In this Newsletter addition we feature Associate Aaron Huttig and learn a little more about his life’s journey. Thank you for your contribution, Aaron.
- We value your contribution to CT Management Group; what drew you to becoming a consultant?
It’s the first question and I’m already reaching for cliches – for the flexibility. Like a lot of people, Covid was a great time to reflect on many issues, but one of them was my career and what I wanted out of it. I got married at the end of 2019 and my wife moved from the USA to Australia. We had planned to do a lot of travelling around SE Asia and Oceania during 2020, we only got as far as New Zealand that January.
I also wanted a position that allowed me to work across the engineering industry to a greater degree. I’ve always learnt best by seeing how other people tackle the similar problems, then modify that to my current situation, surprisingly engineers don’t know everything themselves. I felt that consulting would enable both of those things to happen to a greater degree. Having worked with CT Management multiple times previously, I decided to reach out.
- What is your specialist area, and why are you interested in that field?
I’ve always been a generalist, but I’d have to say that I prefer asset management and traffic safety/engineering the most. When it comes to both disciplines, to be innovative and come up with solutions, you need to be able to work in the grey – go beyond the Australian Standards, then be able to justify your reasoning six ways to Sunday. It also involves a lot of research and digging into why practises have evolved to be what they are in the industry. Sometimes that’s good, but other times it can lead to less than optimal results.
- What has been your career highlight to date?
There are a couple that come to mind. The first time I was an expert witness at VCAT up against a large multinational. Our lawyer was a little nervous on how I’d preform against the applicant’s lawyer and their expert traffic witness. By the end I had the two members, our team and their expert witness laughing as I got the applicant’s lawyer tripping over his words and arguing for our point of view. Our lawyers weren’t ever concerned for me again.
On a serious note, to date it has been applying new or existing technologies to problems I’ve faced. This includes the world first use of Otta/Gatt sealing for an airport runway. Evaluation is still ongoing, but looks promising and would reduce rural and remote airstrip construction by 30 – 50%. Also, in dealing with the worst drought the Millewa district (west of Mildura) ever experienced. We had 500km of road network being covered under sand dunes as paddocks blew out. Some roads were covered by up to 3.5m of sand. We had two farming families completely cut off as we closed 50km of road network. To open it up I had to find ways of building new roads over migrating sand dunes as well as stabilising the road reserve to mitigate the dunes migrating further. - What was the last thing you read – was it a report, novel or newspaper?
Something really boring – the US DOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways 11th edition update. - How do you relax- is it music, meditation or something else?
I try and do something completely different. Get out in the garden or do some cooking. One of the other Associates for CT, Alastair Griffiths, can vouch for my culinary skills. - When you are away from work, what do you like doing?
I spend a bit of time volunteering at the Country Fire Authority (CFA). I’ve made a lot of good friends there over the years, right across the state. - Are you a sportsperson or a spectator, and what’s the sport?
I am a spectator sportsperson. My enthusiasm is far greater than my skills and fitness level allow. The past few years I’ve stopped playing footy and jumped across to Hockey. The coach always exulted my ability to read the play and “make space” ready for the ball… it was only because I couldn’t keep up with the play so just hung back and watch the action further upfield. - Is there something you’d like to tell us about yourself that you think would surprise us?
Not really, I am a pretty simple man… with very expensive tastes. - In a world with so many leaders and achievers – is there one person that gives you inspiration, why?
I’d have to say Lucinda Nolan. I have always found her to be above reproach, passionate, sure but open to change. To the public she has sort of flown under the radar, but to those who know her, has achieved so much. She embodies all the qualities you desire in a leader of people and change.
Thank you for sharing your story Aaron.