Bertie Swayne

Background

About Bertie Swayne

If you turn up on time, show willing and work hard you are already in the top 1%” That simple statement, relayed during a conversation between myself and a successful US surgeon and family friend over 15 years ago, formed the basis of my work ethic and attitude. If, through being punctual, keen and applying myself fully to the task, I was already in the top 1% then why not make that my baseline, anything extra would allow me to really succeed. I have always been drawn to positions, opportunities and environments that test me and take me outside of my comfort zone. I have found that I like routine in everything but my work. The bigger the challenge, the more excited I am to throw myself into it. Through my varied work history, I have treated each new position as a chance to test myself in a new way; physically, mentally or socially, with the aim of utilising past lessons learned whilst developing new skill sets to serve me going forward. This attitude to work and opportunities has led me to some exciting and challenging places. I firmly believe that your experiences shape you as a person, the harder the day, the bigger the challenge, the more you stand to learn and the higher the benchmark for future comparison when times inevitably get tough. A good example of this for me was my time spent in the Arabian Gulf, I was mobilised to replace a colleague 3 days into his 8-week rotation (medivac following a minor breakdown following exposure to the work conditions I later found out!). I spent 8 weeks working 15-hour night shifts 7 days a week, the logistical challenges of the project meant that I went without a hot meal for the 8 weeks. There were certainly nights when I questioned whether I could see it through, but I did. Not only did I survive the 8 weeks, but I went back 8 weeks on and 8 weeks off for the next 3 years. Each time, better equipped mentally and physically for the role. I learned more about my own resilience, strength and perseverance in those 3 years than I had in the 26 years leading up to it. And it proved to me that I was right in my belief that the bigger the challenge the more you stand to gain regardless of whether you succeed or don’t. Elements of all of my previous experiences have inevitably led me to where I am now, passionately leading a team, devoted to enhancing safety for individuals working in hazardous environments. That’s a little about me, I would love to hear something from you.