As at November 2010

Name/ Nickname:
Shane Watson / Watto

Age:
34

Family? (Marital status?)
Married with 2 boys

Current job/Role ?
Mine Surveying Manager

What’s the best advice your Parents ever gave to you?
Work towards a qualification

What’s your claim to fame?
Surviving 4 weeks of celebrating my 21st in Kalgoorlie.

What’s your personal motto?
Anything is possible, and problems can be solved with a little patience

What makes you happy?
When a plan falls into place.

What makes you angry?
Lack of planning from the engineering department resulting in my Friday's work schedule being hectic!!

Describe your ideal woman and what makes a woman beautiful?
Would have to say my wife, tall, blonde.

Career History

Career to date?
2007 to present - Cardno Spectrum Survey (Contracting)
2002 to 2007 - Gold Fields St Ives
1999 to 2002 - Kundana
1997 to 1999 - Contract Surveying

Career Influences?
Ron Reid, gave me an opportunity to progress my career and with his training haven't looked back.

Career highlight (biggest achievement)?
None come to mind.

Career shocker?
Having an instrument squashed by a bogger.

Career goals?
To further promote the surveying profession and introduce some changes here in WA.

Survey Work / People

What is the best piece of survey equipment/technology/software that you have used & why?
GPS in open pits, now playing with laser scanners. ATR and wallstations underground. All improving how we operate as a surveyor efficiently.

What is the oldest piece of survey equipment that you have used?
T1 and GAK gyro, also used a Kern to survey a rise.

Who's the strangest/funniest/unorthodox survey character that you've met so far (and why) ?
No one really stands out but I know a few guys who have told me some good surveying storys over the last couple of years.

What's the most contentious survey issue in your workplace at the moment?(eg. Hours of work, $$, career path, poor planning/scheduling, technology/equipment improvements, field experience, housing, training …???)
Availability of surveyors, paying them the right $. A lack of career plans for the junior surveyors coming through the ranks.

If you were the boss for a day - list 3 things you would change?
Increased profile/recognition for the surveyors onsite!
Flexible rosters that meet the production needs but also giving the guys plenty of downtime with their families.
Similar pay structure to the other mining professions (Engineers)

APART from $$, what factor attracts you to work in the mining industry as opposed to other survey disciplines?
The people we work with. There are all sorts of characters that makes the job interesting.

Would you recommend a career in surveying to a grade 12 school kid? If not, what career would you recommend?
Definately, it has the best of both worlds with spending time in the office and outside in the field.

Sports/Hobbies

How do you relax?
Spending time with family, travelling out bush.

What sports do you play/ watch?
Hockey, like to watch AFL and a bit of American Football and Ice Hockey when I have a chance.

What are your other hobbies outside work?
Building, woodwork, anything using my hands. Don't mind distilling a bit of bourbon in my spare time.

Where would be your ideal retirement location?
Anywhere with water, somewhere to fish, and a bit of greenery.

Favourite food/drink?
Would have to be a good steak or good Aussie lamb, along with a bourbon and coke.

Favourite movie?
Anytime Sci-Fi or Action, which has to be watched on the bigscreen in 3D.

Finally, if you were down to your last $10 what would you spend it on?
White Chocolate