Robert McGowan

Experience

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  DesignPower

  Sept 1987 - May 1992

  Engineer (Mechanical Plant Section)

  Assisting with Contract Administration for Power station plant, Project Definition Document Writing, Project Controls, Commissioning of High speed rotating machinery at Ohaaki Power Station. During this period I become a father to 2 children.Near the end of my time with DesignPower I became proficient in a number of project scheduling packages and a part of Electricorp's project management team for the Polhill Wind turbine. This secondment was interesting as well as challenging due to a conflict of interest which occurred. Show less

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  Self Employed

  Jul 1992 - Oct 1994

  Sole trader

  During this time I procured a copy of SUPERPROJECT project scheduling package, familiarized myself with its capabilities, produced demonstration examples with a view to marketing the package as well as myself as a trainer. I worked as a contractor for Windsor Engineering who were implementing a number of small projects simultaneously all the time. Their business required resource leveling to be able to predict achievable delivery dates.

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  McConnell Dowell

  Nov 1994 - Jan 1995

  Planning Engineer

  I was employed to document our companies contribution to this massive pulp mill in detail. The intention was to capture the date & times of delivery and installation etc. In addition I got new computers running as well as learning Microsoft Access & setting up a DBase of equipment/components in our warehouse.

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  Hawkins Construction Company

  May 1995 - Sept 1995

  Project Programmer

  This project involved about 400 people refurbishing about 1500 Housing NZ houses in the Hutt Valley. The role required familiarisation with the offices Macintosh based LAN and a purpose built FoxPro database. There were a number of critical functions to be carried out with conflicting priorities. Most of the time I was left to set my own priorities in this new and challenging environment with constantly changing requirements.

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  Rockgas

  Oct 1995 - Jan 1996

  Engineer

  A wide range of work was carried out during this period. It included re-evaluation of the company’s technical specification for painting LPG storage tanks. The other major project was familiarisation with all relevant Electrical Acts, Regulations and COP’s to hazardous areas and obtaining clarifications from the Ministry of Energy so that RockGas’s contractors could be advised of all the recent changes

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  Robs Home Tutoring

  Jan 1996 - Dec 2004

  Owner/operator

  Tutored High School students in Maths and sciences. Employed a number of sub contractors to increase the amount of lessons available per week as well as the subjects on offer.Also diversified into tutoring University students Statistics and Physics

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  Kip McGrath Education Centres

  Jan 1997 - May 1997

  Tutor

  Tutored year 8 - 11 maths students.

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  AECOM (incorporating Davis Langdon, An AECOM Company)

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2004

  Contractor

  Contractor setting up design Spreadsheets & Structural Modelling using PLS TOWER and PLS POLE

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  UGL Limited

  Aug 2005 - Jun 2012

  Senior Transmission Line Design Engineer

  During this period I worked for a number of clients:- Transpower, Electra and numerous landowners and developers required measurements and calculations to establish compliance with NZECP34. My duties included:- construction and maintenance equipment design, tendering new work, maintenance methodology, structural checks and production of material schedules. QA of large tubular poles (up to 4 pieces), site work and pole foundation audits and soil testing.Major projects which I had a significant role in:- a) Makara wind farm, Steel pole 110 kv line in very hilly terrain. b) Feasibility study on adding another 33 kV circuit to existing Distribution poles carrying up to three circuits. Significant field work was required especially for measuring existing sags of spans crossing a major highway. Converting these measurements to tensions and combined pole loadings also required significant calculations which were semi-automated by the use of spreadsheets in compliance with AS/NZS 4676 . Overview of depot buildings for earthquake & dangerous goods requirements. Show less

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  Robs Home Tutoring

  Jun 2012 - Sept 2012

  Owner/Operator

  Tutoring High School Students in Maths & Physics.

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  Transfield Services

  Oct 2012 - Dec 2012

  Engineer

  Patrol Report automation. Training and familiarisation of less experienced engineers.

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  Self employed

  Dec 2012 - Mar 2013

  Consultant

  Liasing with NIWA regarding a new weather forecasting service worth at least NZ $1M/yr.

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  SESP

  Aug 2013 - Jul 2014

  Technical Bridging Instructor

  Member of a small team training young men from High School for entry into the Electrical Power industry. Duties included:- teaching and teaching rsources development.

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  Self-Employed

  Aug 2014 - Dec 2017

  Technical Consltant

  Carried out extensive wind analysis with a view to contributing to the next review of the Building design code/regaining employment as a transmission line engineer/setting up a niche wind forecasting service. Provided professional engoineering support to Moed Consulting Ltd.Ran a part-time high school tutoring service, INV

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  Robs site wind forecasts

  Jan 2018 - now

  Technical Consultant

  Business development. watching for the emergence of other spot wind forecast providers.Transportation operator training