14 | Fulton Hogan - East Coast-Hawke’s Bay REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Richard Loader Stepping up to handle a catastrophe Shane Tipu: “I looked around and knew I had to step up.” In his seventeenth year working for Fulton Hogan Hawke’s Bay, Shane Tipu says the opportunity to take a leadership role following Cyclone Gabrielle has resulted in massive personal growth. “Effectively I was at the helm of one of the biggest events, if not the biggest, that has hit Hawke’s Bay since the (1931) earthquakes. I looked around and knew I had to step up as things were rapidly going from bad to worse. “You lean on your past experience but everything is so much bigger. You still have to manage people the same, still have to organise things the same, but instead of two or three times, you have to do it thirty times. Instead of looking after twenty guys I had five hundred people across the region all involved in the cyclone. That was challenging, but a time for real growth.” Shane’s official role during that period was Cyclone Operations Manager, which he says was about ensuring the right people were going to the right job, constantly reading the play, making sure the structures were right, the right decisions were being made and most of all, keeping people safe. “It was a pretty big team effort. It was all hands-on deck with every department and every manager in the region, and you knew you could rely on top people to do the detailed coordination. “Because I had to step-up, my own supervisors and foremen under me also had to step up and act as managers. So, the growth amongst our crews was another highlight. One of Fulton Hogan’s mantras is reconnecting communities, and that was definitely a high during that period. Working with sub-contractors, we built five Bailey bridges in a short amount of time and under extreme pressure. To see the smiles on peoples faces once access was restored was really rewarding.” Shane says the constant rain during the clean-up period was a significant challenge that often set back work progress. “It was frustrating to clear a lot of cubic metres of material and then get rain overnight and have to go back, clear more material and fix things. But probably the biggest challenge was just the sheer scale. When you’re in the middle of it you don’t get a chance to sit back and get a sense of the actual scale and enormity of the event, but it was relentless. They were long days and hours and you ran on adrenalin. You would go to bed late, wake early in the morning and you were back into it. My own family didn’t get enough of my own time — especially having a young family. Along with that, juggling damage to your own property was challenging.” Shane has crafted a career in the construction industry over the last 20+ years by always accepting a challenge, progressing through the ranks and believing in himself. Recently promoted to Hawke’s Bay Maintenance Divisional Manager, Shane looks after three departments. He reckons there is no secret to success; it’s just hard work, and things will come your way. “Having reached Divisional Manager, I just want to nail that role. It’s a senior leadership role but I’m really looking forward to the challenges it will bring. Sitting around the decision table and making a difference is something that excites me.” RURAL | RESIDENTIAL | SHEDS | YARDS | RETAINING WALLS REPAIRS | ROOFING | CONCRETING | DECKING Michael Proffit 022 358 9452 Michaeljproffit@gmail.com Proudly Supporting Fulton Hogan Large-scale Earthworks • Aggregate, Limestone & Rock Supply; On-road Spec & Decorative Landscaping • Cyclone Gabrielle Clean-up 021 416 448 shaneberketteearthworks@gmail.com fb.com/BerkettEarthmoversHB
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