You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Meet Mike Seabourne
Job:
Project Director - Wellington Transport Operations Centre (WTOC)
Job description:
My job is to run the Wellington Transport Operations Centre that helps to operate the highway network in Wellington and across NZ. Our job is to get people to where they want to go every day. It’s a bit like playing with a scalextric set but we want to keep them safe and NOT go fast.
Work background:
I’ve worked in the transport sector for over 10 years for both private and public sector transport organisations. I’ve been involved in many aspects of transport, from planning all the way through to delivery of transport projects.
Favourite part of job:
The ability to react quickly to incidents and to help our customers get on their way.
Least favourite part of job:
Seeing people crash their cars because they are going too fast or driving dangerously.
What I am working on now:
I am working on ways to better communicate with our customers so they can best use the transport system.
A quick story about a job well done:
When a truck rolled over in the Ngauranga gorge the WTOC played a vital role in managing the incident. The WTOC was able to view the incident, work with Police, NZ Fire service and contractors to clear the site and communicate with our customers to make their journeys.
A (humorous) story about a job that went badly and what you learned:
Before I went to university I worked in a warehouse of a furniture and paint store. My job was to unload the tracks with the forklift and put everything away in the warehouse as quickly as possible. One night the store had a big customer night where thousands of people were invited in to see a whole new range of furniture and housewares items. It was a BIG store.A truck was running late and it arrived just as the customer evening started so I was rushing to unload it. I had one last pallet (80 litres) of paint to unload and wheeled the forklift around backwards at speed. The front wheel went into a drainage grate and the whole load tipped over and smashed open on the ground all over a brand new silver BMW.Lesson; smooth and steady is the way to go….
Qualifications:
Bachelor planning & Diploma in business administration.
Interests outside work:
Fishing, sailing, rugby, motorbikes, hunting, fun.