Unearthing opportunities in Australia
Published: 14.08.12
The oil, gas and mining industries are booming in Australia and the market is crying out for more manpower. Now, Simon Calvert is presenting Omega's consultancy services to the Australian market, as our first Consultant Manager “down under”.
“The Australian
market is very unique, compared to other parts of the international market I have
worked in; we have a massive mining
industry, as well as a growing oil and gas industry that is crying out for
people. However, we have a huge skills shortage in Australia across both
sectors. This presents a great opportunity for Omega to use its international presence and experience to support clients' projects with a mixture of skilled expatriates
and our network of skilled local staff.”
"Experienced consultats from established oil and energy markets such as Norway and USA is lacking in Australia," says Simon Calvert. As our first Consultant Manager at the office in Perth, Calvert has already taken on the consultancy market i the fast growing oil and mining industries in Australia.
250 billion Australian dollars invested
The Australian energy
sector is growing at record speed. Today, there are projects valued at more than
AUD 250 billion in the execution stage in Australia, and just as many
large-scale projects are on the way. There is no suggestion that this development
will slow down in the coming years. The demand for engineers, construction workers
and operational personnel is such that the current workforce will need to double in the next few years in order to complete existing and planned projects.
“One of the
biggest advantages Omega offers Australian clients is the ability to
attract consultants who have the skills and project knowledge that we are lacking
in the Australian market at the moment. Having consultants who have worked in
established oil and gas markets such as
Norway and the US will allow us to offer people with highly-valued
experienced to support some of the mega-capital projects here in
Australia,” Calvert says.
Hands-on experience
“During my career I have been lucky enough to visit many projects on the ground, to experience them first hand. This has provided me with what I feel is a unique perspective when talking to consultants about joining a project in locations such as West Africa, Siberia, the Middle East or Asia, which might not always be on the top of their list of places to work.”
When Simon, born and raised on the Isle of Man, joined our efforts in Australia, he brought with him experience working at global locations ranging from West Africa to Siberia, most recently as a Senior Operations Manager in Asia, responsible for business development in the region. Since 1999, Calvert has developed a wide network in recruitment as a Consultant Manager focusing on oil and gas projects all over the world. Perth and Australia are now the focal points of his efforts, and with a strong knowledge of the everyday-life awaiting consultants on assignments in all corners of the world, Calvert knows what is important to offer consultants on assignment in Australia.
“The ability to fully understand the challenges consultants might face in these locations and what it is like on the ground on a project and being able to convey that
back to potential consultants has been something not many recruiters have had the
chance to do, and for me being able to do this is a personal highlight.”
Large networks, true partnerships
Our new consultant manager has plans for our Australian business, but also visions for expansion beyond his home region. With offices in Australia and Singapore he believes there are many opportunities to secure a larger network of cross-continental clients and consultants. A strong cooperation between Omega Singapore and Omega Australia can result in a larger network, not only in the host countries, but also in Indonesia, South Korea and China, Calvert says.
“For me, our ability to support a project at all locations, such as an LNG plant being built in Western Australia, with fabrication in Singapore, and engineering in Kuala Lumpur, will be key in seeing Omega grow and achieve its goals.”
After three months with our team, Calvert has already emersed himself in the Omega culture and believes we have what it takes to succeed in Australia; with our feet safely planted on the ground, we have managed to stay focussed on what’s important, he says.
"My
first priority is to ensure that we set the right foundations for building the
key relationships, with clients and consultants, that will truly see us stand out
from an already overcrowded market in Australia. Omega is not just another 'body shop'. We
constantly aim to improve and grow the business, without losing sight of the
fact that we are dealing with people. At the same time, we are
able to deliver a top-class service without diluting what has already
been built up, " explains Calvert.
"It quickly became clear to me that there was something different about
Omega; something I hadn't seen before in all my years in the industry. Looking at
how the company has built relationships with major oil and gas operators was
impressive on a number of levels. Omega has managed to pull off what so
many agencies have tried and failed to do in the past - to be seen by the client as
a true partner and a valuable asset.”