2021 has got off to a fantastic start for Vertech Group, with a revitalised energy industry resulting in a busy workload for all our departments. As a result, our teams have welcomed a new wave of graduate engineers to the Vertech family.
Pranav Kamalakannan is our newest arrival, and we will be learning the ropes from our expert operations team.
To get to know him better, we sat down to interview him.
Tell us about yourself and what you will be doing at Vertech Group.
I was born in Singapore but grew up and went to school in Qatar before moving to Australia for university. Living in places with very different cultures to Australia has been interesting, and I will always want to remember those experiences. I joined Vertech in April 2021, and now I’m assisting with reporting – however, as a graduate, I expect that my tasks will be varied, and I could be expected to work on something different at any time.
Is this your first job/internship utilising your degree? If not, what experience did you have before coming to Vertech?
I worked at Baker Hughes as a Subsea Engineering Intern during my penultimate year at university. More specifically, I worked on technical solutions to mitigate the causes and effects of marine growth and calcareous deposits on the current installed subsea base. My exposure to offshore production systems at Baker Hughes was a factor in my interest in Vertech!
What skill did you learn during your studies that has been vital as a young professional?
Being able to prioritise and plan tasks to fit tight deadlines. This was especially important during my final year at university when I had to conduct a complex investigation as part of my final year thesis – while studying for other units and looking for graduate opportunities!
Do you have any hobbies or activities you like to do on weekends?
I love cricket. I like to play club cricket on Saturdays when I have time – it’s the only sport I’m into. Besides this, I mainly like relaxing with friends, usually at a movie night or dinner.
What television show are you binge-watching right now?
Breaking Bad and Peaky Blinders. I’ve already seen both shows once, but almost all good TV shows are better when watching it a second time.
Who are you listening to on Spotify right now?
I listen to many artists, but The Weeknd regularly appears in a few of my playlists.
Welcome to the team, Pranav!
By Owen Johnstone
