- Engineer / Naval Architect
-
Skype: don.onthemove
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=100194959
Professional Profile:
A respectful, skilled and experienced client facing Project Operations Management Professional with national and international marine and airport management experience, technically skilled, commercially adept and effective in identifying any cost effective areas where economies and operational efficiencies can be obtained and easily maintained, without compromise of the contracted specifications, contract management standards or the completed works finished quality, and ultimately its operational compliance. Possesses polished team building, inter-personal, negotiation skills and communication abilities. Safety and profit focused and is very effective in client liaison, communications, and conflict resolution, leading large mixed teams of skilled, trades, unskilled staff, professionals and contractors to meet or exceed client expectations. I’m a skilled and effective team leader adept at team building and creating a working environment people like to come to work in, because it’s dynamic, interesting and challenging. My experience covers the Aviation, Marine, Engineering / Facilities Service Support, Construction and Project Management sectors where I have successfully delivered small, medium, large and mega projects safely, on time and within budget. Most recently a US$168M job plus US$15.5M awarded for EOTs’ and contract variations on a 4 year contract, with an ongoing maintenance element worth US$7.3M annually.
Career Summary:
Nov 2015 – March 2017. Government of the Northwest Territories.
In my fixed term position with the GNWT I am employed in the role of Regional Airports Manager and held responsible for all local, territorial and Federal (CAR’s / TP314 5 Edition / ICAO) regulatory, administrative, commercial development, environmental and contractual aspects of airport operations for the Arctic ‘A’ and ‘B’ airports within the South Slave Region. My terms of reference are to mentor two associates in the full suite of airport operations management practices and through teams of airfield maintenance specialists (AMS.) maintain the regulatory compliance and operational efficiency of Arctic 'A' and 'B' airports. In the summer months we are also involved in providing oversight for air tanker base (A flight of 5 aerial firefighting aircraft.) operations. The position is based in Ft. Smith NWT on the banks of the Slave River flowing into Great Slave Lake. Any skilled manpower and technical resources are limited throughout the Canadian Arctic Region and the North in general; consequently operating costs are very high and sometimes border on the exotically expensive for the most rudimentary of services, making the managers obligation to police and manage service contract standards , general operating costs and associated expenses’ crucial to any successful operations. My term position is scheduled to end 01 March 2017
2012 – Present. Fore n” Aft Marine Surveyors / Knot Buoys Marine Services.
Through a small staff I maintain, own and operate two companies at my home base of Creston, in the Kootenay Region of British Columbia, Canada: “Fore n’ Aft Marine Surveyors” and “Knot Buoys Marine Services.” Generating and performing marine surveying work is the primary focus. Fore n” Aft has been kept busy performing survey work on behalf of the principal dredging contractors operating in the Ft.McMurray area which are universally within the 24.0M / 75 feet in length or 150 gross tonnes class; there are 4 main contractors in the region we actively maintain a business relationship with. Whilst Knot Buoys Marine are the premier Yanmar Marine Diesel Engine dealer in the BC interior region and employ two (casual) skilled professionals in this area of operations. The survey work is predominately seasonal work carried out on behalf of mortgage lenders, insurance companies and buyers, whilst the more substantial service, repair and refurbishment work is much more of a year round activity, or a consequence of survey work that has been done previously, I am fortunate in being able to work anywhere there are marine vessels. Due to my other work commitments I endeavour to be very selective regarding the work we take on, and much prefer taking on smaller and quicker turnaround jobs, utilising the trade skills, education, professional management experience, suitable and adequate level of tooling, equipment and property which I already have, as opposed to becoming committed to other lengthy, costly and complex repair works requiring longer term commitment, additional skilled / licensed manpower, extensive materials and physical inputs.
2012 - Nov 2015. Raytheon Canada Limited / Canadian Base Operators JV.
- With RCL / CBO I was employed as the Logistics Service Support Manager by this (see above) JV responsible for the maintenance and management of 46 short and long range radar sites across the High Arctic Region of North America. Collectively this is known as the North Warning System, (NWS.) my role in this very dynamic working environment was to ensure we had and maintained consistent and reliable radar facility performance through a closely monitored and very elaborate timed preventative maintenance system. This includes 24/7 close technical support the movement of skilled maintenance trades and IT personnel, spare parts, mobile and static equipment, dangerous goods, fuel, rations and arctic airport / heliport maintenance, repair and operation (per Canadian Civil Aviation Regulations TP312.) across the Arctic. On this jointly funded by USAF and Canadian DND job I held a high level security clearance to perform this work. My duty rotation in this position was 6 weeks in and 6 weeks out.
2008 – 2012. Project Manager / Team Leader. Cooper Crouse Hinds, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Employed by the AGL principal contractor (CCH) on the Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) 2K runway expansion project, I provided direction and leadership to a core team of 12 expatriate engineering airport professionals on the ICAO CATIIIb airport lighting component of the $6.4Bn project
- Responsible for overseeing the installation of ICAO CATIIIb airfield ground lighting (AGL), airfield lighting control and monitoring system (ALCMS) and taxiway guidance signage (TGS) on parallel runways, associated taxiways and aprons, whilst maintaining full active compliance with the established KPI
- Managing and liaison with the US based OEM team to plan, implement and maintain a cost effective and efficient national and international communications and supply chain, for internationally sourced parts and materials
- Supervise plans and performance of a local sub-contracted group comprising of 150 third country national trades personnel, vehicles, plant and equipment
- Working effectively within the GCAA, ICAO and airport licence holder regulatory framework ensuring all contractors meet with their contractual obligations to the client, and the applicable ICAO CATIIIb standards, while completing the CAT IIIb AGL and ALCMS installation works on time, around live airport operations in order to ensure stiff financial penalties are not incurred by the employer
- Per FIDIC contract terms and conditions, wherever possible launched, pursued and justified EOT and contract variation claims, resulting in US$15.5M in additional revenue over the contract period
- Programming and overseeing the completion of the works within the politically, technically, culturally and administratively challenging environment of an abbreviated form of FIDIC and the confines of a highly regulated aviation environment of a very large and rapidly developing CATIIIb international airport facility
- Completed all US$168m supply and install phase 1 contracted works in 2011 without penalty
- Thereafter led and successfully pursued ADAC for ALCMS maintenance contract with CCH eventually being awarded the annual ALCMS maintenance at AUH on a service contract with a value of US$7.3m
Programme Managers: Parsons International Limited
RE Services: Halcrow International Partnership
Employer: Formerly; Sub Committee for AUH, Latterly; ADAC FM
End User: Abu Dhabi Airports Company
2002 – 2008. Director of Airports / Manager of Operations & Standards, Nunavut Airports Division, Government of Nunavut
- Responsible for the contractual, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency of 25 Arctic A & B (ICAO CATI and CATII equivalent.) Canadian public airport facilities in the Nunavut Region of Canada
- Nunavut Airports Division comprises CAN$1.94bn in assets, over 370 units of HD plant and mobile equipment, a HQ and regional staff of 70+ personnel and has an annual operating budget of CAN$46m
- Responsible for all daily operations of the division and overseeing the performance of its airports, with accountability for adherence to airport standards of a multiple airport certificate holder, managing all commercial regulatory processes and meeting all regulatory obligations as per Transport Canada TP312E Airport Operating Standards (ICAO Annex 14 Equivalent.)
- Monitor existing Government of Nunavut, Transport Canada, Federal, Territorial and Industry contracts, policies and programmes in order to ensure all are appropriate and meet with regulatory, safety, environmental and financial rules, regulations and standards
- Plan, implement, maintain and further develop facilities processes and improvements which will meet the existing and future regulatory requirement as and when required
- Liaising with Federal, Regional and community government regulators, agencies, authorities, air carriers and airport stakeholders, ensuring the effective communications of information in an appropriate manner.
- Plan, develop and aggressively pursue Transport Canada ACAP funding requests. Typically resulting in one ATB and one Airport rehabilitation project PA, plus three or four pieces of capital plant equipment PA.
- Management and supervision of a large and diverse body of engineering, financial and administrative professionals, trades and local staff across multiple departments and locations, including both contract and lease administrative teams, in addition to providing technical leadership and support to the HQ, regional and on-site teams responsible for local operations
- Conducted negotiations and drafted contracts with various suppliers and customers, identifying and mitigating the employer against unwarranted liability and risk throughout programmes and projects
- Planning and developing programmes, contingency and emergency response plans, including designing and delivering projects in conjunction with consultants, contractors and other service providers
- Initiate, launch and oversee purchases and procurement of goods and services ensuring regulatory compliance is adhered to and cost effectiveness obtained wherever possible.
- Advocate and very active in providing and maintaining a continuous vocational skill training curriculum throughout the organisation. The emphasis on SMS, HSE and vocational skill development
- Initiated “NavCanada” Community Airport Radio Operator training (CARS) is conducted through Nunavut Arctic College. Saving Nunavut Airports Division and GN CAN$3.0M PA
Career Summary Continued.
1995 – 2002. Owner Mill-Air Service Centre, Creston, BC, Canada
1994 – 1995. Service Manager, Kokanee Ford, Creston, BC, Canada
1991 – 1994. Marine Engineer, BC Ferry Corporation, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1985 – 1990. Project Engineer, Hunting Technical Services, Western Sudan, Somalia, Mozambique
1883 – 1985. Branch Engineer/Business Development Manager, Scottish Power Services, Aberdeen, Scotland
1981 – 1983. Plant Superintendent, Roughton & Partners, Juba/Yei Southern Sudan
1978 – 1980. Plant Manager/Chief Engineer, Prospect Estates Ltd, British Virgin Islands
1977 – 1978. Mechanical Supervisor, Jedco Corporation, Jeddah, KSA
1969 – 1977. Corporal, British Army, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
Qualifications and Memberships
Level Subject Date
Certificate St Johns Ambulance, Standard First Aid Level C CPR 02/15
Diploma Marine Surveying Lloyds of London Maritime Academy 12/14
License Firearms Licence, non-restricted Possession & Acquisition 10/14
Certificate Industry Canada, Restricted Radiophone Operator (Aero) Trainer 07/08
BSc Industrial Engineering Specialised Technology, U of Scranton, PA, USA 90/92
Licensed Transport Canada Marine Engineer (Motor) 90/92
Certificate H2S Alive Robert Gordon Institute of Technology 83 & 02
City & Guilds Motor Vehicle Technology Part 1 & 2 (Journeyman) 69/74
Certificate Reid Kerr Engineering Exam Certificate 66/69
O’Level English Math Science & Geography 66/69
Memberships: Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers
International Association of Airport Executives, Certified Member designation
Purchasing Management Association of Canada
Canadian Airports Council, Operations, Safety and Technical Advisory Committee
Member Canadian Airports Council, Training and Regulatory Working Committee
Other.
Computer: Literate with the current suite of MS Office, Power-point, MS Project & Primavera
Languages: English is my mother tongue plus modest useful spoken Arabic, German & Swahili
Driving Licence: UK, Canadian, UAE & International
Nationality: British and Canadian Passport Holder. My permanent residence is in BC Canada.
Interests: Sailing, Boating, Rowing, Kayaking, Badminton, Reading.
References are available upon request or through LinkedIn.