Passionate about building meaningful relationships and seeing others succeed, Keith Simpson embodies the Royal Wolf difference.
He's a self-confessed MAMIL (middle-aged man in Lycra), but beyond completing 170km bike rides, Keith Simpson is heavily invested in people, seeing others succeed and helping to create robotic containers.
Keith, Royal Wolf's WA, NT and SA Regional Manager, oversees, guides and aims to create an environment in which his staff and colleagues thrive, as well as ensuring his teams maintain the Royal Wolf approach: consistently delivering good results.
I see my role as making sure people get the most out of themselves says Keith.
It's about understanding that people are there to do a job and are in positions because they can do their job, so my role is to smooth their path and allow them to do it effectively.
I'm a sounding board, which gives others the confidence to make decisions.
CREATING THE BOT BOX
Keith has worked on many innovative modification projects in his four years at Royal Wolf, but one that stands out is the Bot Box: a robotic container that is controlled remotely, for use by a tier one mining company.
It keeps people out of harm's way, the company doesn't need to put people into potentially dangerous situations, explains Keith.
It opens and closes by itself and allows unmanned vehicles to leave and fly around and video things, then fly back and charge up.
It opens and closes by itself and allows unmanned vehicles to leave and fly around and video things, then fly back and charge ~ Keith Simpson.
ON BEING A MAMIL
Keith is a proud father of two and is often seen driving his kids to cricket and hockey training. But when he gets a moment on his own, he loves sitting by the pool and cycling, including completing rides up to 170km.
They call us MAMILs, he says. They say cycling is the new golf and I love that it's a group activity where you can interact with others and meet people from all walks of life, from accountants to teachers to sport CEOs and everyone in between.
PRIDE IN SEEING THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS
Keith has always found inspiration from tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, while in the business world he admires the entrepreneurial ways of Richard Branson.
What makes me feel good is seeing others achieving and striving in their roles. I get a kick out of that, says Keith.
COVID-19 border closures have made Western Australian-based Keith's position more difficult, as he usually travels to South Australia and Northern Territory every six weeks. It has challenged him to connect with his people in other ways.
He's proud of the growth in his teams despite the challenging times.
You can always be better and you should always have that mindset, or else you're complacent and resting on your laurels, he says.