Nathan James’ decade at Monadelphous has been anything but predictable. In fact, if there is one constant, it’s that no two days have ever looked the same.
He first joined Monos back in July 2014 as a site-based HSE Advisor on the West Ashburton pipeline, a hands-on introduction to transmission gas pipeline construction in the Pilbara.
After a brief stint away following, he returned in 2016 as an HSE Advisor in M&IS, before moving into HSE Coordinator roles with MMNW and Energy.
In October 2023, he stepped into his current role as HSEQ Manager within MMS, continuing to grow with his role every day.
While the roles had changed, one thing that has remained consistent is the unpredictability of site life.
“There was one job where the medic was called to attend to one of our young engineers whose body went into fight or flight after eating spicy beef jerky,” Nathan explained.
“Safe to say the medic was far from impressed.
“Another time, we spent a Sunday morning searching for a grader that had been stolen from a work front. The police found it about 20km away at the entrance to the Pannawonica Rodeo, full of empty beer cans.”
It’s these kinds of moments - unexpected, chaotic, and sometimes funny in hindsight, that have helped shape Nathan’s decade with Monadelphous. Though, as he puts it, “many more stories will just have to stay on site.”
Looking back, it’s not the projects that stand out most, but how much the business itself has evolved.
“The growth and expansion of the M&IS division, the split of MMW into MMNW and MMS, and the transition into the offshore sector have all been major shifts,” Nathan said.
“One of the great changes has been the ‘changing of the guard’ across Monadelphous.
“I’ve seen many early mentors and colleagues retire, while others I started with have grown into leaders and mentors themselves.”
When it comes to what’s next, Nathan isn’t short on ambition; however, he was grateful for the opportunities he had received thus far.
“I’ve been very lucky to date, managing to tick off many of my career goals, but I think being given the opportunity to take on a role overseas would certainly be considered,” he said.
“I think my main goal and focus would be to continue my Monadelphous journey, taking on opportunities as they arise.
“Having witnessed the business grow, transition and diversify, you realise you never really know what the next opportunity or horizon has in store.”
Ten years in, and Nathan James has seen it all, or at least, most of it.