Page 265 - ISES SWC50

Dipesh Shah
Country: United Kingdom
Year joined industry: 1991
Company first worked for: BP Solar
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: No

Dipesh Shah started at BP Oil in 1976 and in 1991 he became CEO of BP Solar International, a position he held
until 1997. Over the next 6 years he took the company from a focus of professional systems in the developing world
to one where 66% of its market was the growing grid connect market. While CEO of BP Solar International he was
also chairman of Tata BP Solar Tata India. During that period, he was active with the EPIA and was chairman from
1992 to 1997. After 1997 he moved on with BP Solar . After leaving BP in 2002 he still maintained an interest in
renewables through being: chairman of the board of IT Power Limited from 2002 to 2005 ; non-executive director
of NAPS Systems Oy from 2003 to 2005; and chairman of HG Capital Renewable Power Partners LLP from 2003
to 2008.

Michelle Taylor (nee Guelden)
Country: Australia
Year joined industry: 1991
Company first worked for: UNSW Centre for Photovoltaic Devices and
Systems
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: Yes

Michelle Taylor (nee Guelden) studied electrical engineering at UNSW and her final year thesis on Laser Grooved
Buried Contact Solar Cells was under the supervision of Prof. Stuart Wenham - completed in mid-1991. Her
experience in developing her thesis led to her working in the Solar Lab at the University of New South Wales from
1990, assisting in new technology transfer, providing external relation services for the Centre for Photovoltaic
Devices and Systems, and working on application projects including the development of the Little Bay test facility.
Michelle then began participating more broadly in the solar industry, speaking at ATRAA and SEIAA conferences
as well as gaining RAPS (remote area power system) experience with a variety of industry professionals. She is
a co-author of the book Speed of Light, documenting the 1996 World Solar Car Challenge and has continued a
varied career revolving around the enablement of renewable energy, and in particular, solar photovoltaics. She
spent 3 years in Alice Springs providing renewable energy solutions for remote aboriginal communities in Northern
Territory, and then moved on to Queensland where she headed up the regional electricity distribution company’s
(Ergon Energy) stand-alone power system division. There she was involved in the design and engineering of
hundreds of RAPS across Australia; from the islands of the Torres Straits to the Kimberley region of Western
Australia. Michelle’s passion for renewable energy has also been demonstrated through ongoing representation
over 13 years in Standards Australia’s EL42 renewable energy standards committee and more recently with the
Queensland Electrical Safety Office, ensuring a safe future for new and emerging technologies. She was recently
recognised as the 2019 National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year by Engineers Australia’s Electrical
College for her work in industry, much of this work enabling renewable energy and developing the skills and passion
of younger engineers in this area.

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