Dreamworld hires new engineering boss

[themagician]

Dreamworld has hired a commercial aviation expert as the engineering boss.

Full article:

A MAN with over 18 years experience in the aviation industry has been brought in by Dreamworld to oversee engineering, maintenance, projects, and infrastructure.

Ben Hogan will take on the role of General Manager Engineering, responsible for a team of more than 115 team members, as the Gold Coast theme park looks to restore its image in the wake of the 2016 Thunder River Rides Tragedy.

Mr Hogan plans to use his experience in aviation to bring a level of governance, structure and process into the Australian theme park industry that has made commercial Aviation the safest industry in the world, Dreamworld explained in a statement

---

Mr Hogan has held executive management roles in engineering and safety for well-known aviation organisations such as Qantas Airways, Jetstar Airways, Tiger Airways and Cebu Pacific

“Aviation is one of the safest industries in the world thanks to strict governance and regulations,” Mr Hogan said in the statement.

“I have taken on this role of Dreamworld’s General Manager Engineering to share my learnings in this field and bring the engineering levels of Australia’s biggest theme park to that of commercial aviation,” he added.

Mr Hogan will be responsible for the engineering and maintenance activities of Dreamworld’s state-of-the-art new attractions and experiences, as well as the ongoing engineering and maintenance of all existing rides and attractions.

“My focus will be on acquiring new assets and reviewing all existing rides, as well as park standards and appearance to strengthen the prestige and confidence of the Australian theme park industry,” he said.

http://www.mygc.com.au/dreamworld-hires-commercial-aviation-expert-as-engineering-boss/

[New display name]

Hang on. 

DW already said they had the best of the best last year.  Now a year latter the best of the best isn't the best of the best so they hire a new best of the best.  How many best of the best are out there and why do all the best of the best want to work at DW?  How come the best of the best have never worked on a ride in their life?

Edited March 7, 2019 by Skeeta

[Brad2912]

Surely the best of the best would have been a highly experienced Theme park safety/engineering specialist... 

[Naazon]

41 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

Surely the best of the best would have been a highly experienced Theme park safety/engineering specialist... 

I get what you're saying but i bet there wouldn't be a lot of them around with also the experience to manage a team of that size.

I think this is a good step in the right direction. Someone in this position shouldn't be doing the day to day work as they will be doing as they said in the presser, managing the team and overseeing the maintenance activities and reviewing recommendations from his staff. Obviously he will need to be trained in each ride so he can understand.

With this type of position at the end of the day you're looking at 2 skills, engineer and people management, he apparently has both but his engineering needs to be refined a bit further.  

 

Just my opinion. I get DW does some dumb stuff but this one to me doesn't seem like a terrible decision.

Edited March 7, 2019 by Naazon

[New display name]

1 hour ago, Naazon said:

I think this is a good step in the right direction. Someone in this position shouldn't be doing the day to day work as they will be doing as they said in the presser, managing the team and overseeing the maintenance activities and reviewing recommendations from his staff. Obviously he will need to be trained in each ride so he can understand.

Cross contamination of skills can be useful but when somebody doesn't have any knowledge of proven standards & procedures you end up with cages on Log Rides when there is already a better way in dealing with the problem.

Ben Hogan has no base to guide him with decision he makes with amusement rides so every time he does something he will be reinventing the wheel.

[Naazon]

1 minute ago, Skeeta said:

Cross contamination of skills can be useful but when somebody doesn't have any knowledge of proven standards & procedures you end up with cages on Log Rides when there is already a better way in dealing with the problem.

Ben Hogan has no base to guide him with decision he makes with amusement rides so every time he does something he will be reinventing the wheel.

 

1) My previous post I made an assumption he had higher qualifications in engineering than what he actually has, my apologies.

2) Although I generally agree, I know someone who is a manager within an Airlines engineering department, and from discussions with him, the calls and decisions they make are all based off data they get from the actual engineers and the manufacturer. If he employs this tactic then it could work quite well.

[New display name]

1 hour ago, Naazon said:

decisions they make are all based off data they get from the actual engineers and the manufacturer. If he employs this tactic then it could work quite well.

The problem is if the engineer gives incorrect information or doesn't communicate the information correctly we end up with Mr Hogan making assessments on thin air.

Mr Hogan has been employed to give guest a false sense of security.  

It’s written all over DW’s media release that this is a marketing ploy.

“Aviation is one of the safest industries in the world thanks to strict governance and regulations” Mr Hogan is from the aviation industry so now DW is safe.

I can't name MW's General Manager of Engineering.

The best of the best is not this and DW promised us the best of the best.

[Archer]

This is not new. For the past 2 years the 2IC of DW engineering has been a guy called Omar Elsayed that also came from the aviation industry.

He will retain his position and the new manager mentioned in the above article will fill the current general managers role held for the past 6 years by Chris Deaves.

Previous to starting at DW, Chris was manager of engineering at MovieWorld.

Chris has been linked to a newly created role managing projects at DW.

It was ‘possibly’ always planned to have no original DW department managers from October 2016 still in position when the inquest findings were released.

Only the retail department manager remains since the incident with approximately 7 department managers no longer there.

[New display name]

1 hour ago, Archer said:

This is not new. For the past 2 years the 2IC of DW engineering has been a guy called Omar Elsayed that also came from the aviation industry.

1

Nobody has said it's new.  DW  been banging on for over a year about the aviation industry and how DW has the best of the best.   As I said DW made the announcement as a marketing ploy.

 

1 hour ago, Archer said:

Chris has been linked to a newly created role managing projects at DW.
 

 

Newly created role wink, wink. 

On 28/11/2018 at 12:38 AM, Brad2912 said:

Here Is a great article by the GCB that tells us absolutely nothing..

$15mil expansion announced for Dreamworld’s WhiteWater World water park

NOVEMBER 27, 2018

Developers are already digging out the foundations for the new attraction, which looks set to expand onto vacant land behind WhiteWater World.

Dreamworld's Project Manager Holly Evans says work has already begun on their latest attraction. Photo: Supplied

Organisers say the development will take guests to a “tropical oasis” with a combination of features “never before seen in similar attractions around the world”.

Dreamworld CEO John Osborne said the work wouldn’t stop guests from visiting the water park during its 12-month build.

“The park will operate as normal during the construction of the new attraction and won’t have any impact on existing attractions at Dreamworld or WhiteWater World,” he said.

It’s a big step for new Project Manager Holly Evans, and one which makes her the youngest in her team of six at just 27 years old.

“This is such a rewarding role because I get to use my engineering and project management skills as well as utilising my creative flare,” she said.

“Our projects create enjoyment and happiness for our guests and I find that very rewarding.”

The expansion joins the soon so open flying theatre “Sky Voyager” as the latest developments for Dreamworld’s parks.

More details on the new attraction will be available early next year.

What happened to our friend Holly?

(Oh yeah, another employed person with no theme park experience )

1 hour ago, Archer said:

It was ‘possibly’ always planned to have no original DW department managers from October 2016 still in position when the inquest findings were released.

 

 

Craig Davidson entered the inquest believing nothing was his fault.

(Oh yeah, another employed person with no theme park experience.  That ended well)

 

 

)

 

[Archer]

30 minutes ago, Skeeta said:

Nobody has said it's new.  DW  been banging on for over a year about the aviation industry and how DW has the best of the best.   As I said DW made the announcement as a marketing ploy.

 

Newly created role wink, wink. 

What happened to our friend Holly?

(Oh yeah, another employed person with no theme park experience )

 

Craig Davidson entered the inquest believing nothing was his fault.

(Oh yeah, another employed person with no theme park experience.  That ended well)

 

 

)

 

In regards to your ‘bullshit meter’. Not sure if you are referring to and questioning the facts of my post above that mentioned about the department managers at DW including DW engineering department or if you were referring to Dreamworld’s decision making when awarding management positions to what seems to some as unsuitable candidates.

If it is referring to the facts of my post then I am more than happy to revert back to just reading the forums. Was hoping that my contributions would add to the conversation and be beneficial for all passionate theme park enthusiasts.

[New display name]

I didn't bullshit meter the whole post.  I bullshit metered DW was always planning to replace all managers.  I gave you an example with  Craig Davidson .

 

It doesn't matter who's right or wrong and I'm not saying you're incorrect. 

What does matter is what people are perceiving what is going on and many people believe Ardent/DW is making the same bad decisions they have always made.

 

[auspicious]

The only problem with that theory is that Paul Callander not only remains but was promoted to second in charge last year despite having his fingerprints all over the company's insurance, compliance and other safety related aspects for many years.

[Archer]

I was referring to department managers and not CEO or COO (Paul)

Only 2 department managers remain since the accident with department managers gone plus one operations manager.

[Brad2912]

First day on the job: “this Wipeout thing is a piece of shit. Close it”. 

[Naazon]

18 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

First day on the job: “this Wipeout thing is a piece of shit. Close it”. 

"This park is a piece of shit. Close it"

[Brad2912]

3 minutes ago, Naazon said:

"This park is a piece of shit. Close it"

Give him some time mate, it’s his first day....

[New display name]

"Chris, where are you going with that grease gun"

"I'm going to grease up the Wipeout's nipples Ben"

"Stop right there, I'm not having that going on in my park.  Close it down"

 

[Archer]

The new GM of engineering is quoted as saying ‘My focus will be on acquiring new assets and reviewing all existing rides,’

Did he not get the memo stating that Ardent are not buying any more attractions?

[Slick]

He's a chartered engineer yeah?

[themeparkaddict]

4 hours ago, Archer said:

The new GM of engineering is quoted as saying ‘My focus will be on acquiring new assets and reviewing all existing rides,’

Did he not get the memo stating that Ardent are not buying any more attractions?

I wonder the exact same thing...

[WalleyWorld]

17 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

First day on the job: “this Wipeout thing is a piece of shit. Close it”. 

I thought the same thing. We get news of Dreamworld hiring a new GM of Engineering for the park, and then 1 day later wipeout closes forever. Coincidence?

[Jdude95]

By new assets, he means cages for all of the other rides.

[Slick]

37 minutes ago, Luke said:

I thought the same thing. We get news of Dreamworld hiring a new GM of Engineering for the park, and then 1 day later wipeout closes forever. Coincidence?

FYI he's been there for a few months now - i'd imagine he's just come off probation recently.