What were you looking for when you joined Northrop?
Australian ownership was one of the first things that appealed to me. Having worked at larger international firms, I wanted to be somewhere I could know the leaders, be a leader myself and help make decisions. The other big attraction was the appetite to grow. When you’re joining a business, you want to feel it’s going somewhere and that you can be part of that. I could see that at Northrop. The enthusiasm for growing and building the business was contagious.

What helped you decide Northrop was the right fit?
It took me a while to find the right business, and I spoke with a few firms. Meeting Jamie Shelton, former CEO and currently Principal in our Melbourne office, was a huge factor in my decision. He was welcoming, we got along straight away and his enthusiasm for Northrop came through. Everything Jamie said he would do, he did. That was before I’d even joined. It gave me confidence in the person I’d be working with and the business I was coming into.

What opportunities have you had since joining?
I’ve had opportunities to chase major projects and run divisions. I’ve also been able to step out of leadership roles when I wanted to focus more on winning work. From my point of view, there’s been encouragement to pursue the things I want to do. I haven’t felt held to one path. Being able to take on different roles and change my focus has been a valuable part of my career here.

What makes you stay?
I still think Northrop’s unfinished business. There’s a huge amount of potential, and I want to see it get there. That’s exciting to me. Chasing major projects is part of it. You put a lot into those opportunities and they don’t all come off, but there are others ahead. I enjoy being part of that and looking for the next opportunity that could help take the business forward.

What would you say to an experienced engineer at a larger firm considering Northrop?
I’d think about what you want for yourself and where you want to grow. There are different opportunities in different firms, and it comes down to what suits you. What I value at Northrop is being able to grow where you are. There’s room to talk about what you want to do, take on responsibility and help shape the business around you. There’s also the potential to become part of the ownership. If you want to have a hand in building the business as well as your own career, that’s an important opportunity.

Interested in a career at Northrop? Explore our current opportunities.