It’s more than just work.
It’s where I belong.

Prasanna is the Perth Section Manager for the Sustainability team and a Principal of WGE. He is passionate about the construction industry and advocates for it to take a more conscientious and dedicated approach to sustainability.

‘I think there are many people in this industry that use the sustainability angle as a green washing or marketing exercise without really taking it seriously and advising wisely,’ says Prasanna who has been working in the division since 2006.

After graduating as a mechanical engineerand working for two years at WGE, Prasanna took the opportunity to work under the leadership of Bruce van Rooyen to set up the sustainability section. Since then Prasanna and his team have undergone significant training and involvement with organisations such as the Green building Council of Australia (GBCA), the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) and the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) to ensure they are up to date onthe latest sustainability innovations. They have now grown this small division to $1.2m+ net revenue pa.

‘Providing creative solutions to sustainability outcomes is a real art. Many companies attempt to bolt on solutions, which can in fact, cost them more in the long run. On every project we carefully balance the economical and financial needs with the sustainability and performance rating needs. Our clients tell us that the approach we take is very unique,’ says Prasanna.

Bret White from Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland is one client that holds such an opinion saying WGE, “approach sustainability with a rich blend of rationale and sensitivity.Working alongside the architects, they perceptively tailor the key ESD strategies for each project and then sculpture a hierarchy of the supporting requirements and deliverables. This detailed focus is then coordinated with all consultancies and contractors, providing clarity and certainty between vision and outcome.”

The WGE team does more than just deliver on the job and then leave the client to it. They continue to keep track of, and report on, the sustainability and financial outcomes and provide a high degree of consultation and advice long after each project is completed.

‘We’re often integral to the ongoing decision-­‐making and can really save clients money on the project over the long term. For example, we’ve been managing and advising on the Wellington Central project for over six years. During the design process they had a target of a 4.5 star NABERS rating however we predicted that they could perform at 5.2 stars. After the project was finished we analysed their operational data which achieved 5 stars. Since that first year we’ve taken them from a 5 to a 5.5 rating without any significant additional costs,’ says Prasanna proudly.

Another project that has demonstrated WGE’s ability to provide creative sustainability solutions is the Blackwoods store in Karratha, a northwest town of WA. Blackwoods is a large industrial store for tradesmen and is a subsidiary of Wesfarmers. WGE were consulted in the design process of their industrial warehouse.

‘They wanted to achieve a high sustainability outcome which was unique to the region and building type. As well as targeting a Green Star rating our recommendation included solar power generation that would supplement the grid electricity with clean free renewable energy. At the time the power authorities and various other contractors and consultants were of the opinion that the size and scale of the solar array should not be allowed to be built in that location. We persisted because we knew it could be done and we worked with the power authority and found suppliers and contractors that could deliver. The outcome was a 40KW solar array when anything greater than 5KW is usually not achievable for a private entity,’ says Prasanna.

The WGE sustainability team recognised the uniqueness of this project and the real opportunity to drastically reduce energy consumption related to lighting in the warehouse. They put in place measures to minimize this and have significantly reduced costs compared to the overall baseline, reducing energy consumption by more than 85%.

‘We’re good at making predictions and verifying them and have a high degree of confidence in them. A key part of our work is supporting clients in their risk management and ensuring they achieve the outcomes and ratings they need,’ says Prasanna.

WGE has recognised Prasanna’s skills and abilities by making him a principal of the firm and providing him with ongoing mentoring. He is active with many leading industry bodies including the Property Council of Australia’s Sustainability committee and the GBCA. Outside of work Prasanna is busy with his wife, three children and sailing.

‘Here at WGE recognition and reward goes to the high performers. I can’t speak highly enough of the mentoring program we have here. I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by a passionate group of senior managers and because of this our clients get the best from my team and me’ ends Prasanna.

Published on: December 9, 2013

Morgan is the HR Manager at WGE and been an integral member of the team since 2004 where she was first employed as a filing clerk.

‘I didn’t even have an interview when I joined,’ Morgan says. ‘My mum worked here as a filing clerk and they just trusted that I’d be a good worker like she was, so they gave
me the job.’

Over the years, as Morgan progressed through various administrative roles, she was recognised for her talent, willingness to learn and ambition. The company invested in her training and development so she could take on more challenging roles and move from payroll clerk to HR Manager in 2011.

The role is very broad and includes managing the recruitment across the company and working with the Talent Development Program Coordinator to market and attract the best graduates amongst other HR duties.

‘We’ve established a really strong recruitment process to ensure we attract the best people and I’m now helping drive the company forward by working on other exciting HR initiatives,’ says Morgan.

Morgan sees a lot of scope for her own career at WGE as she will take on more challenging projects to establish the HR infrastructure required to support the growth of the company. This includes developing more HR procedures, workplace health and safety projects and contributing to strategies around management promotions and succession planning.

‘There are also many other things driving us forward right now. We’ve just employed a new Marketing Manager, started our Talent Development program, created our culture and values positioning and are building capabilities in new disciplines and sectors. It’s an exciting time for WGE,’ reflects Morgan.

While the company is set to expand, the management team is very focused on ensuring that WGE maintains its family like culture.

‘WGE is like a family to me. Everyone values each other and actually cares. Being the HR Manager for the company I see how much support is given to staff members during difficult times in their lives and have experienced it first-­‐hand myself. My Mum passed away from breast cancer a few years ago and all my work friends came to the funeral and supported me through it. I know that my experience isn’t an isolated one and support is always given to people that are going through challenging times. It’s not just lip service here and that’s why I could never imagine myself working anywhere else,’ finishes Morgan.

WGE take a multi-­‐faceted approach to driving the company forward. They believe that nurturing the whole of every staff member, personally and professionally, will be their long-­‐term key to success and growth.

Grant Holman was born and bred in Perth and spent his first year of University studying architecture. After a year he decided it wasn’t the career for him so he packed his bags and surfboard and spent some time travelling along the various coasts of Indonesia with some mates in search of some fun and a few waves.

‘I was only 19 and I was having far too much fun to be thinking about my career. Then we met a bloke in one of the remote islands of Indonesia one night and he told me he was working as an engineer and how much he loved it. By the end of the night I’d made my mind up I was going to return to Perth and study engineering. At the time I was excited at the prospect of working in the aeronautical or automotive field. I had little idea that mechanical engineering was also required in the design and construction of buildings,’ says Grant.

In 2000 Grant graduated from The University of WA, began working in the Perth office of WGE in early 2001 and less than two years later, put his hand up for a transfer to Melbourne to be one of just three staff members in the newly established Melbourne office of WGE. In less than three years at the age of 28 he was offered a management role and equity in the firm.

‘This was a real turning point for me,’ reflects Grant. ‘Being offered equity after less than five years of being with the firm, was recognition that the Directors valued me as an employee and my willingness to take a risk by leaving home and moving to the other side of the country for the company.’

Fast track to 2013, and Grant is now a Board member and the Manager of the Melbourne office, which has now grown to a staff of over 80. Besides becoming an owner in the company, which Grant cites as one of his greatest career achievements, he’s also been able to develop both his technical and general management skills.

‘Opportunities abound here for people that want to excel in this profession and build long-­‐term fulfilling careers. WGE is in my DNA and I think I am part of the fabric of the company now. I think I’ll be here forever and even when I retire, I reckon I’ll be helping out in some way, perhaps mentoring new graduates in the firm or something that is of value to the firm,’ says Grant.

At WGE the people are their difference, and underpinning this is the shareholder structure, the culture and values they share and their dedication to every project they work on. They have no hierarchical structure or closed-­‐door offices and they actively cultivate the WGE community not just for staff but with clients too.

‘If I could give one piece of advice for young guns that might consider working here, it would be that challenges create opportunities, to never say never and to give everything the best that you’ve got. Genuinely care about others and be prepared to work hard for what you want - you never know what might happen,’ ends Grant.

John Lucchetti is an extremely likeable young man who is a Hydraulics Project Engineer at Wood & Grieve in the Melbourne office.

His introduction to WGE was a little unusual.

ʻAfter graduating from Melbourne University, I started work in defence and aerospace manufacturing. Working in a manufacturing factory I was exposed to very little design work and exposure to other engineers who could act as mentors and peers was extremely limited. I met Grant Holman at a WGE event. Grantʼs enthusiasm and passion for WGE was infectious. I knew I wanted to work there and basically set out to make it happen and the rest is history,ʼ says John.

In less than four years since joining WGE, John has become the manager of the hydraulics section, managing 11 people. He was also made a shareholder of the firm in July 2013.

ʻWhat I love about WGE is the ability to progress through the ranks really quickly and that you get judged on your merit. The flat organisational structure makes it easy to excel and connect with others at all levels,ʼ says John.

John is a triathlon and sports enthusiast and makes the trip to Perth each year to participate in the WGE Perth to Busselton Bikeride (250km) with his co-workers and clients. He also recently swam with three other staff in the Rottnest Channel Island swim (a 20km swim). ʻIt really is the most fun environment to work in,ʼ says John. You can 100% bring your whole personality to work, wear your heart on your sleeve and be yourself. Thereʼs a sense of fun inherent in everything we do, from the way we interact with each other to the way we interact with clients.ʼ

John is actively engaged in the WGE community and in the industry. Heʼs on the WGE five-a-side soccer team and always joins everyone back at the office for the standard Friday night beers and pizza. John regularly attends the PCA Future Directions events and is a Senior Vice President on the hydraulics industry association AHSCA.

John is forever thankful he made the decision to join WGE. “It is definitely more than just work to me,ʼ says John. ʻWGE is a family and I couldnʼt see myself working anywhere else.ʼ