Craig Nicholson

Commercial Furniture Specialist | Director & Operations Lead | Delivering Sustainable Solutions for Councils, Schools & Commercial Spaces

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

About

Summary of Skill and knowledge in Areas Mining oil and gas I refining I process plant I fixed plant I fire systems maintenance I AS1851 I Emergency procedures I mechanical maintenance I predictive maintenance I maintenance management I reactive maintenance I system maintenance I mobile plant I hydraulics I pneumatics I pumps gas I steam turbines I Hazardous materials I P&ID's I cost control I customer focus I mechanical trade I Microsoft excel I Microsoft office I I Microsoft word I SAP I Primavera I Lotus Notes I spreadsheets I Prometheus I Quality Assurance I Risk Management I rotating equipment I Petrochemical I Training I Project Control I Strategic Planning I Customer Service I scheduling software I Self driven I procedures Ability to plan and lead individual jobs and team of technicians Analytical Skills in numerical and verbal reasoning SAP Maintenance Planner and Scheduler with extensive experience in petrochemical Provides timely, effective solutions to equipment issues and demonstrates strong mindset of preventative maintenance maintenance planning and scheduling procedures Fire and emergency management procedures and processes. Initiate and monitor actions to rectify faults and implement improvements. Knowledge and experience of safe working principles and practices.

Experience

  • Operations Lead & Director at Park Furniture Australia
    Feb 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 6 mos

    As Operations Lead and Director at Park Furniture Australia, I oversee the strategic direction and daily execution of our manufacturing, supply chain, and project delivery functions. My role combines hands-on leadership with a strong focus on operational efficiency, cost control, and continuous innovation in outdoor and urban furniture solutions. Key responsibilities include: Leading end-to-end operations including procurement, production, logistics, and quality control. Driving supplier negotiations and material sourcing with a focus on sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Managing council tenders and large-scale installations across public, commercial, and educational spaces. Ensuring compliance with safety standards, regulatory requirements, and engineering specifications. Collaborating with sales and design teams to deliver customised, high-quality solutions on time and within budget. Championing continuous improvement initiatives across processes, technology, and customer service. Under my leadership, Park Furniture Australia has expanded its footprint across Queensland, introduced custom-engineered furniture lines, and enhanced its reputation for durable, Australian-made solutions. I take pride in building strong client relationships, fostering a safety-first culture, and delivering projects that shape better public spaces.

  • Ampol Australia (Full-time · 5 yrs 10 mos)
    • Senior Fire & Emergency response coordinator
      Nov 2021 - May 2023 · 1 yr 7 mos

    • Fire & Emergency Systems Specialist
      Aug 2017 - Nov 2021 · 4 yrs 4 mos

      Owned performance monitoring and compliance of fixed, semi-fixed and mobile fire protection and oil spill response systems; developed and maintained test/inspection programs aligned to relevant standards and legislation. Coordinated system testing, inspections and defect rectification through hands-on contractor supervision; built and managed a 5-year rolling performance testing plan and captured capital/budget requirements. Developed and updated operating standards, fire block/pre-fire plans, first-strike oil spill response plans, and emergency procedures to ensure accuracy and readiness. Led emergency drill and exercise planning and execution; delivered refinery fire prevention awareness programs and supported continuous improvement initiatives across emergency preparedness. Delivered interim risk reduction controls during outages (including temporary fire plans) and reported system health status through refinery governance processes. Provided expert technical advice to Project Engineering and Reliability teams on fire protection design basis; contributed to incident investigations (including lead investigator responsibilities where required). Designed and delivered technical training for operators and dedicated response teams; coordinated Incident Management Team training with QFES, AMOSC and other specialist providers; maintained strong working partnerships and mutual aid arrangements with external agencies (e.g., QFRS, MSQ, PoBC, BCC). Managed emergency response equipment stock readiness (foam, hoses, connections, boom and critical spares) to meet credible emergency scenarios and maintained a high state of operational preparedness.

  • Caltex Australia (7 yrs)
    • SAP/Prometheus Maintenance Planner and Scheduler
      Feb 2012 - Aug 2017 · 5 yrs 7 mos

      - SAP - Microsoft Office - Primavera/P6 - Prometheus - Lotus Notes SAP Maintenance Planner and Scheduler with extensive experience in petrochemical, Oil and Gas, hydraulics, rotating equipment, Prometheus scheduling software, maintenance planning and scheduling procedures. Provides timely, effective solutions to equipment issues and demonstrates strong mindset of preventative maintenance, skills in numerical and verbal reasoning. Ability to plan and lead individual jobs and team of technicians, drawing on clear communication and interpersonal skills to relate across all levels. Microsoft office, excel spreadsheets, Knowledge and experience of safe working principles and practices. Strong computer skills in SAP, Microsoft Office and Lotus Notes. Initiate and monitor actions to rectify faults and implement improvements. Versatile and adaptable to change within organizations to meet business needs and strong focus on safety. • Worked collectively with several disciplines and cross-functional teams for scheduled maintenance • Provided costing estimate for work orders • Developed a 2-week rolling schedule with primary focus on a week-to-week plan • Utilized project management skills to define resources required and develop maintenance plans as per set strategies, including major overhauls, inspections, preventative maintenance, trip testing, PSV overhauls & other statutory requirements etc. • Utilise data driven intel to correct details existing in the MMS system and correct if required. • Meets legislative requirements. • Prioritised work timing, with relation to parts availability, priority, resource availability, backlog and major maintenance to develop the weekly plan. • Ensured all relevant documents is given to supervisors and administration requirements is in place for scheduled work, including permits, work packs, shot papers, inspection approvals, PO creation & invoices • Tracking work orders, costs and hours to find solutions for improvement.

    • Refinery Maintenance Fixed & Rotating Equipment Technician
      Sep 2010 - Feb 2012 · 1 yr 6 mos

      Ensured all tasks assigned were carried out as per safety and operating procedures. Planned duties include putting together a 2- weekly plan using SAP, managing work backlog, contacting vendors for spares. • Demonstrated experience with the filling in of JSA’s, work method statements, lift plans and whatever permitting is required to complete the assigned task. • Provide updated feedback to supervisor and planners. • Utilized to ‘buddy’ up with less experienced technicians until they gain experience around the plant. • Demonstrated commitment to achieve an "accident free" environment, and remove all potential risks before, during and when the work is completed. Ensured safety was held with top priority and adhere to all policies and procedures • Led when required to ensure tasks are completed in the most efficient and effective way to meet time/ production deadlines.

  • Service Maintenance & Hydraulic Technician at Hydratorque
    Jul 2007 - Sep 2010 · 3 yrs 3 mos

  • Mechanical Maintenance & construction at Global Power Pacific
    Jan 2008 - Oct 2008 · 10 mos