David Humphries

Services Manager | Kapitol Group | Hyperscale Data Centre Delivery

Langwarrin South, Victoria, Australia

About

Services Manager and critical systems specialist with a technical foundation built from the tools up; A-Grade Electrician, CAPM certified, and currently completing a Bachelor of Industrial Automation Engineering. I've progressed from electrician and control systems technician through leading hand, foreman, and project management on major infrastructure programs. That hands-on background is why I'm regularly called on for buildability advice, program control, and technical oversight across the full project lifecycle. Now leading mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, fire, fuel, CSMS and telecommunications delivery for Australia's largest data centre builder, with responsibility spanning engineering services management, subcontractor coordination, procurement strategy, and commissioning planning across operationally critical, live environments. My background includes large-scale rail and critical infrastructure delivery under major tier-one principals, with deep experience in subcontract commercial management, formal dispute resolution, claims substantiation, and contract administration under AS4000 and bespoke subcontract frameworks. I bring equal effectiveness on-site and in the boardroom, and a track record of evolving technically and commercially at every step of my career.

Experience

  • Services Manager at Kapitol
    May 2026 - Present · 2 mos

    Leading end-to-end mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, fire, fuel, CSMS and telecommunications delivery for Kapitol Group; Australia's largest data centre builder and one of the largest in APAC. Responsible for engineering services management across the full project lifecycle, including design coordination, subcontractor management, procurement strategy, quality compliance, and commissioning planning. Acting as principal technical authority across all services disciplines, advising project leadership on engineering, programming, and compliance matters in a live, operationally critical environment. Key project: NextDC's M3 - Stage 6

  • Kelly Electrical Pty Ltd (Full-time · 2 yrs 3 mos)
    • Project Manager
      Mar 2024 - May 2026 · 2 yrs 3 mos

      Managed a rolling program of 50+ rail and infrastructure projects (>$15M) across live operational, brownfield, and greenfield environments. End-to-end delivery responsibility spanning scope definition, design coordination, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover. Owning forecasting, cost control, variation management, and Tier 1 client relationships at portfolio level. Key projects: Benalla Station, Euroa Station, Flinders St Station, Frankston and Greensborough MLCPs, South Dynon TMF.

    • MEP Advisor - Conexus JV (Secondment)
      Nov 2025 - Feb 2026 · 4 mos

      Seconded from Kelly Electrical to support the Conexus JV bid for SRL Stations Work Package E, covering station builds at Cheltenham, Clayton, and Monash. Contributed OCS and electrical expertise across reference design review, critical room optioneering, BWIC advice, temporary power strategy, commissioning program optimisation, and long lead time identification. Also provided input into TAN development and interfacing party risk identification.

  • Metro Trains Melbourne (Full-time · 1 yr 9 mos)
    • OCS Interface Lead - WPA
      Jul 2022 - Mar 2024 · 1 yr 9 mos

    • OCS Project Manager - WPA (Secondment)
      Nov 2022 - Oct 2023 · 1 yr

      Delivered $12.5M+ of electrical, OCS, ticketing, vertical transport, and signage scopes as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project. Managed concurrent station projects from design review through commissioning and handover, with full ownership of forecasting, budget tracking, variation management, and HSE outcomes. Key projects: North Williamstown, Deer Park, Narre Warren, Hoppers Crossing stations.

  • Foreman (Rail OCS) at Q4 Electrical and Communications
    Oct 2020 - Jul 2022 · 1 yr 10 mos

    Led planning and installation of LV, OCS, and ICT systems across rail and infrastructure projects in complex brownfield and live-network environments. Managed labour, subcontractors, and procurement to meet aggressive delivery milestones. Key projects: Mooroolbark MLCP, Bonbeach Station, Sandown Carpark, REFCL substations.

  • Electrician (Rail OCS) at Stowe Australia
    Aug 2018 - Jul 2020 · 2 yrs

    Installed complex LV and ELV systems across high-profile government and private sector projects including data centres, defence facilities, and transport assets. Delivered high-reliability electrical and communications infrastructure under stringent quality and security requirements. Key projects: Victorian Law Courts, Frankston, Glenroy and Seymour stations, HMAS Cerberus, AirTrunk MEL1 (data centre).