Ehren Wittmer
Powerlink Queensland
Tuesday | 11:30am | UAAA Stream
TALK TITLE
The Evolution of UVM in Changing Community Expectations
BIO
Ehren is a seasoned professional in vegetation management, with a career spanning over 12 years at Powerlink. Ehren began his career in vegetation management shortly after high school, initially working in Forestry and then transitioning to a role within the Council where he earned a qualification in Horticulture. Ehren further advanced his expertise by completing an Arboriculture qualification and commenced climbing trees around powerlines.
At Powerlink, Ehren has been instrumental in managing transmission line easements, starting in the field with supervision, inspection, and landholder engagement. He now oversees the easement maintenance work delivery for the entire Southern Queensland region.
Growing up in the bush, Ehren has always had a deep appreciation for trees and forests. He remains committed in his career to balancing the needs of vegetation with continuous supply of electricity.
ABSTRACT
Ehren's presentation explores the evolution of Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) at Powerlink, explaining how our integrated vegetation management approach promotes minimal disturbance and aims to transition easement vegetation to species compatible to safely exist under a transmission line.
The presentation discusses external influences from landholders, government agencies, and the community, highlighting our engagement strategies to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes and our commitment to being a global leader in electrical transmission network operations and maintenance.
Our primary goal is to ensure the safety of our people and community while enhancing operational efficiency and aligning with evolving social expectations regarding vegetation management.
The presentation will also underscore our focus on forward planning and innovation and will discuss strategies and plans that are designed to maintain a robust and safe network while maintaining importance of landholder partnerships that empower safe land management around high voltage powerlines.