EthosPowerAILNG2012–2016
Asia Pacific LNG (APLNG)
I specified 192 lithium (LiFePO4) 48VDC systems with BMS for APLNG, including thermal modelling for high-temperature cabinet environments.
192× 48VDC LiFePO4 systems
Origin Energy·Queensland, Australia
About
Vanya Smythe
I help power, battery and energy-storage companies plan five years ahead, and I build the AI software those plans need. I have been an engineer since 1987, have worked in standby DC power since 1992, and first became a company director in 1996. The tabs below hold the record, so you can check it.
LocationNelson, New Zealand
CitizenshipNew Zealand and British
LanguagesEnglish, French (fluent)
Engineering Since1987
Background
I have been an engineer since 1987, and have worked in batteries, DC power and UPS since 1992. From 2012 to 2016 I was ABB's only global specialist for DC and AC UPS systems, responsible for standby power on projects with a combined scope above US$500 million a year. Since 2024 I have built AI software that is in daily use, including this website and ebatt.ai, a platform for battery sizing and standards checks.
Why one person
The four steps on the Approach page need three kinds of experience: how the business makes money, how its people change the way they work, and how to build the software. Split them across three specialists and something is lost at each handover. I have a record in all three.
The business
I became a company director in 1996, when I set up Innovative Energies Australia as director and part-owner. At Magellan Powertronics I doubled the company's highest annual sales in 2011/12. I have won and kept period contracts with the network companies Transgrid, Essential Energy, Energy Australia and Ausgrid.
The people
A new tool fails when staff believe it is there to take their jobs. I hold a degree in education and philosophy and a Certificate IV in workplace training. I wrote the battery and UPS courses used by 42 ABB business units, and I trained field staff at Essential Energy and 30 engineers at Airservices Australia. The aim each time was that people could do the work without me.
The technology
I have run ERP systems since 1996 and built AI software since 2024: ebatt.ai, search over private documents, agent workflows and ERP integrations. I also know where a supplier's data comes from. For GLNG's 300 DC systems and APLNG's 192 lithium systems I selected the chargers, the battery monitors and the DNP3 and Modbus links that carry their data.
My degree specialised in ethics, and I have published peer-reviewed research on codes of ethics, ethics training and whistleblowing. That is one reason what I build keeps a person in charge of each decision.
How I Work
You work with me directly on strategy, design, build and training. I work from a home office in Nelson, and AI agents that I direct write most of the code. There are no account managers and no junior staff.
This website runs on Cloudflare, including its chat and document search. The email, CRM and automation systems behind it (Listmonk, ERPNext and n8n) are ones I host myself. You can see them working before you ask for one.
1987
Engineering since
US$500M
Annual project scope at ABB
42
ABB units trained
5
Peer-reviewed publications
Career Timeline
Broadcast electronics, then standby power, then AI software for the companies that supply it.
2015–present
EthosPower Associates
Principal — Applied AI for battery and standby power
Nelson, New Zealand
- Built ethospower.ai: this website, with a searchable knowledge base, a solution designer and automated lead follow-up
- Built ebatt.ai: a live platform for battery sizing to IEEE 485, EN 50272-2 venting and quotations
- Designed a software development workflow in which AI agents plan, write, review, test and deploy code, with a person approving each stage
- Set up a hybrid power business unit for Powerbox Australia: coached four engineers, built a sizing and quotation tool and wrote the O&M manuals
- Trained Powerbox Australia staff in prompt engineering, AI agents and workflow automation
- Consulted on UNEP-funded Stockholm Convention work in the Cook Islands and Kiribati
2012–2016
ABB Australia / ABB Global Project Execution Team
Sole Global DC/AC UPS Systems Specialist
Sydney, Australia (global role)
- Responsible for standby power design across ABB's worldwide project wins, with a combined scope above US$500 million a year
- Qualified VRLA, lithium iron phosphate and nickel-cadmium battery systems, including factory acceptance testing
- Wrote and delivered UPS and battery courses to 42 ABB business units, and trained project engineers in Australia, the Philippines and Singapore
- ExxonMobil Longford: 1+1 redundant 110 V DC systems in transportable switch-rooms for Zone 1 hazardous areas
- Santos GLNG (300 DC power systems) and Asia Pacific LNG (192 lithium 48 V DC systems for cabinets above 65 °C)
2006–2012
Magellan Powertronics Pty Ltd
East Coast (NSW, VIC, QLD) and New Zealand Manager
Sydney, Australia
- Doubled the company's previous highest annual sales
- Won and kept period contracts with Transgrid, Essential Energy, Energy Australia and Ausgrid
- Designed a transportable lithium battery system for Essential Energy and built a 110 V DC, 22 kW portable load bank for on-site discharge tests
- Trained Essential Energy field staff and 30 Airservices Australia engineers in lithium iron phosphate batteries
2005–2006
Powerbox Australia Pty Ltd
Business Development Manager
Sydney, Australia
- Launched a battery-backed DC power supply range into the Australian security market, with its channel strategy and distribution agreements
- Powerbox is now a leading supplier in this market
2002–2004
University of Auckland
Bachelor of Education and Philosophy (Ethics specialisation)
Auckland, New Zealand
- Full-time study, with peer-reviewed publications on codes of ethics, ethics training and whistleblowing
1996–2002
Innovative Energies Australia Pty Ltd
Director and Part-Owner
Sydney, Australia
- Set up the Australian arm of a New Zealand power electronics company, after a year writing its expansion plan as marketing manager (1995–96)
- Deployed the company's first ERP system in 1996 and VPN access for remote staff in 1998
- Built and ran its web, email and file servers
1992–1995
Powerbox Australia Pty Ltd
Applications Engineer
Sydney, Australia
- Sold standard and customised DC power supplies to OEMs, mining, petrochemical, telecom, industrial, and military sectors
1990–1991
Isambard Productions Ltd
Head of Production Sound
Auckland, New Zealand / Sydney, Australia
- Head of Production Sound for The Billy T James Show and 1990s The Issues
- In 1991, sailed from Auckland to Sydney aboard Condor of Bermuda, then competed in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
1987–1990
Television New Zealand
Electronics Technician & Production Sound Engineer
Auckland, New Zealand
- Maintained and repaired professional audio and broadcast electronics equipment at TVNZ
Project Portfolio
17 projects across LNG, utilities, off-grid, aviation, AI platforms, and business & research.
LNG2012–2016
Santos GLNG
I designed 300 standby DC power systems for the Gladstone liquefaction trains — harsh-environment specification at volume, with repeatable rack design and schedule-driven factory acceptance testing.
300DC systems
Santos·Queensland, Australia
LNG2012–2016
ExxonMobil Longford Brownfield and Greenfield
I project-engineered 1+1 redundant 110 V DC systems for explosion-proof transportable switch-rooms at ExxonMobil's Longford plants, including Ex d-rated battery isolators with remote trip, and negotiated the mid-project re-sizings and variations.
Zone 1hazardous-area rated
ExxonMobil·Victoria, Australia
LNG2012–2016
Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG)
I witnessed 10 weeks of factory acceptance testing across multiple UPS configurations — 110VDC, 48VDC, and 230VAC — for this pioneering CSG-to-LNG conversion. Design and FAT sign-off.
10weeks FAT witnessing
QGC·Queensland, Australia
LNG2012–2016
Kuwait National Petroleum Corporation — Clean Fuels Project
I developed budgetary, preliminary and detailed standby-power proposals for KNPC's US$12B Clean Fuels 2020 programme as a core member of ABB's Global Project Execution Team.
US$12Bprogramme value
Kuwait National Petroleum Corporation·Kuwait
LNG2012–2016
Petrofac Upper Zakum & SARB Field Development
I developed standby power system proposals for two major Middle East offshore oil and gas projects — Upper Zakum and SARB field developments — covering DC power, batteries and chargers.
2offshore field developments
Petrofac Emirates·UAE
Utilities2012–2016
ABB Global Project Execution Team
I was ABB's sole DC/AC UPS Systems Specialist — responsible for every standby power design across ABB's worldwide project wins. Battery qualification across VRLA, LiFePO4 and NiCd; BMS and thermal verification.
US$500Mannual scope
ABB (global)·Worldwide
Utilities2006–2012
Australian Electricity Utility Contracts
I won and retained period contracts supplying standby power infrastructure to four Australian transmission and distribution utilities — LiFePO4 systems, 110VDC load-bank testing kit, field-service training.
4utility period contracts
Transgrid·New South Wales, Australia
Utilities2010–2011
QGC Lithium Iron Phosphate Systems
I project-managed four 110VDC at 600A thyristor-controlled chargers paired with 1400Ah LiFePO4 batteries and diode coupling boxes for QGC — full delivery from design through commissioning.
4× 110VDC / 1400Ah systems
Queensland Gas Corporation·Queensland, Australia
Off-Grid2018–2019
UNEP Stockholm Convention — Cook Islands & Kiribati
I delivered UNEP-funded consulting and training for two Pacific Island environment ministries on Stockholm Convention NIPs — POPs management, renewable energy programme reporting, on-island training.
2national environment ministries
Cook Islands National Environment Service·Cook Islands & Kiribati
Aviation2009–2010
Airservices Australia — Field Engineer Training
I wrote and delivered the operation-and-maintenance training on microprocessor-controlled thyristor battery chargers, and lithium battery technology, for all 30 Airservices Australia field service engineers.
30field service engineers trained
Airservices Australia·Australia-wide
AI Platform2018-2020
Powerbox Australia — Hybrid Power Systems Design and Build Business Unit
I established a new hybrid power business unit, built the IEEE 485 cloud sizing tool, and delivered prompt engineering training to the team. Strategy, coaching, tooling, O&M manuals — full zero-to-one stand-up.
4engineers coached + tools shipped
Powerbox Australia·Sydney, Australia
AI Platform2024–present
ethospower.ai — AI-Powered Consulting Platform
I designed, built and deployed this site — Next.js 15 / Cloudflare Workers with a RAG knowledge assistant over 2,400+ documents, a 6-agent development pipeline, and 15+ MCP integrations.
2,400+documents in RAG index
EthosPower Associates·Nelson, New Zealand
AI Platform2025–present
ebatt.ai — AI Battery Design & Compliance Platform
I built an IEEE 485 battery sizing tool and EN 50272-2 hydrogen venting calculator on Cloudflare Workers / D1 / R2, with Stripe payments and multi-tenant deployment. Standby DC power engineering since 1992, as software.
IEEE 485+ EN 50272-2 compliant
EthosPower Associates·Nelson, New Zealand
Business & Research1996–2002
Innovative Energies Australia — Director & Part-Owner
I established and ran the Australian arm of a New Zealand power-electronics business — trained three staff, set up overseas supplier agreements and a local distributor network, deployed its first ERP in 1996 and built the in-house intranet and VPN myself.
1996first ERP deployed
Innovative Energies (NZ) Ltd·Sydney, Australia
Business & Research2005–2006
Powerbox Australia — Security Market Launch
I project-managed the launch of a new battery-backed DC power supply range into the Australian security market — market research, distribution agreement with the leader's top distributor, direct marketing campaign, penetration strategy.
#1category market position achieved
Powerbox Australia·Australia & New Zealand
Business & Research2008–2012
Peer-Reviewed Research on Codes of Ethics & Whistleblowing
I co-authored peer-reviewed book chapters and journal articles on codes of ethics, ethics training, and whistleblowing — published via Tilde University Press, EJBO and Chartered Secretaries Australia.
5peer-reviewed publications
Tilde University Press·Australia / International
Qualifications
| Year | Qualification | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–present | AI engineering: language-model integration, document search, multi-agent systems and cloud deployment | Self-taught, applied in production |
| 2021 | Diploma in Carbon Management | Greenhouse Gas Management Institute |
| 2007 | Certificate IV, Workplace Training and Assessment | North Sydney College of TAFE |
| 2002–2004 | Bachelor of Education and Philosophy (Ethics specialisation) | University of Auckland |
| 1994 | Certificate of Business Management | North Sydney TAFE |
| 1987–1989 | Technicians Certificate of Electronics (Advanced) | Auckland Technical Institute |
| 1985–1987 | New Zealand Certificate of Engineering (Electrical, Stage 3) | Auckland Technical Institute |
My formal engineering qualifications are the NZ Certificate of Engineering (Electrical) and the Technicians Certificate of Electronics (Advanced). I have practised as an engineer since 1987.
Research & Publications
Peer-reviewed publications on applied ethics, codes of ethics, and whistleblowing. Citations tracked on Google Scholar and ResearchGate.
- SMYTHE, V. 2012. "Codes of Ethics." In: BOWDEN, P. (ed.) Applied Ethics: Strengthening Ethical Practices. Tilde University Press.
- BOWDEN, P. & SMYTHE, V. 2009. "Ethics, good governance and whistleblowing." In: YOUNG, S. (ed.) Contemporary Issues in Corporate Governance. Tilde University Press.
- SMYTHE, V. 2009. "Theories on Teaching & Training in Ethics." 15th National Conference, Australian Association for Professional and Applied Ethics (AAPAE), Brisbane.
- BOWDEN, P. & SMYTHE, V. 2008. "Theories on Teaching & Training in Ethics." Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and Organization Studies, 13, 19–26.
- BOWDEN, P. & SMYTHE, V. 2008. "Making Codes of Ethics Meaningful and Effective." Keeping Good Companies: Journal of Chartered Secretaries Australia Ltd.
Industry Sectors
Petrochemical (LNG)UtilitiesRenewable EnergyBattery StorageMiningHeavy IndustryTransport InfrastructureTelecommunicationsMilitarySpace & AviationBroadcasting
Standards & Protocols
Battery & Power
IEEE 485 battery sizing, EN 50272-2 hydrogen venting, IEC 62040 UPS standards, hazardous area classification (Zone 1 & 2, Ex d-rated equipment)
Communications & BMS
DNP3, MODBUS, CANBUS protocols for battery management systems. EMC requirements for industrial power systems.
Beyond Work
I lived in France as a child and speak French fluently. In 1991 I sailed from Auckland to Sydney aboard Condor of Bermuda, then competed in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Today I practise tai chi, tend an organic avocado orchard, and build furniture in my woodworking workshop in Nelson, New Zealand.
Working With Me
How I Work
From a home office in Nelson, for clients across New Zealand and Australia.
One engineer, with AI agents
I designed and run a set of AI agents that plan, write, review, test, deploy and document code. A person approves each stage. This is how one engineer can put a prototype in front of your customer within weeks. The Dark Software Factory page shows its record.
Direct access
You deal with me on every engagement. There are no account managers and no junior staff. For work outside power systems and AI, I bring in specialist associates for that project.
Open source, self-hosted
I run my own practice on the software I install for clients: Nextcloud, OpenProject, n8n, Qdrant, Neo4j, Listmonk and ERPNext. For you it runs on your servers, so your customers' test data stays on your network.
Fixed prices
Work starts with a one-week Discovery at a fixed price. Every later stage has a fixed price too. I do not bill by the hour. The price ranges are on the Services page.
Start with a 30-minute call
Thirty minutes on two questions: which of your customers' problems never goes away, and what data do they trust you with? No sales pitch.