Jim Seery
Piping Package Manager
Queensland, Australia

I joined Laing O’Rourke in June 2004 on the Heathrow T5 project after which I moved to work in Dublin, Ireland on the N7 road widening and Dublin Airport projects.

In 2007 I transferred to Laing O’Rourke Australia to work on the Luggage Point waste water treatment project. The project is to design, build and commission an advanced water treatment plant and my current role is Piping Package Manager responsible for approximately A$10 million of direct works delivered by approximately 60 employees.

The project is being built at a time when Queensland is looking for sustainable solutions to a recent long term drought – with local dams recording levels as low as 11 per cent, there is a real fear of running out of water. As a result, the project is one of the largest of its type in the world, with a high political profile, fast track and critical to the community.

This is my first time working on a water project and more importantly on process plant. My roles on the project to date have given me very quick exposure to the Australian market and a chance to draw on my previous project experiences.

As a recent graduate of the Young Guns programme and now working in Australia, I like the early exposure the company gives younger staff to leadership roles and the ability to freely move across the business as career paths develop. I am continually impressed with the level of commitment and investment to training and development in both staff and workforce.

Outside of work I have been able to get out and see a little bit of Australia, with visits to most major cities and a four-week road trip to Far North Queensland.