What or who has been a source of inspiration for you during your career?

We gave featured business leaders of issue 53 the final word in answering “What or who has been a source of inspiration for you during your career?”

Neil Papenfus, General Manager, Pacific Towing

“I’m inspired by the hard work and tenacity of men and women from Papua New Guinea, their huge love for the country, their hospitality, and their sheer ingenuity when it comes to problem solving. 

If a client has a problem in a saltwater environment there is a good chance that PacTow’s team of PNG engineers, project managers, technicians, crew and divers will be able to solve it – this capacity to pull a left-field solution ‘out of the hat’; to design and implement a solution, is a credit to PacTow’s PNG workforce.

I find this capacity to problem solve and innovate, especially since it is often done without high tech support, to be a real source of inspiration.” 

Tejjas Parmar, CEO, Suzlon Energy Australia

“There are two ways through which energy is generated – conventionally and unconventionally. We, as humans, are responsible for protecting Mother Earth, and I have chosen to do so the unconventional, renewable way. I was inspired by this approach and selected this field as my career.

“I’m also inspired by people who have made a difference, such as the Founder and Chairman of Suzlon Group, Tulsi Tanti. He has driven change in combating climate change globally through renewable energy.” 

Eric Green, General Manager of Mining, Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia

“For me it is the privilege of working for HCA for 20 years. It is inspiring to have watched the business transform from a loss position to over a $1 billion turnover today. 

This is due to the tenacity and resilience of a dedicated team at all levels working through many challenges to grow and support its people, the customers and the products.”

Jason Dixon, CEO, Environmental Group Limited

“In 2008, the firm I worked with was an investor in Toxfree Solutions. The Chairman, Ian Burton, put a proposal to me – to leave my life in financial services and to join Toxfree to help it grow and give it the corporate edge.

His pitch was simple: you can help the environment, work in a great culture, and generate Australian jobs rather than shuffling paper across your desk just to make other people money.

“Fast forward the clock almost 10 years and we have diverted thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill, improved environmental outcomes and built a team of 1,500 employees.”