Our Team
Darren Taylor
National Sector Leader - Defence
Darren brings over 20 years of experience in the Defence industry. Including leading major programs of works for the Joint Logistics Command, management and delivery of CFI projects, development and leadership of PDS program teams, leading EMOS facilities maintenance and design teams, asset management, Explosive Ordnance and Dangerous Goods consulting.
Darren brings expertise in Joint Logistics Command, Defence Fuel Supply Chain Safety Management, Explosive Ordnance risk consulting, program planning, and delivery. He has extensive experience in petroleum construction management with various Australian contractors and has overseen the delivery of all ACOR services in the Defence sector for the past three years, guiding our growth and strategic pursuits.
Stephen Lau
Estate Works Program Leader
Stephen is a Principal of ACOR Consultants who has worked in the consulting engineering industry for over 30 years and with ACOR since 1998. Stephen has led the ACOR Estate Works Program (EWP) business since 2020 and oversees our multidisciplinary design teams servicing the PDS and EMOS (PAS) contracts. Stephen’s role is to work closely with our clients to forecast their needs, support our PMO and delivery teams, and ensure the ACOR business continually improves to meet Defence’s needs.
Playing a “hands-on” role as our EWP lead has allowed Stephen to develop a deep understanding of the unique capability and facility needs for the Army, Air Force, and Navy. Combined with his 20-year experience delivering CFI projects on some of Australia’s largest Defence projects, Stephen is a recognised leader in engineering and technical services on Defence projects.
Willie Malherbe
Civil & CFI Client Lead
Willie is a Principal of ACOR Consultants and possesses over 30 years of experience in the consulting engineering field, including 16 years as a consulting engineer in the Defence sector. Willie leads our industry engagement, pursuits and service delivery on Capital Facilities and Infrastructure (CFI) projects.
Willie has significant experience acting as Project Director on major Defence infrastructure projects, including AIR 5431 Air Traffic Management and Control System, SEA1180 Offshore Patrol Vessels, USFPI Northern Territory Training Areas and Ranges, USFPI RAAF Base Tindal Stage 6 Airfield and Infrastructure, RAAF Amberley Fire Training School, and Base Security Improvement Program (BSIP).
Imran Shaik
Fuel, DG and EO
Imran boasts over 17 years of extensive experience in Defence, specializing in roles encompassing Dangerous Goods (DG), Explosives Ordnance (EO), Hazardous Area Classification (HAC), and Fuel Design Consultant. As an Accredited Dangerous Goods and Explosives Consultant recognized by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety (DEMIRS) in WA, Imran is equipped with a comprehensive understanding of regulatory frameworks and safety standards. He is also a distinguished member of the Australasian Institute of Dangerous Goods Consultants (AIDGC), further solidifying his expertise in the field.
As Principal Engineer, Imran undertakes the pivotal National Service Leader for the Energy Discipline role at ACOR. His extensive portfolio includes serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on numerous high-profile Defence projects nationwide, including critical installations such as RAAF, HMAS, and Army bases. Currently, Imran leads our team as the DG/EO consultant spearheading services for the GWEO Enterprise.
Emma Bell
Design Management
Based in Darwin, Emma is an experienced project leader specialising in design and stakeholder management for Defence projects. She is NV1 security-cleared with over 15 years of experience working across all phases of the Defence Project Life Cycle. This is evidenced by her experience working to successfully deliver capital works projects across the Defence Estate and Training Areas in the NT, performing the NSW, EWP Regional Program Manager role for DEWPO, through working to deliver major CFI projects such as NACC Facilities and managing the successful PWC for the new Engine Test Cell at RAAF Base Amberley.
In 2021, Emma was the recipient of the Charles Darwin University Alumni Award in ‘Industry Excellence’ in recognition of her continued dedication and contribution to delivering predominantly Defence projects nationally and her continued thirst for learning and upskilling in the sustainability arena. She is currently delivering projects across the Defence Estates and Training Areas in the NT.
Grant Potter
Hydraulic
Grant is a hydraulic subject matter expert and leading ACOR design manager delivering integrated infrastructure solutions to support Defence activities over various design briefs. Grant is a Principal in ACOR with over 35 years of experience; he has extensive experience within the Defence Sector, delivering technical and design services on major redevelopments involving Army Bases, Naval Bases, RAAF Bases/Airfields, Logistics Storage and Distribution Centres.
Recognised as a “safe pair of hands,” Grant acts as discipline representative and multidisciplinary lead. Recent Defence projects include the $1BN Riverina Redevelopment Programme and redevelopments at RAAF Base Richmond, RAAF Williamtown, and HMAS Cerberus.
Reece Liddy
Fire
For over 12 years, Reece has been involved in a wide variety of projects, developing technical expertise in the design, documentation, audits, and commissioning of automatic fire sprinkler systems, smoke detection and alarm systems, building occupant warning systems, and portable fire extinguishers. He is intimately familiar with the Building Code of Australia (BCA), the Defence Manual of Fire Protection Engineering (MFPE), and Australian Standards.
Reece has been ACOR’s fire services lead on AIR5431, National Estate Works Program, SEA1010 Phase 1, N2253B Stage 2 Garden Island (East), New Air Combat Capability Facilities Project, HMAS Cerberus Redevelopment, and the Defence Fuel Transformation Program.
Lizzy Dobson
Defence Security Officer
As ACOR’s Security Officer (SO), Lizzy is responsible for promoting and maintaining a protective security culture across the business and ensuring that ACOR meets their security obligations as a Defence Industry Partner. Lizzy’s role involves coordinating the mandatory security training for ACOR, delivering security briefings, assisting clearance subjects through the clearance process, verifying clearances, maintaining a security register, and supporting/advising the ACOR Defence team.
Tom Christie
Mechanical
With over 15 years of experience, Tom has delivered several complex Defence projects across Australia. He is currently leading ACOR’s multidiscipline team on the Riverina Redevelopment Programme (RRP) and has held a key role in delivering similar Capital Facilities and Infrastructure (CFI) projects.
As either the Mechanical discipline lead or ACOR’s design manager, he has delivered Victoria Barracks Redevelopment, HMAS Cerberus Redevelopment, AIR9000 Phase 7 Helicopter Aircrew Training System, and the Air Warfare Destroyer and Landing Helicopter Dock works at the Garden Island Defence Precinct, HMAS Watson, and Randwick Barracks.
Corey Rogers
Fuel
A Navy Veteran with 30+ years of experience in leadership, operational and project management, Corey is a senior principal consultant for ACOR, leading our fuel business. His experiences include delivering international and domestic consulting services in the construction, energy, mining, and Defence sectors.
Since 2019, Corey has led ACOR’s Fuels Services Branch (FSB) on programs such as the Defence Fuel Transformation GEMS and process safety information remediation project, the operator proficiency rollout, and the risk reduction project. His relationships, technical knowledge, and supply chain connections make him an industry leader in delivering fuel projects to Defence.
Vanessa Roberts
Defence Administration
Vanessa has over 15 years of experience working for international consultancy firms such as KPMG and within Government agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. This blend of experience provides her with a balanced industry perspective and diverse skill set in support of the ACOR Defence leadership and service delivery teams.
Vanessa works closely with our National Defence Leadership team to foster industry engagement and report/administer ACOR Defence operations and service delivery.
David Collins
Mechanical
David is a mechanical engineer and building services design manager with extensive experience in the design and delivery of Defence projects. He has over 25 years of experience delivering projects in central, northern, and eastern Australia.
Based in Adelaide, David’s most recent projects include the Kongsberg facility at Mawson Lakes, several PDS projects at RAAF Edinburgh, Woomera Range Complex and DSTO Edinburgh, AIR7000 RAAF Edinburgh/NT and the HMAS Waterhen mid-term upgrade.
NV1 cleared, David was the lead mechanical engineer for the future submarine programme at Osborne North and led a team of engineers and Revit modellers from the concept phase through to the construction commencement of the $90BN development.
Zaheer Mamujee
Design Management
Zaheer has 20 years of experience in the consulting engineering industry. His experience includes overseeing multi-discipline design, coordination, and construction management for infrastructure and building projects. He has managed ACOR teams through all facets of the planning, design and construction activities for Defence and complex infrastructure projects.
Zaheer is an industry leader in the design management of Defence projects due to his extensive experience in the redevelopment of Army and Naval bases, RAAF bases or airfields, logistic storage and distribution centres, fuel farms, transport compounds, special training facilities, basewide water, fire, sewerage upgrades, and other system upgrades including AFFF Treatment Systems.
Mark Coyte
Design Management
Mark has 26 years of experience, starting with Civil and Civic and more recently with Project Management companies: Carson Group / Coffey Projects, Cadence (QLD), APP and Loyalty Management Solutions.
In 2014, Mark joined Lendlease as the design manager on the $1.44BN NACC Facilities project, helping design major facility and infrastructure upgrades at RAAF Base Williamtown as APP’s Defence Panel Manager. Besides overseeing service delivery, Mark delivered 11 business cases on capability and sustainment projects ranging from $10m to $430m. He also managed the design and initiation for the Defence Science Technology Group on their complex Wind Tunnel Upgrade Project, taking it through Gate 0 and ready for Gate 1. Mark operates as one of the ACOR design managers supporting service delivery on complex Defence commissions for either CFI or under the PDS program.
Tim Mudge
Electrical
Tim has over 17 years of industry experience as an electrical engineer designing HV/ LV power systems, communications services, hazardous areas and explosive hazardous areas classification, lightning protection and energy generation systems, power system protection, earthing, and lighting.
Based in Adelaide, Tim’s experiences include KC30 RAAF Base Learmonth, HMAS Harman Datta Centre, Future Submarine Project Osborne North, Land400 RAAF Edinburgh, AIR5431 Phase 3 multiple bases, AIR7000 Phase 2B RAAF Edinburgh and Darwin, Osborne South Naval Shipyard and ANI Osborne SA.
Warwick Meadows
Mechanical
Warwick has over 35 years of experience and is a Senior Mechanical Engineer with ACOR. He has over 18 years of continued delivery of Defence projects, including extensive delivery phase experience with both Head Contractor and Managing Contractor delivery.
Warwick has developed a working knowledge of and experience at numerous Defence Bases and establishments across Australia, including Defence Establishment Orchard Hills, RAAF Base Richmond, Garden Island, HMAS Watson, Randwick Barracks, HMAS Albatross and Jervis Bay and RAAF Base Williamtown.
