We are pleased to announce Groundwork Plus' newly appointed Associates. We asked James Rowe, David Doolan and Jim Lawler to answer a few questions about themselves and their line of work.
James Rowe - SA Manager
1. How long have you been with Groundwork Plus?
I was first introduced to Groundwork Plus via an IQA Young Members Network (YMN) Study Tour hosted by the Institute of Quarrying Hong Kong Branch. I met Tegan Smith who attended the same study tour. We travelled to several sites in Hong Kong and Southern China and learnt a great deal about their culture and quarrying in general. From here I was introduced to Clayton Hill, and we got along well with common interests including work (quarrying) and travel. The rest is history. We started the South Australian office in 2014 with myself as the only employee; I had a room, desk, laptop, phone and car. Most importantly we had 'no work' or projects when I started, terrifying!
2. What is your role at Groundwork Plus and what does it entail?
As the manager of the South Australian branch, my role has included growing the business over the past five years. Client relationships are key to our success, and along with the hiring of key staff to support the business, these are the aspects I enjoy. Collectively, the team in SA enjoy continually looking for local opportunities within the quarrying and related sectors and also supporting clients in other states including Northern Territory, Western Australia and Victoria.
3. What are your areas of particular interest or your proudest accomplishment?
My team. I enjoy seeing my team grow in different aspects of our industry. We provide a somewhat relaxed environment to allow the team members to develop or follow an interest within the business. For example, Emma Pearson started in an administrative role to support Kristy Lopes and me, now Emma is undertaking environmental desktop projects, managing tenure-related projects and can provide clients with advice related to different areas within our business. I enjoy seeing this type of growth from individuals. Gaining new clients' trust from value for money outcomes regarding resource investigations, approvals of documents from regulators and ongoing support is what I believe sets the Groundwork Plus business apart from competitors. I do still enjoy the practical side to quarrying and getting onsite and talking to the operators themselves on initiatives that can be communicated to inform business decisions. We have a lot of very highly skilled people in our industry, and I find most of them are on a piece of yellow or orange machinery. If we engage with the operators, we continually find they already have most of the intelligence that we are looking to utilise!
4. What is your favourite way to spend a weekend?
Most of the weekends are taken up with the family either camping or travelling in some direction. We love to get out in the camper trailer in some remote area (not a massive fan of being a bitumen bandit or BiG4 Life Member) away from people most of the time!! Also, I enjoy getting on a motorbike (race bike or cruiser) to either get to an event or going on an adventure ride with mates to explore areas I haven't yet seen.
David Doolan - Senior Environmental Consultant
1. How long have you been with Groundwork Plus?
I joined Groundwork Plus in April 2014. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity here after spending nearly ten years consulting to the oil and gas, resources and civil infrastructure sector. Coming from a large multi-national firm to Groundwork Plus was always going to be different, and I was a little nervous, but I was immediately impressed with the broad type of work that is done here, the calibre of the people and the strong relationships with our clients. It's been a really great five years.
2. What is your role at Groundwork Plus and what does it entail?
No day is the same. One day we could be assisting a client in obtaining a new approval, to the next day undertaking a technical assessment on an environmental matter, to then assisting industry in understanding new legislation that may impact on their business. My role through all of that is to work with the team to find the right solution for our clients and achieve a positive environmental outcome.
3. What are your areas of particular interest or your proudest accomplishment?
The proudest accomplishments are being involved in team efforts at times of increased pressure, and those moments are by far the best. Seeing everyone pull together for the common cause is a very satisfying thing to be involved with.
4. What is your favourite way to spend a weekend?
Discovering something or somewhere that will give my daughters, aged 3 and 5, a new experience is really the aim most weekends, if I can throw in a drink with friends, a movie, or some live music, I'm all the better for it.
Jim Lawler - Project Director
1. How long have you been with Groundwork Plus?
I have been with Groundwork Plus since 4 July 2011, but my association with the company goes back further than that. My first contact with Tegan and the team, where I learnt what the difference was between a mine and a quarry, was back in 2009 in my previous life as a development assessment planner with the Moreton Bay Regional Council. Little did I know where that first meeting would lead.
2. What is your role at Groundwork Plus and what does it entail?
I am a Project Director. That means I proactively lead multi-disciplinary teams to navigate complex legislative pathways to achieve successful outcomes in a commercially sensitive, timely and profitable manner for our clients. Essentially, I am a problem solver and I enjoy making complicated scenarios simple so that clear and deliverable strategies can be implemented to achieve my client's goal.
3. What are your areas of particular interest or your proudest accomplishment?
I am particularly interested in redeveloping quarries and mines for a range of post-extraction land uses.
My proudest achievement was working with the members of the Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia to prepare the 'Extractive Industry Model Codes' and 'Guideline for the Extractive Industry Model Codes' which were recognised by the Queensland Government in 2015 under the Queensland State Planning Policy – State Interest Guideline for Mining and Extractive Resources.
4. What is your favourite way to spend a weekend?
My favourite way to spend a weekend is bushwalking or fishing with my family.
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