Ruby Heard

Ruby Heard is a descendant of the Jaru people of the Kimberley, an electrical engineer and founding director of Alinga Energy Consulting. Alinga provides energy research, feasibility and design services with a focus on affordable and sustainable off-grid systems which improve livelihoods for Indigenous communities. In 2020 Alinga Energy Consulting received a Commonwealth Government grant to conduct energy feasibility studies for remote First Nations communities in the Kimberley. Ruby brings a diverse background which includes 7 years as a consultant with Arup working in both Melbourne and San Francisco in the building services and energy space. She has designed electrical and lighting systems for iconic buildings in Melbourne and worked on complex solar arrays and microgrid concepts for Google campuses in California. In 2018 Ruby spent 6 months volunteering in Ethiopia through Engineers Without Borders, supporting the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) energy team. In 2019 she was awarded as Young Professional Engineer of the Year – Victoria by Engineers Australia and was also featured in their top 100 Engineers Making a Difference list. Ruby currently sits on the RAP committee for Engineers Without Borders and GHD.  

Ruby is undertaking a PhD with Melbourne University to address energy access and affordability for remote Indigenous communities. She hopes to investigate and address the barriers to achieving energy justice for first nations people and communities. Ruby will be working closely with Woorabinda Community in Queensland to explore the energy affordability issues, specifically following on from research that the Queensland Council of Social Services completed in 2019.