Aisling Cooney

Commercial executive with deep expertise leading commercial strategy, negotiation and governance of complex infrastructure and utility contracts exceeding $2bn in value. Trusted adviser to executive leadership with a proven record of securing major contract awards, strengthening client relationships, improving commercial governance and leading high-performing commercial teams.

Senior Commercial Manager / Head of Commercial at SERVICE STREAM (2022-12 – Present)

Reports to Dennis Trovas (GM Commercial and Pre-Contracts)

• Developed and executed commercial strategies at contract level, materially improving strike margin performance across the contract portfolio.
• Led drafting and execution of commercial contracts, achieving full compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
• Implemented contract management processes to monitor risk and performance.
• Negotiated upstream contracts (including the NEC suite of contracts) with major utilities, aligning commercial terms to Divisional risk appetite.
• Delivered executive reporting on contract performance and risk, sharpening senior leadership decision-making.
• Led and mentored a team of commercial professionals, strengthening team capability and succession readiness.
• Millmerran Power Station | Outage Agreements: Led commercial negotiation of the $150m outage agreements, aligning risk allocation with client objectives.
• Millmerran Power Station | Outage Agreements: Coordinated internal stakeholders to secure a sustainable agreement.
• Yarra Valley Water | Asset Maintenance Contract: Led negotiation and execution of the 9-year, $905m Yarra Valley Water Asset Maintenance Contract.
• Yarra Valley Water | Asset Maintenance Contract: Directed risk allocation and pricing strategy, securing executive governance approval first-time.
• Urban Utilities | MECS Contract: Delivered end-to-end commercial management of the Urban Utilities MECS contract, protecting project margin.
• Urban Utilities | MECS Contract: Led claims and variation management, resolving entitlement disputes and reducing claims.

Junior Legal Counsel / Legal Counsel / Senior Legal Counsel at UGL | a CIMIC Group Company (2016-05 – 2022-12)

Reports to Stephen Barrett-White (General Counsel)

• Reviewed and negotiated upstream operational contracts across UGL's rail, defence, technology and utilities businesses.
• Reviewed and negotiated downstream contracts, cutting gap risk and enforcing UGL's procurement policy.
• Prepared claims and responses under state Security of Payment legislation, protecting cash flow position.
• Led dispute preparation and mediation support, briefing the Leadership Team to secure favourable settlements.
• Managed e-discovery, internal audits and confidential whistleblower investigations with IR/HR Legal.
• Drafted and reviewed project probity documents, strengthening tender integrity across major bids.
• Naval Ship Management Pty Ltd: Negotiated and executed a $1.1bn contract sustaining the Royal Australian Navy's LHD and LLC fleets for 15 years.
• Naval Ship Management Pty Ltd: Acted as Company Secretary for a two year period and advised on governance for the UGL Defence/Babcock joint venture, strengthening board-level assurance.
• Auckland One Rail: Advised UGL's successful JV bid with ComfortDelGro, securing Auckland Transport's NZ$130m/year rail contract which included a substantial piece of work with respect to employee transfer risk management for incoming Transdev staff, delivering a seamless workforce transition.
• Glenrowan Solar Farm: Led legal negotiation of the EPC contract for the 130MWdc Glenrowan Solar Farm, securing key delivery terms.
• Glenrowan Solar Farm: Negotiated the O&M contract for ongoing asset management, securing long-term operational cost certainty.

Lawyer at DOYLES CONSTRUCTION LAWYERS (2015-01 – 2016-01)

Reports to: Rawia Elsleiman (Senior Lawyer) » Jim Doyle (Director)

• Resolved construction disputes under NSW and national legislative frameworks, including Security of Payments matters.
• Drafted letters of advice for construction disputes across all industry sectors.
• Managed national debt recovery matters, including letters of demand and Security of Payments claims.
• Drafted affidavits, statements and deeds of settlement in accordance with UCPR and Corporations Act requirements.
• Assisted with national discovery processes, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
• Prepared briefs to counsel and appeared in minor Court and Tribunal matters.

Practical Legal Training – The College of Law (2014-07 – 2014-10)

Selected subjects of GDLP following academic exemptions granted by LPAB – University of Sydney via Legal Extension Committee (2012 – 2014)

Master of Commercial Law (LLM)(Comm)(Honours) – University College Dublin (2009 – 2010)

International Bachelor of Corporate Law (German) (Honours) – National University of Ireland, Galway (2005 – 2009)