Maurice Schneider

I studied Mechanical Engineering at Central Queensland University, with really very little idea of what engineers did in the work place. I had a general idea that they designed things but with hindsight I had no idea about the fabulous opportinuties that lay ahead in a such a tremendous variety of areas.

At the time, I thought I did not want to be a maintenance engineer fixing up other peoples mistakes. I wanted to do things right the first time. Well, you guessed it, my first job was as a maintenance engineer in the Carbon Plant at Comalco, Boyne Smelters Limited in 1993.

From my experience in this role, I soon realised a number of things:

• Despite doing well at university, I knew nothing.
• I was an engineer, not a mechanical engineer. I wish I had paid more attention in the other classes.
• Work is fun and people are fascinating. It is the people that make the difference. I have learnt something from everyone I have met.

I am currently in the role of Superintendent Reliability at the Comalco Alumina Refinery at Gladstone. My development at Comalco has included training in technical, commercial and people management fields, supervising a maintenance team of 25 people and managing projects worth a total of $12 million.

I am proud to work for Comalco because I know I make a difference to the company, I am valued as an individual and the opportunities available to me are only limited by my capability, drive and energy.