Q&A with Colin Purvis
NAME
Colin Purvis
TITLE
Technical Manager, Trilab Pty Ltd
QUALIFICATIONS
HEB Dip. of Metallurgy
Everyone has a story to tell, and this month we asked Colin Purvis, Technical Manager at Trilab Pty Ltd, the hard questions.
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
When talking literally, our new family pup gets me up most mornings for her early morning walk. Being semi-retired now and only working 3 days per week, workdays are never boring. From dealing with technical issues in the laboratory to developing new tests to meet client needs, each day features a different and exciting challenge.
Why did you choose your current career and how did you get to your current position?
I chose Metallurgy as a young 15-year-old living in Newcastle as BHP had been in town since the turn of the century. Leaving school, I was lucky enough to obtain a traineeship as a Metallurgist, starting in 1978. This was at a time of virtually no computers and most laboratory equipment was analogue or simple chart recorders.
In the following years, I moved from BHP to various other Metallurgical Laboratories and took a keen interest in the computerisation and digitisation of laboratory equipment. In 2010 I had the opportunity to join a fledgling Soil and Rock Mechanics Laboratory in Brisbane, so the family packed our bags and moved to Queensland.
While at Trilab over the last 15 years, as either General Manager or Technical Manager, I have seen the company grow into one of the world’s leading commercial soil and rock mechanics laboratories.
What is your favourite part of your job?
The technical challenges of the job are definitely the most rewarding. This is especially the case when helping clients solve technical challenges in regard to laboratory testing for either major mining projects or complex concrete dam investigations.
What do you find most challenging about your role?
Dealing with staff, in some ways, can be the most challenging component of my role however it can also be incredibly rewarding. It’s fulfilling when you see junior staff taking an active interest in the technical aspects of laboratory testing or when you can see their skills advancing.
What is one thing you would like to change about the mining and geotechnics/rock engineering industry?
The perception that laboratory testing is routine. A lot of commercial laboratories are now operating equipment that was initially exclusive to Universities and Research laboratories. So now, Geotechnical Engineers are able to have testing performed with cutting edge technology in realistic timeframes.
What areas of the industry or trends do you think will become more important in coming years?
The further digitisation and computerisation of testing equipment, as it is crucial to enable rapid results and streamline methods for data accumulation. Eventually I can see AI and machine learning playing a major role in the testing of soil and rock samples.
If you could invite three people, alive or dead, to dinner – who would they be and why?
On a personal level I would love to have the opportunity to have dinner with my late father who passed away at a relatively young age, over 20 years ago. He was a guiding influence in my early years and part of the reason I followed a technical career.
Marie Curie and Albert Einstein would be the other two people as they made immeasurable contributions to the world as we know it today. Both were groundbreaking scientists who weren’t afraid to challenge the status quo of their respective times.
What moment of your life would you want to re-live – and would you change anything?
I try not to live in the past but even with the various ups and downs of life, I would not change a thing. I was lucky enough to find the love of my life over 40 years ago and have been blessed with two wonderful children since, so what else could anyone wish for.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
An old superintendent at BHP gave the sound advice of, “bite off more than you can chew and then chew as fast as you can”. If I ever feel overwhelmed, this advice reassures me that usually, if you can put your head down and focus, things will work out in the end.
What advice would you give to someone considering geotechnical or rock engineering as a career?
Always have an enquiring mind. If you don’t know, ask questions and always be adaptable to change as in this industry, change is the only constant.
I would also say not to discount pursuing a career in laboratory testing as the challenges with advanced soil and rock mechanics are many, which makes the work incredibly rewarding.