Life is Golden for Luke

Luke Ryan is a Project Manager based in Kalgoorlie who oversees minor projects, asset integrity teams and tank refurbishments, as well as scaffolding and protective coating services.  

Luke started with Monadelphous back in August 2005 as a graduate Engineer, working from our Applecross office. After two years, he made the move to Kalgoorlie for a 12-month rotation, enjoying it enough to turn 12 months into 18.  

He left the company in 2009 to travel Europe with his now wife but said he was back before long.  

“The GFC hit, I couldn’t get work, had spent all my money and found myself back in Kalgoorlie six months later – and have been here ever since!” Luke said.  

“Moving to the Goldfields allowed me to remain out of FIFO roles, which suited my social and weekend sports priorities better at that early stage of my career.” 

He said that when he started, he was keen to get into the oil and gas sector and got this exposure early on, however the grad program gave him the opportunity to rotate around and see what else was out there. He soon found that it was the Goldfields that took his interest more, with an interesting variety of work and the ability to work in the field and office.  

“Being involved in such a diverse and tight-knit team where we are so close to the action on site without having to jump onto a plane to go to multiple mine sites is definitely an advantage,” Luke said.  

“Working with other engineers and highly experienced peers is also great, being able to bounce ideas off others and come up with plans that come together well.  

“The exposure we get in the Goldfields to all aspects of the work Monadelphous as a business perform is second to none – we do it all out here. 

“We have our own fabrication workshop and blast and paint facility so to be able to have control over these priorities also gives us an advantage, rather than outsourcing this work. 

“If any other graduate Engineers within the business want the best of all worlds I can highly recommend a stint on your rotation through the Goldfields branch.” 

Luke said that one of the highlights of his work is seeing other people within his team develop over time.  

“We have many graduate Engineers come through the Kalgoorlie office and watching them develop over the 12 months they spend with our team is quiet fulfilling as I feel I have had some part in shaping them to be better Engineers.  

“The same goes for seeing Trades step up into Supervisor / Superintendent roles, excel with the added responsibility and wanting to upskill themselves – to know you’ve helped make that happen is rewarding for me personally.” 

Luke added that winning the M&IS Monos Footy Cup three years running is another highlight. While he also still enjoys playing Aussie Rules, he said these days he mostly watches and is a Dockers supporter.  

Life outside of work keeps him busy too, with four boys under the age of eight meaning Luke’s weekends are packed with running after kids at sports. He makes some time to play pennants squash once a week and spends a lot of time in the summer months in or close to the swimming pool.