Stephen Branch is the Managing Director of ExpertESA and one of our Expert Engineers
Education and qualifications
Bachelor of Engineering
(Civil) Honours I, University Medal 1979, UNSW
Master of Engineering Science 1983, UNSW
Fellow of Engineers Australia, FIEAust (No.312987)
Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) Civil & Structural
National Professional Engineering Register (NER) Civil & Structural
Member, Association of Consulting Structural Engineers of NSW
Past President, Engineers Australia (Sydney Division)
Past Member, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
Past Registered Professional Engineer of QLD RPEQ (No.4188)
Past Registered Building Practitioners with the Board of Victoria (No.EC–1970)
Past Registered Building Practitioners with the Board of Tasmania (No. CC–4900)
Stephen Branch
Managing Director and Expert Engineer
Having worked as a consulting engineer for over 40 years, Stephen is a highly experienced Expert Engineer who has been responsible for delivering structural, civil and hydraulic engineering services for many high profile clients in both the institutional and commercial sectors.
Stephen’s technical expertise is recognised by his engineering peers as a Past President of Engineers Australia Sydney Division.
Our clients value Stephen’s ability to distil technical engineering issues and explain them to project stakeholders in clear and simple language.
Employment History
1978 - Commenced at Woolacotts Consulting Engineers as a Graduate Engineer
1984 – Appointed Associate of Woolacotts Consulting Engineers
1987 – Became a Director and part owner of Woolacotts Consulting Engineers
2010 – Appointed Operations Director of Woolacotts Consulting Engineers
2020 – Managing Director of ExpertESA and Consultant to Woolacotts.
Project / Discipline experience
Stephen has over 40 years of experience as a Consulting Engineer with a diverse range of projects in most sectors.
The following projects highlight this experience.
University of Western Sydney Clinical School at Blacktown Hospital – $35M. New teaching facility containing research laboratories, administration offices, specialist equipment and a 161 seat lecture theatre.
Civil Engineering role: Principal for new access roads, car parking, retaining walls and stormwater drainage
Structural Engineering role: Principal for four storey concrete framed building with structural steel framed roof and complex glass façade support
Hydraulic Engineering role: Principal for all hydraulic and wet fire services
Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University – $70M. New purpose built facility at which included laboratories, teaching facilities and commercial space.
Civil Engineering role: Principal for new access roads, car parking, retaining walls and stormwater drainage
Structural Engineering role: Principal for seven storey concrete framed building with structural steel framed roof
Casuarina Grove Hamlyn Terrace, NSW – $30M. Specialist aged care facility for intellectual disability and complex needs – New 96 person facility and first government project to achieve a four star rating under the Green Start Healthcare Pilot Tool.
Civil Engineering role: Principal for new access roads, car parking, retaining walls and stormwater drainage
Structural Engineering role: Principal for single and two storey framed buildings
Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospital Redevelopment – $100M. This project included new builds for the five level Main Building, Community Health, Dental, Oncology, Palliative Care and Main Car Park.
Civil Engineering role: Principal for new access roads, car parking, retaining walls and stormwater drainage
Structural Engineering role: Principal for concrete framed buildings with structural steel framed roof
Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre – $30M. 550 seat theatre, modelled on the Sydney Theatre Company facility at Walsh Bay in Sydney.
Civil Engineering role: Principal for new car parking, retaining walls and stormwater drainage
Structural Engineering role: Principal for concrete framed building with structural steel framed roof and fly tower
South Coast Correctional Centre, Nowra – $90M Major new 600 inmate prison facility inclusive of new Council roadworks and major services infrastructure upgrades
Civil Engineering role: Principal for Council road upgrades, major services infrastructure upgrades, new 1km long access road with bridge over creek, car parking, retaining walls and stormwater drainage
Structural Engineering role: Principal for insitu and precast concrete framed buildings with structural steel framed roof
Hydraulic Engineering role: Principal for all hydraulic and wet fire services
Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison, Kalgoorlie – $50M Major re-construction and expansion of the existing prison, delivered under the PPP model. Woolacotts were Engineering technical advisors to the WA Government
Lead Technical Advisor coordinating all engineering disciplines
Clarence Correctional Centre, Grafton - $700M New 1700 bed correctional centre located on a ‘greenfields’ site and delivered under the PPP model. Woolacotts were part of the successful consortia ‘Northern Pathways’.
Civil Engineering role: Principal for intersection with Council road, major bulk earthworks, new 1km long access road, car parking, retaining walls and stormwater drainage
Structural Engineering role: Principal for insitu and precast concrete framed buildings with structural steel framed roof
“CASBA” Danks St. Waterloo, NSW – $35M. New mixed use development featuring 3 separate 4+ storey apartments linked by a common ground floor commercial area.
Civil Engineering role: Principal for new driveway access, basement car parking, retaining walls and stormwater drainage
Structural Engineering role: Principal for six storey concrete framed building with structural steel framed roof
Reserve Bank of Australia, bank note processing facility, VIC – $100M. A new facility with ultra–high security to print and destroy bank notes.
Hydraulic Engineering role: Principal for all hydraulic and wet fire services
Secure work depots for Transgrid, NSW – Structural design and certification of standard security fencing for all work depots and substation facilities. Site specific structural upgrades to Waratah West, Dumaresq, Tenterfield, Wallgrove, Eastern Creek, Kemps Creek, Tamworth and Armidale.
Structural Engineering role: Principal for concrete and steel secure fencing
Expert Witness experience
2005 - Boundary wall collapse between residences, Alexandria, NSW - W.G. McNally Jones Staff, Referee: Michael Jaloussis, ph: 02 9233 4744
2005 - Stormwater drainage issues in Unit Development, Airlie Beach, QLD
2008 - Dispute between Strata Units, Bellevue Hill, NSW – W.G. McNally Jones Staff, Referee: Michael Jaloussis, ph: 02 9233 4744
2014 - Technical issues associated with security fence contracts, Transgrid, NSW – Baker & McKenzie, Referee: Alex Hartmann, ph 02 8922 5176
2015 - Lack of required headroom within Basement carparking, Hurstville, NSW – SCL Crisp Legal Pty Ltd, Referee: Glenn Crisp, ph: 02 9233 3144
2015 - Townhouse development building defects and statutory approval issues, Jindabyne, NSW – DEA Lawyers, Referee: Greg Anderson, ph: 02 9223 6344
2016 - Expert opinion regarding collapse of a Keystone block retaining wall, Yeppoon, QLD – Carter Newell Lawyers, Referee: David Fisher, ph: 07 3000 8386
2018 – Bunnings, Rozelle, NSW – Expert witness input to Land and Environment Court of NSW determination of proposed development. – Swaab, Referee: Emma Flemming, ph: 0402 494 189 – Barrister: Michael Staunton
2018 - Expert report on stormwater ingress at residential property, Woollahra, NSW – Colin Biggers & Paisley, Referee: Emily Brownlee, ph: 02 8281 4485
2018 - Expert report on Caltex Station awning rectification, Carlingford, NSW - Colin Biggers & Paisley, Referee: Nadine Wardell, ph: 07 3002 8721
2019 - Expert report on settlement of residence adjacent to basement construction, Bronte, NSW - James Tuite & Associates Lawyers, Referee: Brendan Churcher, ph: 02 9284 1899
2019 - Expert inspections and opinion on cracking in residences over and adjacent to the Westconnex Motorway roadworks and tunnel, Sydney, NSW – Dentons Australia Limited - Referee: Damon Booth, ph: 9035 7157
2019 - Expert inspection and opinion on structural concerns and rectification measures in residential tower, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW – HWL Ebsworth Lawyers - Referee: David Jury, ph: 9334 8678
2019 - Expert report on civil engineering design for waterside redevelopment, Perth, WA – Corrs Chambers Westgarth – Ref: Spencer Flay, ph 0415 048 270
2019 - Expert inspection and opinion on structural viability of retaining heritage components of a weatherboard cottage, Darlinghurst, NSW – Bick & Steele Lawyers - Referee: Darren Bick, ph: 0416 167 556
2019 - Expert report and opinion on demolition of an existing building adjacent construction site office, South Brisbane, QLD – Holding Redlich – Referee: Grace Power, ph: 07 3135 0639
2019 - Expert inspection and report on structural concerns and waterproofing in affordable housing development, Bendigo, VIC - Crisp Law - Referee: Jin Lee, ph: 0405 377 901
2019 - Expert opinion on deterioration of heavy duty drains and concrete pavements, Port Botany, NSW - Corrs Chambers Westgarth – Referee: Carla Mills, ph: 0449 562 089
2020 - Expert report on stormwater management for Recycling Plant expansion, Alstonville, NSW – Scheib Legal – Referee: Natasha Nadj, ph: 0407 700 323
2020 - Expert opinion on deterioration of drains and concrete pavements in aircraft hardstand, QLD - Corrs Chambers Westgarth – Referee: Thomas Denehy, ph: 0409 015 513
2020 - Expert report on proposed shoring system adjacent existing building within Brisbane CBD, QLD – HKA – Referee: Hamish Clark, ph:0439 103 941
2020 - Expert report on failure of pavers at heavy equipment maintenance facility, Casula, NSW – Minter Ellison – Referee: Andrew Hales, ph: 0470 315 319
2020 - Expert report and opinion on construction issues with a new Childcare Centre at Montmorency, VIC - Crisp Law - Referee: Glenn Crisp, ph: 0418 465 618
2020 - Berthing pile repair calculations, Port Giles, SA – HKA – Referee: Mark Griffith, ph: 0418 647 512
2020 - Remembrance Drive, Picton, NSW – Expert report and opinion on repair of mine subsidence damage to building – Referee: Jamie Lonie, ph: 0448 022 444
2020 - Expert report on construction issues in new residence, Lilli Pilli, NSW - Crisp Law - Referee: Glenn Crisp, ph: 0418 465 618
2021 - Expert report on damage to boundary walls and fences due to services installation, Darling Point, NSW – Referee: Frank Kalyk, ph: 0411 144 100
2021 - Expert report on basement waterproofing issues in multi-storey residence, Maroochydore, QLD - Holding Redlich – Referee: Grace Power, ph: 07 3135 0639
2021 - Expert report on hardwood timber floor cupping in residence, Woolooware, NSW – Scheib Legal – Referee: Michael Scheib, ph: 0438 165 439