Psychologists say interests that take root in childhood and bud in adolescence lead to the most fulfilling careers. At the age of seven, Walt Disney began selling small sketches to his neighbors in what would be a pre-cursor to his animation and entertainment giant, The Walt Disney Company, which today earns $41 billion (USD) in annual revenue.
Similarly, MWH technical specialist Dave Cook had an early and avid, interest in engineering. Like many young children, he built the standard forts, underground dens and treehouses, but on a much grander scale: one dam Dave and his friends constructed over three years of weekend work was, at completion, two meters high, with a crest length of 12 meters and a maximum thickness of five meters.
With this in mind, it would seem that there was little question that Dave would begin a career in engineering and it was his first role as a site engineer for a pipeline company in the U.K. that introduced him to his speciality in tunneling. After managing the alignment control for several tunnels on the project, he was offered a position by the specialist subcontractor responsible for construction and then, 20 years later, moved on to become regional tunneling manager for North West Water Engineering (now United Utilities).
Following a six-year stint with another engineering consultant, Dave joined MWH as a site manager and tunneling and trenchless technology specialist in 2001. This opportunity allowed him to continue supporting North West Water Engineering and also participate on other MWH projects.
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| The Victorian Desalination Project |
Though Dave briefly left MWH on two occasions to support exciting projects with other organizations, allure of the Victorian Desalination Project brought him back into the fold, and “down under” to Australia, in 2010. He now serves as the design reviewer and construction surveillance representative (Area 1- Marine and Tunnel Works) for what will be the largest desalination plant in Australia, supplying 150 billion liters of water a year to Melbourne, Geelong and some regional communities. Dave is also advising project teams in MWH offices across the Asia Pacific region, providing guidance and support relating to shaft sinking, trenchless technology and tunneling.
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The Victorian Desalination Project |
Dave credits tenacity with helping him get to where he is today and says it is a trait he exhibits in both his professional and personal life. While he is focussed on the Asia Pacific region, he is also available to make contributions to proposals and projects around the globe.
Dave is currently developing a standard specification for pipelines involving HDD crossings and has recently given trenchless technology presentations to three water companies in Australia, generating enquiries that may well lead to additional work.
