Inside ConsultJR – Letter From Director & Principal Engineer Justin Read

From the desk of Principal Engineer Justin Read:

“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” – Voltaire

I was the youngest of 6 kids and grew up in Central Queensland in a little place called Boyne Island. A coastal town just south of Gladstone. Dad worked in the town’s main industry – an Aluminium Smelter that is still today, the State of Qld’s largest user of electricity.

I had no idea what I want to do for a profession but from a young age, knew I wanted to go to university and do something that challenged me. With all my older siblings having gone to university and with three of my older brothers becoming electrical engineers, I followed suit.

So, in December of 1994, freshly graduated, I started my career in the engineering office of one of the state’s largest electrical engineering and construction contractors. Over the next 20 years, I worked my way up through the ranks from PLC/SCADA engineer to a senior executive role as Associate Director responsible for all major industrial projects with a team of 500 people.

With a highly active and inquisitive mind, it was here that I learned the value of asking great questions. That the best way to solving any problem was through collaboration of engineers, client reps and skilled tradesman working side by side. We were tasked with coming up with solutions for ensuring reliability for client’s sensitive HV and LV electrical equipment and components situated in some of the harshest conditions known to man. Whether it be within extreme heat, highly combustible or highly corrosive environments.

Asking great questions always provided the shortest path and direction to achieving solid, practical, cost effective and timely solutions. So, to set the path for long-term success, I have this fundamental principle ‘etched in stone’ by making this our #1 core value – Ask Great Questions.

To be of great value to our clients, it’s not just our engineering capacity that is central to our relationships. It’s our ability to provide insight to the real economic benefit of dollars proposing to be spent. Value-based solutions must have high consideration to Asset Owner bottom line.

I believe, having developed a strong commercial acumen along with my considerable engineering and senior executive experience in a large company, plus many years in the field, adds the vital ingredient necessary that sets our team apart. The ability to comprehend and appreciate the lifecycle ROI needed for asset expenditure and understanding the disruptive nature of upgrades on a live plant with all its operational pressures and many other constraints... having this first- hand, on-the-ground experience affords us this competence to handle any challenge.

I guess in short, our team is here to assist Asset Owners and their reps make better and more informed decisions managing their valuable and income generating electrical assets.

If you’d like to see how we can help you, please don’t hesitate to contact us.