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OUR PEOPLE CONFIDENT HUMILITY – ROBIN WILLIAMS, SURVEYOR BY CAROL FORSYTH "I f you are not in the industry you will be left behind!" says Robin Williams, Director of Marine Consulting & Inspection Ltd. As a marine surveyor, Robin says he is learning as much now as when he first started surveying, especially as things are changing so fast. When Robin Williams left Rutherford High School in west Auckland he began a five year ship, yacht and boat building apprenticeship. He then worked as a shipwright and completed advanced trade certificates. From what he gained then to now have seen him function to the best of who he is, while being fully aware with whom he is not. ring up for clarification of things," Robin says. Robin treats people how he would want to be treated himself. He doesn't take on projects unless he has the right people. "Our job as I see it, we've got to make the decisions but that has to be in agreement with the client. It's how you approach it, how you present it." Robin Williams Many years ago Robin was given a former Marine Department paper on steel hulls, which idealised the type of person a marine surveyor should be. He believes that their recommendations are true to this day: • Obviously he must be a man of considerable practical experience, backed up with at least more than average theoretical knowledge and have the ability to learn the latest in marine engineering technology. • The most important quality for a surveyor is for him to be a man of sound and sane judgement. • He should not be afraid or timid of his responsibilities, but conversely he must not be over confident or of reckless nature; • He must also possess tact of a high order. • A proportioned sense of humour is a decided asset and that a dignified but cheerful approach is of great help. Robin's survey and marine experience ranges from top of the range high tech boats to composite and aluminium high speed cats to double hulled waka and he loves the variation. As Robin stretched himself, his knowledge grew. As he pushed himself, the investment of his time, energy and resources were worth the effort as this is who he is today. Once he had found his niche, operating out of his strengths and passions, Robin discovered a fulfilled and impactful role in the marine industry as a marine surveyor. "I enjoy nutting things out and to keep my hand in the industry I build carbon fibre bikes and play around with fibreglass and composite components at home.' He says, "I enjoy projects and recon I know to organise things." Robin's work experiences are vast and include three months in the planning office of HMNZ Dockyard completing refit planning, vessel structural inspections and documentation of modification to frigates. He has supervised and been involved with the construction of thousands of vessels and projects worth millions of dollars. In his spare time Robin sails, enjoys motor sport and rugby. Having confidence in his strengths and abilities allowed Robin to step up and meet the challenge to keep things moving. "Every surveyor makes mistakes and I would be the first to say I don't know everything about surveying, but I know who I can This allows Robin to serve others in a much deeper and richer way than if he was simply going through the motions. "I only work with decent people and clients – life's too short to have dramas." During his journey through life, Robin was mentored by boat builder, consultant and surveyor Alf Lock. He now carries on this valuable tradition with his own mentoring role. "If I fell over tomorrow, the man I am mentoring will be able to step in to my business – he knows most of my clients and with my daughter running it, he can take over for six months and then either keep going or sell it. I owe that to my existing clients," Robin says. Although Robin is a sound and sane surveyor this did not prevent him from serious injury when travelling in a lift. "I woke up on the ground floor on the bottom of the lift. The lights were out and I crawled over to the emergency buttons, scratched my head and when I got out, thought what was all that about?" Half an hour later Robin couldn't walk and after struggling home he lay in bed for three months. "It was a lift crash and when it happened I was sitting on the rail in the lift corner. When the lift fell the impact went through my spine!" After light duties and physio, there was nothing anybody could do to ease the pain. At times he would get into the car and couldn't get out again. Life was hard. "This is just one of life's adventures," says Robin, "and you keep going, I can still crawl through bilges when I need to," he says with a smile. During underwater surveys Robin sits in a compartment viewing a screen while a diver goes around the boat, looking at coatings, gratings, sea suction, rudders, props and for impact damage. "I've had some very cool jobs, certifying and inspecting vessels all over the world," Robin says. He is also a provider of information and material to the legal fraternity in New Zealand and offshore and has completed decisions in the area of arbitration. Together with Marine Consulting and Inspection Ltd, Robin provides survey services to many of the survey companies in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the Pacific Islands. Vessel size ranges from five metres to 45 metres. Robin says that from what he has seen the Maritime NZ move to MOSS is a positive change, "as long as they get time to complete the job properly and continued improvement of New Zealand surveying is something I am keen to progress". This is a real, honest man and not born from arrogance but with a secure identity of who he really is. September/October 2012 Professional Skipper 39