We recently sat down with Tarong power stations’ Site Manager, Wayne Martyn, to learn more about him, and his decision to return to Queensland and call the South Burnett home.
Wayne kicked-off his exciting career after graduating Electrical Engineering at the Central Queensland University in 1991.
“The first eight years of my career were spent with the Queensland Electricity Commission (QEC),” he said.
“When the project I worked on concluded, I made the decision to leave the QEC, and head to Gladstone Power Station and then Millmerran Power Station.”
After undertaking a number of General Manager level roles in Western Australia and Queensland, Wayne said it was time for him to explore international opportunities, including a full-time position in the Philippines.
“I began to transition from pure technical roles to consulting opportunities overseas, first in Malaysia and then the Philippines,” he said
“My time in the Philippines posed many challenges and learnings – the plant had only run at half capacity for its whole life and I was engaged by the new plant owners to transition the coal mining business into a power generation business.
“The main objective was to refurbish the two existing units that had never run at more than half load. We needed to get them up to full load and look for other ways for the units to consume more low grade native coal.”
From Malaysia, to the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Wayne said he developed a passion for working in developing nations.
“In these developing countries, you can make a positive impact by providing your knowledge and helping the workforce develop skills in the local communities,” he said.
“I enjoyed these opportunities, and it’s great to know you’ve been able to make a tangible and positive impact.”
After many years overseas, returning home to Queensland was inevitable.
“When I saw the role at Tarong advertised, I knew it was a unique opportunity I was keen to secure. Having started in Queensland’s electricity generation industry back in 1991, it’s only natural that I spend the balance of my professional career here,” he said.
“Now I am at Tarong, I’m focussed on making a long-term difference and creating a positive legacy at the power station and within the South Burnett community.”
Calling the South Burnett home has been a bonus for Wayne upon his return to Queensland.
“I am settling into the South Burnett well, it’s a lovely place to live,” he said
“Currently, I am based on a cattle property in Nanango – it’s a beautiful location and I hope to eventually find something here for the longer-term.”
When talking to Wayne, his vision for the future and Tarong power stations is certainly clear – he looks forward to working with the team to generate reliable, flexible and secure electricity as the Queensland energy market transitions to a lower carbon future.
Fun fact: Wayne is a father of five sons and used to be an amateur boxer back in the day!