Issue 58 Newsletter 2017 - Assistant Engineer Staff Profile Ryan Sharman

1. When did you commence employment with Leeton Shire Council?

   My first day with the Leeton Shire Council was Tuesday, the 3^rd of January 2017.

2. What is your role/s at Leeton Shire Council?

   My role is “Assistant Engineer”. Right now I’m still not 100% on what my role really is, but so far I have followed Matt Vogele around to a number of jobs, helped in the design of line marking on Wade Avenue, and am attempting to create a feasibility analysis for the high priority footpaths and SUP’s provided in the 2016 Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP).

3. What was your previous workplace background prior to starting employment with Leeton Shire Council?

   Prior to my commencement with the Leeton Shire Council I was a student studying Civil Engineering at Victoria University in Footscray. Before I started my degree I took a GAP year and worked as a tutor at Shepparton High School for 5 weeks (which was difficult because I was not good at teaching), then I worked with Goulburn Murray Water for 10 months as a technical assistant, doing a bunch of jobs related to project management and electrical engineering (at this stage I was convinced I wanted to be an Electrical Engineer).

   In order to complete my 12 weeks industry experience required to complete my degree I started working for Goulburn Valley Water during my summers where I worked with both potable and wastewater teams helping out with jobs like checking how clean the wastewater was in manholes and pump stations, cleaning up their database system (Aquantify) and a number of OH&S jobs.

4. Where were you born and raised? Do you have any children? Married etc?

   I was born in Nowra in NSW, moved to Townsville in QLD when I was 8, then moved to Shepparton in VIC when I was 12. I was in Shepparton until I was 20, then moved to Melbourne to study my degree and finally, at 24 I have moved to Leeton.

   No children and not married.

5. What tertiary qualifications have you completed?

   I have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

6. What do you like/love most about Leeton?

   I like that it is much like Shepparton in regards to the industry but is much smaller. So far everyone I have met has been nice and helpful.

7. What are your hobbies/interests outside work?

   I enjoy sports such as tennis, badminton and basketball and would like to start playing tennis again (if anyone knows any clubs close to Leeton that I could join please inform me).

   I am fascinated by anything to do with Japanese culture (especially manga) and one day I want to learn Japanese and travel all around Japan.

   I also enjoy the occasional PlayStation game and a good horror movie.

8. How would you describe yourself as an employee in the workplace?

   If you had asked me this prior to going to University I would probably say that I am shy, don’t talk much, don’t enjoy meeting new people and always have headphones on to deter people from talking to me.

   I am still pretty shy but not nearly as much as I was and enjoy getting to know people; you might still see me sitting at my desk with headphones on but don’t let them intimidate you, just tap me on the shoulder to get my attention J

9. Tell us something interesting (quirky fact) that not many people would know about you.

   I can do a round off backflip and I have gone 24 years without swearing.

10. Do you have a funny joke that you would like to share with our staff and councillors? This is your chance to express your sense of humour!

    I swear I have a sense of humour! I just can’t think of any jokes right now… I do enjoy a ‘good’ pun (when I say ‘good’ I mean terrible).

Thanks Ryan, for letting the Staff of LSC get to know you a little better!