UWA and me
Since graduating from UWA 5.5 years ago, I have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in a number of different countries with the same employer: Shell. I started as a Graduate Mechanical Engineer spending most of the 2.5 year program in the Netherlands and UK working in the NAM operating joint venture.
I then spent the next 3 years on Shell’s flagship floating LNG project: Prelude FLNG, in a number of different engineering roles across Perth, South Korea and Darwin. I am now based back in Perth as a Project Engineer in the Asset Team, responsible for safe and steady operations for the next 25 years.
I developed many skills during my time at UWA which have all contributed to my success, including the ability to seek out opportunities, adapt to different environments, lead and work in teams, stay curious and keep learning.
A catalyst for change
My passion is to be a catalyst for change and to challenge the status quo particularly around leaving a sustainable footprint on the environment and a positive impact on everyone I meet.
I discovered and incubated this passion during my time at UWA where I learnt the importance of concepts such as corporate social responsibility, sustainable development and triple bottom line from various lectures, internships and volunteering experiences like Turtle Tagging on Barrow Island.
My passion led me to join Shell and take on the challenge of the global energy transition journey as we move toward cleaner fossil fuels and alternative energy sources. As with all revolutionary journeys, there is still a long way to go and it is my ambition to keep playing an active role and doing my part to challenge the status quo.
Paying it forward with Career Mentor Link
I cannot believe how quick time has flown. It was not until reflecting for this profile that I realized I am in my 8th year of the Career Mentor Link program; four as a mentee and four as a mentor. This is testament to the quality of the program and the many benefits gained from being a part it, especially as a mentor.
As a student, being able to connect and form a mutually beneficial relationship with someone experienced in the industry and to learn from their experiences was critical in my being able to navigate through my own career choices. Getting that kind of advice is still important to me today and I have mentors both at Shell and through the SPE WA mentoring program. As a mentor, my goal is to be able to pass on the same ‘pearls of wisdom’ and share my experiences with the next generation, to help them navigate through their own journey.
Words of wisdom
Seize every opportunity that comes your way and commit 120% to it. Many years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the things you did.
Des is a Perth local, having completed his secondary education at Trinity College in 2006 where he graduated as the Head Prefect, Music Captain and stroke of the 1st Quad rowing team. He then went on to complete Mechanical Engineering and Commerce degrees, double majoring in corporate finance and management accounting at the University of Western Australia. He also spent a semester studying abroad at McMaster University in Canada.
He has always been a strong advocate for multiple faceted development, active in extra-curricular activities ranging from State Gymnastics Athletics and coaching during his school days; President of the UWA SPE chapter and co-founder of the UWA Enterprise and Consulting Society (ECS) at UWA; to leading the Young Shell group in the Netherlands and being the Treasurer of Shell Australia’s LGBTI group; Kaleidoscope.
In 2015, Des was named among the Top 30 Young Professionals in the Netherlands and continues to strive to make a positive difference in whatever role or activity he takes on. His work history has been an interesting journey, that includes internships in a variety of companies including Rio Tinto, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, BDO, Hatch and McCarthy Port. He has also completed various University projects for Monadelphous and Woodside.
He is married to Shireen and lives with their 3 beautiful dogs. Des and Shireen also recently founded Tea Story Australia after their own search for local high quality organic loose leaf teas left them with very few choices. In his spare time he likes to read, build Lego, complete DIY projects around the house and travel.