From first day to decades of service: 25 years of commitment and innovation with Albert Elsouri

Starting out: the apprentice years

Albert's first impression of Transgrid was unforgettable.

“The biggest thing that stands out is the sheer scale of the infrastructure that Transgrid owns and operates,” he recalls. “I was struck by the responsibility we have to keep NSW powered. Without electricity, every other utility stops—the modern world grinds to a halt. Transgrid being the backbone of this electricity supply means we can have the greatest impact.”

Albert began as a communications apprentice/technician, spending seven years mastering the fundamentals of telecommunications. These early years laid the foundation for his technical expertise and introduced him to a workplace culture built on knowledge-sharing.

“To be surrounded by such a wealth of knowledgeable people has been just so educational,” Albert says.

“From my first day with our apprentice trainer, Greg White, to today, people went out of their way to teach what they knew. That sense of pride in passing on knowledge...is a great comradery that I really love and cherish.”

The protection technician years

After seven years, Albert became a high-voltage protection secondary systems technician, a role he held for 15 years. This period was marked by some of his most memorable experiences.

“One that stands out was an electrical trench fire at Sydney North Substation in the late 2000s. It caused a large part of Sydney to go black. I was one of the first responders, driving through darkened streets early in the morning. Everyone pulled together to restore supply—it took weeks of repair work.”

Ironically, a decade later, Albert led the renewal of those same systems as part of the SSR program. “I was the senior Protection Technician on that job, surrounded by some of the best protection technicians, substation technicians, site managers, project managers and project engineers you could find. The camaraderie and shared commitment to making a meaningful impact made those long days and weekends enjoyable.”

A new challenge: asset monitoring

With 22 years of high voltage protection experience behind him, Albert moved into his current role as an Asset Monitoring Engineer.

“This role has challenged my knowledge and provided new learning experiences I didn’t anticipate,” he explains. “We’re responsible for ensuring new assets are handed over from projects to operations before they’re energised. Plus, we go on call every six weeks for all operational assets across the state.”

Albert has also witnessed the industry’s transformation firsthand.

“We’ve gone from electromechanical relays to digital systems and seen huge growth in telecommunications. I have been privileged enough to be trained and work on all types in my career. The network has shifted from relying on large coal generators to integrating renewables from remote areas. The sheer number of substations, transmission lines, synchronous condensers, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) we’re building is incredible.”

Looking ahead

Throughout his 25-year career, Albert has seen the energy industry transform—from electromechanical relays to advanced digital systems, and from a network dominated by coal generation to one rapidly integrating renewables. Yet, he believes the most exciting chapter is still ahead.

“I couldn’t have imagined the amount of battery energy storage systems and renewable projects connecting to the grid. Managing so many small generators will be challenging, and our automation systems will need to evolve exponentially. There’s also the responsibility to pass on knowledge to the next generation—we’re just custodians of a network that will outlast us.”

Passing knowledge forward to the next generation

Albert’s advice for anyone starting their career in energy is simple but powerful:

“Ask questions, be curious, and don’t wait to be taught—have a go and figure things out. The more you learn, the better you get, and the more you’ll learn as you progress. If you don’t know something, say so—people will help if you show honesty and dedication. Lean into your strengths and interests; there are so many areas to specialise in at Transgrid and the energy industry.”

Albert’s story is one of growth, resilience, and commitment to powering progress. From apprentice to asset monitoring engineer, his journey reflects the opportunities and challenges of an industry that never stands still and the importance of staying curious every step of the way.

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