How this leader’s vision for a brighter Queensland comes to life at Powerlink
When Guhan experienced power outages during his childhood, he didn't see darkness - he saw opportunity. As Manager Substation Primary Design at Powerlink Queensland, he's at the forefront of Australia's energy transformation. Guhan's journey reveals how one person's fascination with electricity can illuminate countless bright pathways for others.
Powerful possibilities
“I was always fascinated by electricity. It just felt so big and important to me.”
From a young age, Guhan knew his future lay in power. Experiencing outages during weather events made him realise just how much people depended on it. As he learned more about sustainability, technology and the climate, his curiosity about the career opportunities in this impactful industry grew.
“Power is one of those things that touches everyone - our modern way of life depends on it. It’s woven into nearly every aspect of our day to day, driving industries and our increasingly interconnected world. That was what influenced me to study electrical engineering at university and decide on a career in the power sector.”
After completing his degree in 2007, Guhan moved from New Zealand to Brisbane and began working as an electrical engineer, performing design and consulting services for a variety of customers. It was in this role that he first crossed paths with Powerlink.
“I worked on projects that involved Powerlink team members, and realised there were really experienced people there. This convinced me to think about opportunities working for the asset owner - a network utility. It sounded like an ideal environment for me to learn and grow. It didn’t take long after joining Powerlink for me to realise that it was a good move.”
As an Automation Lead Design Engineer, Guhan was exposed to aspects of Powerlink’s business he couldn’t experience anywhere else - from network operations to design standards and asset investigations. He instantly felt welcomed into Powerlink’s collaborative culture and discovered the rewards of delivering complex projects with the support of a dedicated and skilled team.
“I helped develop and roll out a brand new secondary system standard at two pilot sites. While it was challenging trying to balance competing priorities, I really liked the process of bringing people together, factoring in different perspectives and delivering something that's really fit for purpose. I realised I could deliver more with others than I could by myself, which led me towards pursuing leadership roles.”
Embracing challenges
From there, Guhan’s career grew from strength to strength. Honing his leadership skills through secondments and acting roles, he officially stepped up to Team Leader, Secondary Systems Design in 2014, leading a team of 14 people.
“Working closely with other team leaders and managers, we built a high performing team with a strong focus on accountability and customer focus; two of Powerlink’s core values. Through this, I discovered the positive impact leadership can have on achieving high standards of performance, maintaining employee engagement and championing the growth and wellbeing of our people.”
Guhan continued to thrive as a leader. In 2022, he stepped up to Manager Primary Systems Design, leading a team of 70, before moving into the role of Manager Substation Design in 2024. Guhan’s journey of growth isn’t unique at Powerlink - he’s seen similar stories across diverse roles and pathways throughout the organisation.
“Powerlink has a strong focus on training and career development. There’s no shortage of opportunities to learn within your role, but you can also cross-skill between teams and get access to coaching and formal training relevant to your career path. If you’re motivated and put in the effort to achieve great results, you’ll get support to keep growing and developing.”
The learning opportunities at Powerlink don’t stop there. In a complex, ever-changing environment full of big infrastructure projects, Guhan says every day presents new challenges to overcome - and you’ll be supported every step of the way.
“Resilience is key in such a complex environment. You’re going to be faced with challenges and it’s not always comfortable, but support and kindness aren’t just buzzwords here. It’s a part of our culture. If I want to have my view heard, I don’t feel afraid to go speak to anyone in the company. Everyone’s really approachable.”
Shaping futures
Guhan has seen a lot of change in his 14-plus years at Powerlink. We’ve grown from 500 to 2,000 people, injecting plenty of unique perspectives into an already world-class environment.
“There are people from all walks of life, with different life experiences and unique skills. We bring everyone together; it's a real melting pot. Seeking and valuing those diverse perspectives definitely leads to better decision making and I see examples of that every day. It’s been a real privilege to have contributed to bringing many new starters on board and supporting the development of our people.”
Would you like to bring your passion, expertise and drive to Powerlink? Guhan shares why now is the best time to make your mark on an industry powerhouse.
“It’s well understood that Powerlink is at the centre of the industry in Queensland. We have to look after and reinvest in our existing network, but we’re also there to connect to new sources and new loads. There’s so much opportunity; and our people take pride in the positive impact they have on countless people, directly or indirectly. If you want to feel part of something big and important, this is a place that will continue to do big and important things for a long time to come.”