What does your role at SSi encompass and in what circumstance would someone come to you?
Full disclosure: I actually work for a company called Spectra-ingenuity in Brisbane, Australia. Spectra is the Australian distributor for SSi, and my role is purely focussed on SSi products, so I feel very much part of both organisations. As our Artificial Lift Manager, my task is to seek out opportunities for long-stroke pumping units in the Australian Coal Bed Methane and Conventional Oil markets. The long stroke concept is relatively new to our market so it’s a really interesting challenge. Operating costs are biting the industry, and I am confident that we will succeed by supporting their drive towards improved production optimisation, lower costs and better operating efficiency.
What is your favourite local restaurant?
“Pholicious” Vietnamese near my home in Adelaide. It’s the complete opposite of fine dining – a really small and simple suburban family-run place to grab a quick cheap meal but their bowls of beef Pho are just the best.
What is your go-to productivity trick?
I know it’s a cliché but discipline definitely beats motivation on days when you might not be as productive as you wish to be. When feeling stuck I tend to take a few minutes and spend time thinking and planning. It might not look “busy” but it’s ultimately more useful than being “busy” doing tasks that add no real value.
What is your most loved place in the world and why?
I travel quite regularly so I have to say home in case my wife reads this, however apart from that it would have to be anywhere in Italy. We did a 3-week motorhome road-trip there with my kids about 7 years ago and it was brilliant.
What is one thing (other than your smartphone) that you can’t leave your house without?
My ear buds – I try to exercise by taking long walks whilst listening to podcasts whenever I can, so it now feels very weird to walk without them.
What is the first concert you ever went to?
Dire Straits in Adelaide, February 1986. It was a full stadium show with 55,000 for the Brothers in Arms tour and set the attendance record for our city (beating a Neil Diamond tour in the mid 70’s). I was 15 years old and my oldest sister and her friends took me – I thought I was very cool. I still enjoy going to see live bands but prefer smaller venues with up-and-coming bands over the bigger stadium shows.
What are you reading now?
Regrettably I need to take a pass. I have not started a book this year and feel quite guilty about it.
What is your favourite sport to watch?
Australian Rules Football or any motor racing.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be either a Fireman or in the Army. I was not well suited to high school and grasped the opportunity to leave early and become a field service diesel mechanic working on Caterpillar equipment. I immediately loved it, working on various mobile equipment and gensets in underground mining, construction and oilfields. That led to working on gensets and trucks in the oilfield which somehow morphed into sales roles in underground mining machinery, then artificial lift and gas compression packages and now back to artificial lift. The journey has been a little circuitous but if I had my time again, I would not change a thing.
If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be and why?
“Bite off more than you can chew and chew like hell”. Most of my career successes and personal happiness have been the result of sliding doors moments – being in the right place at the right time and recognising an opportunity that feels right even if I don’t know why at the time. I actually have no idea how to write that book because I don’t have any answers and cannot offer much advice, other than do listen to the alarm bells inside your head but if they are not too deafening then give it a try.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
Walking for at least 1 hour per evening, regardless of the time or location.
What is your hometown and where do you currently live?
I grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, and have moved a few times but now returned, although I spend quite a lot of time in our office in Brisbane, Queensland.
What do you enjoy most about working at SSi?
Sorry for another cliché, but every day is interesting and diverse. SSi has a great product and Spectra has a strong history of customer-focused solution innovation. The role enables me to build on the best of both companies and leverage broad industry experience with a touch of perseverance and resilience working in an industry that I really enjoy and believe in – it’s extremely satisfying.