Linked Group Services was originally launched as a labour hire company, providing electricians to the mining sector. Working with my business partner, we have grown the company to become the leading provider of electrical, solar and fabrication services to the mining and resources, construction, agricultural and government sectors. We currently employ 30 staff and cover the Mackay, Darwin and Gladstone regions as well as the Bowen, Galilee and Surat Basins.One of the highlights so far for me has been the Solomon Islands project. LGS donated a solar powered generation system and I went over a team in September 2012 to install it within one of the isolated communities there. We’ve got more projects planned for the future, but this one job has already had a significant impact on the quality of life for that community – which is part of the ethos of LGS. We have a sustainable outlook for every project, and are always looking for how we can improve situations, products and processes – either internally or for our clients.

My role entailed administering and organising the electrical department along with managing the 20 employees in this division. This involved developing budgets, procuring materials, estimating labour and project construction costs as well as coordinating and liaising with engineers, contractors and clients. Along with a lot of shovel and dragline maintenance, our division also completed:• Tailings Dam Pump upgrade at Newlands CHPP• Saraji HV switchboard upgrade• Paget workshop extension at HMG Westhill

Working part time, I delivered the Restricted Electrical Licence Course and also subbed in temporarily as a relief teacher for the Electrical Trades Course. I found teaching to be a very rewarding experience, and it definitely set me in motion for wanting to start a company myself where I could assist staff in developing and achieving their career goals.