Perth-based Mark Elliott, M.AIRAH, is a building services engineer for Devlin Engineering & Management, and the 2022 AIRAH Future Leader Award winner.
Day-to-day responsibilities
My day-to-day duties and responsibilities revolve around project and commissioning engineering. I generally split my time between design and commissioning management.
My design responsibilities include client relationship management and project delivery from feasibility and concept through to completion and beyond.
My commissioning management responsibilities include design review, commissioning planning, tracking onsite commissioning progress, coordinating trade interfaces, testing, witnessing, troubleshooting, tuning and optimisation.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about sustainable designs and making a difference in our industry and society by actively designing and implementing concepts and ideas that lead to carbon reduction. I believe our industry should play a significant role in reaching a net zero society. It is exciting to know that the innovative engineering design solutions and our thorough commissioning and tuning processes will help make a difference.
Finest professional hour
Being part of the commissioning and tuning team that achieved WA’s first 6-star NABERs rated building.
Important lessons
I have learnt that when communicating concepts, ideas and strategies, information must be delivered in a disarming and logical way that meets that person “where they are”. Part of this is understanding other people’s unique perspectives. I try and keep this at the forefront of my way of thinking during any engineering task – and anything outside of work, whether it is discussing life-cycle analysis of sustainable engineering solutions with clients or talking tactics with my basketball team.
Whom do you most admire?
Basketballer Patty Mills. He leads by example on and off the court.
Dream sabbatical
Scuba-diving Truk Lagoon again before nature sweeps away the WW2 shipwrecks.
What is your motto?
“Always do what I said I would do.” This is a core value of Devlin Engineering & Management and one that I have adopted, and I strive to uphold through my actions.
Greatest personal achievement
Achieving Gold at the Australian International Music Festival 2009 for classical guitar as part of my high school classical guitar ensemble.
Favourite book
Scar Tissue – the Anthony Kiedis autobiography.
Favourite film
The Departed. This changes all the time. It was The Dark Knight two weeks ago.
Favourite website?
CalcuDUCT and CalcuPIPE. Thanks Andrew Lang, M.AIRAH.
How would you describe yourself?
Easy-going and friendly.
Define success
My own happiness, and equally the happiness of my friends and family.
What does AIRAH membership mean to you?
AIRAH is a means for me to interact with peers in the HVAC&R industry in a professional but social environment.
“I believe our industry should play a significant role in reaching a net zero society”
