So you want to be a waste management consultant? Geoff Thompson Waste 2012, Coffs Harbour

What do consultants do?  Use specialist knowledge to advise and assist clients –Research / investigation –Modelling –Design –Project management –Communications –+ more

Why are they needed?  Work load peaks  Special expertise  Credibility with client’s management  Public Sector –Outsourcing –Loss of expertise –Trend to generalists  Private sector –Outsourcing

Qualifications needed  Normally need tertiary qualifications  Operations experience only – rare  Undergraduate –Engineering –Science –Env Health –Geography –Geology –Natural Resource Management

Qualifications  Post Graduate – some ideas: –Town planning –Economics

What will you do?  Sample, measure, test  Investigate and research  Model  Analyse  Study  Design  Write reports  Presentations  Project Manager  Client liaison  Business development  Project Director  Management  Technical expert

Career progress expectations  Years 1-5 after graduation –Sample, measure, test –Investigate and research –Model –Analyse –Study –Design –Write reports  Years 5-10 –+ PM on small projects

 Years 10+ –PM on larger projects  Years 15+ –PD  PM & PD roles require much client contact  Or technical specialisation

What might you earn?  Graduate $60k total package  10 years experience ie 31 yrs old PM $110k  15 years experience technical expert or senior PM $150k

Highly valued abilities  Time efficiency  Good writing  Technical excellence  Business development

What else helps to succeed as a waste management consultant?  Intelligence  Hard work  Get on with people  Networks

GOOD LUCK Geoff Thompson Technical Director Environment & Waste Management, SKM Phone