News

Madsen Giersing is delighted to have been engaged by Davbridge Constructions on their development of the Barr Creek Bridge in Cairns. The $6m Barr Creek Bridge will connect Machans Beach and Holloways Beach as part of the Cairns Regional Council’s Northern Beaches Leisure Trail; a staged approach to connecting Palm Cove with Cairns City via a continuous walking and cycling link.

Madsen Giersing will be providing temporary works to support the construction of the 150 metres long and 3.5 metres wide bridge accessed via and have a 20m ramp on the Holloways Beach side and a 10m ramp on the Machans Beach side.

Lasse Madsen welcomed the opportunity to work on the project, “We are delighted to be working with Davbridge to create a vital piece of active transport infrastructure in Far North Queensland. Our team look forward to bringing our marine, and temporary works experience to the project to ensure a great result for our client, stakeholders and the local community,” said Lasse.

Madsen Giersing is delighted to have been appointed to undertake a feasibility study for an upgrade to the wharf facilities for St Barbara’s Simberi Gold Company’s operations at Pigiput in Papua New Guinea.

Located on Simberi Island in the Taba Island’s Group the project represents an important milestone for Madsen Giersing who have won another project in PNG, but their first in collaboration with Simberi Gold Company.

CEO, Lasse Madsen, was pleased to secure the project “We are delighted to have secured our first project with Simberi Mining Company, a project which will see a feasibility study undertaken to improve and enhance the facility’s wharf. The end result will see significant improvements to access and safety, boosting the facility’s operations.”

“At present, a 110t crawler crane is used to unload the containers on the 20m wharf, which can accommodate ships of up to 6.5m draft, our scope is to look at across the board improvements to the facility.”

“We are also pleased to be working again in PNG; it is a country in which we have a proud history of collaboration, and we can’t wait to get started on our latest project.”

On the back of continued project success, Madsen Giersing is delighted to appoint Jay McIntyre to the role of Senior Engineer. Jay joins the organisation with over 30 years’ experience in maritime infrastructure engineering where he has supported the delivery of major projects across Australia and the Middle East including Townsville Port Inner Harbour Expansion, Port of Brisbane Wharves 11 and 12 and  Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade Project.

Jay re-joins Madsen Giersing where he previously worked from 2004-2010 as a Senior Engineer supporting the delivery of major projects through the design of temporary works, marine and resources infrastructure.

“I am delighted to be back at Madsen Giersing; it is a fantastic opportunity to once again work with a talented team who design and deliver outstanding engineering solutions for their clients’ projects. With a number of exciting projects in the pipeline, I cannot wait to get started and support the organisation’s growth,” said Mr McIntyre.

CEO, Lasse Madsen, welcomed Jay to the team “We are delighted to have Jay re-join us at Madsen Giersing. Jay’s extensive experience and expertise will support our continued growth and the delivery of upcoming projects across Australia and Asia,” said Mr Madsen.

Jay holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) from the University of Queensland and is a Member of the Institution of Engineers Australia and a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland.

The team gathered to celebrate Michael and Yasintha‘s 10 years with Madsen Giersing with a boardroom lunch. As well as great conversation, sharing of memories and a fantastic spread, there was plenty of hand sanitiser on offer to make sure everyone was COVID safe. The whole team was delighted spend time with two stalwarts who continue to make fantastic contributions to our company and our clients’ projects.

Senior Engineer Yasintha reflects on his time at Madsen Giersing, “11 years ago, I joined Madsen Giersing team as a Junior Engineer. It was my first job in Australia and was quite challenging for me as an overseas skill migrant. However, after a few years working with the team, especially with Peter Madsen, I felt like an expert in the fields of maritime and temporary structure design.”

“I really appreciate his constructive advice which has helped to strengthen my structural engineering skills and my confidence when facing challenging projects. Working with friendly Madsen Giersing team helped me achieving my career goals, while also providing a flexible working environment so I could balance work with family life.”

Senior Drafter Michael also shares his experience, “10 years at Madsen Giersing has given me a wealth of experience and knowledge of the local construction industry, and has given me amazing opportunities to be involved in large infrastructure projects across Australia and overseas.”

Both should be immensely proud of the work they have done throughout their time here, as they have both played a pivotal role in driving Madsen Giersing forward.

In 2019, Madsen Giersing welcomed Ruwanika Piyasena to our team in the role of Structural Engineer. Having worked and studied across a range of engineering sectors from buildings to Structural Dynamics and Blast Analysis, Ruwanika applies her wealth of knowledge and experience to each project to find innovative engineering solutions for our clients. We caught up with her to find out a bit more about her journey through the industry.

Why did you become an engineer/drafter?

I became an engineer because I loved maths and physics, so naturally I landed on studying engineering. When it came to choosing between the many different streams of engineering, like mechanical, electrical, computer or civil, the obvious choice for me was civil because I have always been fascinated by structures.

What do you love about engineering/drafting?

I love seeing designs take form into real structures. It makes me proud that I am part of projects that the world will marvel at.

I also love that engineers can find solutions to every problem. I used to watch documentaries about how some of the worlds world most phenomenal projects came to life, and in all of them I noticed one thing; no matter what architectures design and no matter how impossible it is to bring that design a real structure, engineers always have an innovative and practical solution.

What are you working on at the moment?

One project I am working on is an access brow and davit design for FMG. The access brow, which is a gangway that gives access to tug boats, is definitely a challenging yet enjoyable project for me as it includes several mechanical components that require extreme accuracy and attention to detail.

What has been your greatest professional achievement to date?

Last year I accomplished a long awaited dream of mine, which was completing my PhD in Structural Engineering. It was seriously hard work, but I am so proud that I stuck through it.

What’s the best project you have worked on?

I have mostly been working on temporary works projects, however a recent one involving crane support frame for pile driving has been my favourite. When designing this, we had to consider several practical scenarios and limitations as two cranes were operating on the frame simultaneously and we had to rely on existing piles as well.

What’s the most useful thing you’ve learned throughout your career?

Never be afraid to explore new fields in engineering. As a graduate engineer I used to work on the structural design of buildings, then I started working on my PhD which was in Structural Dynamics and Blast Analysis, and now I am designing marine structures and temporary works. The knowledge I have gathered from each of these fields is priceless.

What excites you about the future of our industry?

The most exciting thing is how we can apply new technology into structural designs. While the basic physics and mathematical theories will always be the base of the designs, we can always improve the quality and accuracy of the designs with new technologies such as finite element analysis, ANN Techniques, optimisation techniques and coding applications.

What would be your dream project to work on from history?

Sydney Opera House. When I was a kid I watched a documentary on how engineers and architects designed and constructed this world marvel. I was fascinated by how engineers invented solutions to all the problems to get the final spectacular outcome that people from all over the world visit Sydney to see.

What piece of advice would you give to an aspiring engineer?

Don’t limit yourself to one field or path. If you have come so far as an Engineer, it is only a matter of time and just a bit of hard work for you to transfer your knowledge and focus to a new area of expertise.

What would your last meal be?

Rice, stir-fried prawns and vanilla Ice cream to finish off.

What is the last movie you watched or series you binged?

The Good Place – it’s an American fantasy comedy series. It was a little different to what I usually watch which are thrillers or mystery, but I enjoyed it a lot.

Who’s the greatest engineer of all time and why?

I admire Antoni Gaudi. He is not an Engineer, but a Spanish Architect. During a tour to Barcelona I got to visit most of his amazing designs and I started admiring his attention to detail and innovative ideas. I also love the fact that Spain is still benefiting from his masterpieces almost a 100 years after his death. If you haven’t heard of Gaudi, look him up – you won’t be disappointed.

Madsen Giersing is delighted to announce that Lasse Madsen has been appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer, with Peter Madsen moving to a new role as a company director, effective 1 July 2020.

After more than 30 years and 1,300 projects delivered across Australia and Asia, Peter believes it is the right time to pass on the baton to the next generation “I’m very fortunate to be able to pass control of Madsen Giersing to Lasse, who will lead our organisation as we look to build on our successes and continue the fantastic work we do for our clients.”

“I will remain heavily involved, but the time is right for me to strike a balance between the hard work of running a business and spending more time with my wife, Ulla, and our children and grandchildren,” said Peter.

Lasse outlined his immediate priorities as CEO, ”For our clients and staff, it is business as usual. We have a very strong reputation for delivering outstanding engineering solutions, and my highest priority is to continue to provide exceptional outcomes for our clients’ projects.”

“As we head into the next chapter of our business, I’d like to thank the people and clients who have helped and supported us, and I know that everyone at Madsen Giersing is looking forward to continuing to work on major projects across Australia and Asia,” said Lasse.

Connect with Lasse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lasse-madsen-17b30227/

About Madsen Giersing

Outside the box thinking – an all too common catch phrase for some. Not for us however. At Madsen Giersing (MG) we take the box, and turn it into something extraordinary. Through a collaborative approach and tapping into our many years’ experience, the MG team delivers innovation unlike others in the field.

This approach has led to MG having a proven track record in the delivery of projects across Australia, PNG and South-East Asia, specialising in the innovative design and engineering of marine structures, bridges and temporary works.

About the Role

This is a permanent full-time position available for immediate start based in our Brisbane office.

• This position offers technical work, project management and business development
• This position will lead and manage projects within the Marine and Coastal Infrastructure, Temporary Works and Construction Solutions, Bridge and Structural engineering disciplines
• This position prepares engineering designs, calculations and verifications, specifications, and technical reports
• This position will further oversee the work of the engineering and drafting team providing input and guidance to the engineers and drafters on technical areas
• Adherence to internal procedures, processes, and quality measures, which are carried out in accordance with our quality control system, which is third party certified to AS/NZS ISO 9001:2015
• Over time, this position will grow to assist the Principal Engineer/Operations Manager in the preparation of tender documentation and fee proposals as well as maintaining and growing relationships with clients
• Occasional travel may be required in line with the development and delivery of projects

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
• Minimum 5-7 years’ experience
• RPEQ status
• Project management, contractual, and commercial skills
• High level technical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to produce practical and functional designs to an extremely high standard
• The ability to effectively manage projects and consistently meet project schedule timeframes and budgets
• Solid verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, with established skills in preparing reports, specifications, proposals and tenders.
• Knowledge and proven experience in structural design software and modelling
• You must be eligible to live and work in Australia to be successful in applying for this role

Why Choose Madsen Giersing

Don’t be deceived by our size. We may be a smaller firm in size, but the projects we work on are industry leading.

• We are the leading innovators in Structural Design Engineering specialising in marine structures, bridges, and temporary works
• Provide engineering consultancy services to both private and public sector
• Projects are based in Australia, PNG, and South-East Asia
• Long term respected client partnerships
• Large challenging projects

What we offer

• Remuneration and benefits in line with experience and qualifications
• A fantastic working environment in a modern top floor office in Newstead with close proximity to public transport and The Gasworks and Emporium complexes with their fantastic cafes and coffee shops.
• End of ride facilities including bike storage and showers
• Close knit culture and open-door policy

To apply, email sam@madsengiersing.com.au with a cover letter detailing your experience and what you will bring to our organisation, referee details and a copy of your current C.V.

No agencies please

In the role of Administrative Assistant & PA, Elizabeth Webb draws from her customer-focused approach and experience from both architectural and engineering sectors to bring stability to daily operations around the office. We caught up with Elizabeth to talk about her appreciation for the engineering industry and its influence on our communities.

What made you want to work in engineering?

Fate threw me into the world of engineering with my first position out of commercial college being with a large Scottish firm of mechanical engineers starting up a new Brisbane office.  I stayed with them for 5 years then enrolled in the university of life with a stint overseas for the next 6.  I’ve worked in the IT games industry and heritage architectural spheres, but I have loved coming back to engineering.

What do you love about working in the engineering industry?

Standing on the shoulders of giants is the basic answer.  Thanks to the talents and skills of engineers, the beauty of buildings and infrastructure can be revealed.  Their ability to design infrastructure which enables life to proceed safely and simply using maths and physics is both mystifying and exciting to me.  Working for architects gave me an appreciation of beautiful design, however the engineers are the unsung heroes making all that possible. Working with the team here at Madsen Giersing who constantly strive for excellence makes me get out of bed each day.

What has been your greatest professional achievement to date?

Keeping responsive and being able to adapt and change has meant that I can pivot industries and bring my skill set to a new table.

What’s has been your favourite project Madsen Giersing has worked on?

Gladstone East Shores Stage 1B definitely was one of Madsen Giersing’s more creative projects.  It was a trailblazing style of project which reimagined a disused barge to be converted into a floating transfer pontoon and swimming pool – with the design talents and expertise of Madsen Giersing’s senior engineers.  Unfortunately, in the end, the project was put on hold, but the journey was definitely interesting.

What’s the most useful thing you’ve learned throughout your career?

The little things matter.  Being a team player and staying open to change is also fundamental.

What would your last meal be?

Peking Duck Pancakes, champagne and coffee-flavoured gelato.

What is the last movie you watched or series you binged?

The Last Kingdom – it’s a (fictional) Danish series on the Vikings invasion of Britain.  The characters are strong and wild!

What excites you about the future of our industry?

As engineering has always had its eyes on the future, ready to wield the helm of change, it is most exciting seeing women enthusiastically enter the industry and bringing with them a different clarity and perspective.

I can see that the world they step into is truly welcoming and encouraging some reform. This is demonstrated by Engineers Australia’s CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans influencing and championing other younger women to step into this vital space.  Madsen Giersing can proudly boast female graduate engineers who are being mentored and provided amazing opportunities to bring forth their years of studies into engineering theory.