, on time, and fully within scope, demonstrating my ability to deliver large-scale technical projects effectively, and being recognized with the Queensland Premier’s Excellence in Leadership award.
In 2017 with the formation of Energy Queensland following the $25B merger of Ergon Energy and Energex, I took on a pivotal role as Manager of Intelligent Grid and Future Energy - leading a team of engineers and analysts to spearhead the utility’s strategic transformation. I delivered the Future Grid Roadmap, guiding the business through the disruptions of decarbonization, evolving customer expectations, and emerging technologies. Overseeing $30M of R&D initiatives and leading due diligence for startup investments, enabled me to hone my strategic leadership and ability to drive large-scale change within a complex organization.
My journey led me to Tendril to support the formation of Uplight in 2019, where I transitioned into senior product leadership. During my tenure as VP of Product, I managed a $50M+ P&L for a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) offering, serving utilities and their customers across North America, the EU, and APAC.
A defining achievement was leading the product and technology strategy for the $200M M&A evaluation, transaction, and integration of AutoGrid—a complex effort requiring technical expertise, commercial acumen, and seamless team integration. I also led the merger of four business lines into a new $80M Residential Customer Solutions business, embedding a product model that optimized OPEX by 25% while improving employee satisfaction and talent retention.
In July 2025, I joined eSmart Systems as VP of Market Development, moving to the forefront of the AI revolution in utility infrastructure. eSmart Systems is transforming how the industry inspects and maintains critical assets through its AI-powered Grid Vision™ solution.
As the senior executive leader for North America, I am responsible for driving business growth and operational success in our most critical market. I lead our global marketing and operations team—from strategy and digital campaigns to high-impact thought leadership—with a laser focus on growing attributable pipeline and enhancing client retention.
Beyond direct operations, I own and expand our strategic channel partnerships, building a standardized Go-to-Market engine that drives joint deals globally with large energy tech and services companies—including Quanta Services—and cloud partners, accounting for 65% of growth in North America. By serving as the primary liaison between evolving market needs and our global product development, I ensure our technology roadmap addresses the specific, high-stakes challenges utilities face in every region we serve. A key success was leading the our entrance into utility wildfire mitigation space, doubling the rate of expansion for eSmart Systems in North America by providing an accurate picture of ignition risks for utility electric infrastructure.
Beyond my core roles, I’m deeply committed to advancing the energy industry. My contributions as an advisor and leadership committee member for organizations like Engineers Australia, the Clean Energy Council, the Australian Energy Storage Alliance, and Boulder County’s Energy Impact Offset Fund have allowed me to contribute to shaping policy, fostering collaboration, and promoting sustainable energy solutions.
I'm confident my unique blend of technical expertise, product vision, and strategic leadership can significantly impact your organization's success in the dynamic energy sector.
I invite you to connect and explore the possibilities for how we can partner or expand our collective impact.