As the most experienced Rotating Equipment Engineer at RS, Mike adds a wealth of knowledge and provides fantastic support to the team at large.
Position:
Principal RE Engineer
Loves:
Road Cycling during the week and on weekends, looking after the horses, alpacas, dogs and cats on his property.
Background & Experience
Starting in an Engineering cadetship under Pacific Power in NSW, Mike’s career has seen him work with some of Australia’s leading companies as a senior Rotating Equipment (RE) specialist.
Now with Rotation Solutions as the Principal RE Engineer, Mike can leverage his extensive experience to guide the team forward and help to solve critical technical challenges.
“The cadetship was a good way to get hands-on experience while completing my engineering degree; it was a good mix of university and work,” Mike said.
“As a kid, I would buy old TVs and radios to pull them apart to see what was inside. My first car broke down on the way home, so I had to learn maintenance straight away.”
After working on an assignment with BHP in Port Kembla, Mike relocated with his family to Port Hedland before eventually moving down to Perth, where he resides now.
“I moved to Perth with a pregnant wife and baby and without a job because it was too hard to get interviews from Port Hedland,” he added.
“I found work with Andrew Forrest working on the Murrin Murrin Nickel project before getting into Oil & Gas and RE with Apache Energy, as a project engineer on gas turbines.”
“It was really good fun. I then joined Woodside as a specialist RE Project Engineer, working mainly on offshore projects.”
“When the GFC hit in 2009, I split my work time with Momentum Engineering to consult on compressor upgrades at DBNGP CS1, a new driven unit at CS10 and supporting Woodside’s GWA and NR2 Project as Rotating Equipment Specialist.”
“In 2011, I was approached by Inpex to specialise in the LNG gas compressors project management for Blaydin Point, which took me to Japan for three years working on the LNG main gas compressors and gas turbines under fabrication by GE.”
“Eventually, I joined BHP back in Perth as an RE Engineer and became the Maintenance Integrity Supervisor/Superintendent.”
So, What Makes RS A Good Workplace?
While at BHP, Mike met and worked with Dane and Steve (RS Founders) and began to rely on the service capability and expertise of Rotation Solutions.”
“The experience of the RS guys helped save us a lot of money and was my introduction to the team,” he continued.
“I would engage RS more than the OEM for service work.”
“The difference was improved visibility around what was getting done, expedited and detailed reporting service and the recommendations.”
“They’re honest tradesmen, and the clear reporting gave me an understanding of the equipment and what the future looks like for it.”
“Working with the guys here now is great, and because I was familiar with the team, there was an attraction to come and work.”
Mike is across the significant turbine and compressor overhauls with RS and handling Santos RE service campaigns, mainly at the Moomba facility.
“My role encompasses large material quotes, authority for expenditure, awarding POs to the vendors and getting the work orders right for execution.”
What’s On the Horizon for You?
“The Santos Adelaide and Queensland teams that I work with are great,” he said.
“The equipment is different to what I’m used to, and as they say, ‘it’s what you learn, not what you earn’ that makes the job enjoyable.”
“It’s also good to be able to work alongside the younger guys at RS and do whatever I can to help.”
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn.
