WHAT CAREER MILESTONES ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF HAVING ACHIEVED?
Joining the business in year one I had little idea that I would one day be managing director, a role I am very proud to have achieved. Twenty years of succession planning does help though and by occupying a number of roles in a fast-moving business you do learn quickly.

Operating safely is critical to the success of any business today and I remain very proud of our 13 years without a lost-time accident. Complacency can be the enemy here and therefore we have kept a strong focus on our safety performance.

Taking a company that started as a family business to grow into an international business with great capability and great people, many of whom I have known and worked with for decades, has been extremely satisfying. The acquisition by Clough in 2014 was a milestone for myself and the business. The company was acquired as a centre of excellence for controls and instrumentation and proved just how far we had come. I am very proud of our people here in the UK and what we have achieved together.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
There are a lot of uncertainties just now within the geopolitical landscape, especially here in the UK. Dealing with uncertainty does seem to be one the skills required to lead a business in current times. In our business this unpredictability means some clients are withholding investment and being more cautious when it comes to executing projects, which makes business growth more challenging.

Another big challenge is the fast-paced nature of today’s change. Continuing to stay innovative and look ahead to the future, as well as balancing the shorter-term day to day demands is always a difficult one. Balancing the need to innovate with the drive to increase profitability can be a test. Fortunately, we are able to receive some incentives from our government to support us with innovation initiatives and we have taken full advantage of this to position ourselves for the digital future.

WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE FUTURE IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
Today I think there is so much to be excited about within our industry. Digital technology has the potential to be game changing and open up fantastic new business opportunities for us all. Booth Welsh has focused on achieving “thought leadership” in this new and exciting area and has already had uptake from clients, both old and new.

The idea of “collaboration over competition” has also been a big feature and today we are working across a much wider network from academia and industry bodies, as well as businesses across the Murray & Roberts Group. It can be immensely powerful when we combine our strengths and come together for mutual benefit. Internally we have a number of young employees joining the business who are shaking things up and challenging traditional ways of thinking, which is helping develop our strategy for the future of work.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF CAREER ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED?
As I have grown the business over the years, one mantra which has always been in the back of my mind is “one step at a time”. This is something my father always said. It has allowed us to move forwards and develop the business, while always being able to take a step back if it does not work out. Another one I have personally learned over the years is “don’t respond on the same day”. Taking time to fully reflect on a difficult situation or communication and respond evenly rather than rushing in and responding emotionally. A response written the following day is always much better.

WHAT CAREER MILESTONES ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF HAVING ACHIEVED?
My career has included many exciting and challenging experiences and has shaped the person I am today. I am most proud of the team we have assembled, sharing values and principles that guide our business practices with a culture that sets us apart from our competitors.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
• Adapting to an ever-changing energy industry
• Growing our business from predominantly an engineering company into a full-service engineering, procurement, construction company while transferring capabilities into new markets
• Promoting our true capabilities versus our perceived capabilities
• Ensuring that our people buy into the overall company strategy and vision
• Navigating the Canadian political landscape.

WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE FUTURE IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
There is so much opportunity for growth in this industry and, it is really up to us collectively to realise opportunities and leverage the experience and strengths of the Clough and Murray & Roberts global family. We are entering a period of change and evolution in the energy industry with the benefit of diversifying markets and transferring our skill sets and experience. With the introduction of digital transformation, and our progressive strategy working with and partnering with indigenous businesses and communities, it makes the journey all that more exciting as we continue to grow and evolve.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE?
I love spending quality time with my significant other, Laurie, and our dog Harley. I also like playing the occasional round of golf and enjoy watching sports, especially American football.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF CAREER ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED?
Stay true to who you are, live your values, and surround yourself with likeminded people who believe in the same values and want to accomplish a common goal.

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I do not always show it, but I am incredibly proud of our company’s accomplishments and thankful for the people over the years who have helped us get to where we are today. I am also not an engineer and I do not have a university degree.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
My first true paying job was at the age of 16, where I worked in a restaurant called the Chocolate Bar as a dishwasher.

WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER JOURNEY TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I started my industry career working as an HVAC drafter for my father’s engineering company on mostly commercial, light industrial, and institutional facility projects. During my four years of working for my father’s company and another similar company, I started taking night classes for process piping drafting so that I could make a progressive move into the oil and gas industry. I worked for a couple of different engineering, procurement, construction management companies in varied positions, one major, and one
start-up. After my experience with the start-up, I decided to start my own company (with some convincing and support) in 2006 and we began operations as Enercore Projects Limited in 2007. I was the President of Enercore Projects from 2007 to 2015 and subsequently in the same position with Clough Enercore after the acquisition by Clough in October of 2015.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta until I was 15 years old. My family moved to Calgary, Alberta when I was 16 and this is where I have spent most of my life.