It’s that time of year again when business leaders from ATC Williams gather to collaborate, network, and build strong relationships. This year, sixty-two of our principals, technical leaders, board members, and managers braved Victoria’s cold to enjoy an action-packed retreat at the beautiful RACV Resort in Cape Schanck from 22 – 25 May.
“Every year, our Leadership Retreat has a different purpose. It is a time of the year when we get to work ‘on’ the business and not ‘in’ the business. It’s a time where we take off the hats that represent our roles in ATCW and come together as a collective of leaders.”
– Darren Watt, CEO
Welcome dinner at Leadership Retreat, Cape Schanck.
WELCOMING NEW LEADERS
As a proudly employee-owned company, ATC Williams remains guided by a principal-led model. Our principals play a vital role as influencers and role models, both individually and collectively. As leaders, they are actively involved in delivering projects, mentoring teams, and shaping business direction.
This year, we welcomed nine new Principals along with our incoming Chief Technical Officer, Kim Morrison.
In keeping with our annual tradition, each Principal had five minutes to introduce themselves, share their stories, and discuss their passions. We gained a few surprising insights with backgrounds ranging from professional poker players to former Bunnings advertisement stars!
Introducing our newest leaders.
- Andrew Fyans, Melbourne
- Charlie Strick van Linschoten, Brisbane
- Dale Ross, Melbourne
- Fook Chi Soo, Melbourne
- Kim Morrison, Melbourne
- Krystle Nichols, Brisbane
- Luisa Luengas, Melbourne
- Michael Munro, Melbourne
- Nima Salimi, Newcastle
- Rachael Carolan, Melbourne
EVOLVING EXCELLENCE – THEMES FOR 2025
This year’s retreat centred around two key themes:
Client Relationship Excellence and Evolving Our Technical Communities.
CLIENT RELATIONSHIP EXCELLENCE
On day one, we engaged in scenario planning and client journey mapping, explored what sets ATCW apart from the competition and developed winning pitches.
Holly Jenkinson, Marketing Manager, and Glenn Platt, Business Manager, led a fun team-building exercise that involved constructing structures with marshmallows and spaghetti.
This was a great pivot into what makes a strong client relationship. In today’s competitive environment, we know that clients expect more from us than technical deliverables. Trust and understanding are equally valuable.
Therefore, our discussions highlighted the importance of being client-focused and illustrated how Marketing, Business Development, and Client Relationship Management all play vital roles in achieving this goal.
Key Takeaways
- To Improve Client Relationship Management (CRM)
By investing in systems and strategies to understand client needs, track engagement and close the loop on feedback. - Enhance Our Visibility
From LinkedIn to conference speaking, we’re stepping up our efforts to share insights, tell project stories, and showcase the value we bring. We’re committed to sharing more technical knowledge, insights, and lessons learned from over forty years in the field. - Building a Client-Centric Culture
One of the strongest outcomes of the retreat was the alignment around a unifying goal: to foster a culture of client-centric ownership across every level of the business.
EVOLVING OUR TECHNICAL COMMUNITIES FOR A STRONGER FUTURE
– Nurturing Our People and Our Purpose
On day two, Kim Morrison, CTO, led the activities, focusing deeply on how we can evolve our technical services to position the company for success in an ever-changing landscape.
Our discussions were guided by the CARE Promise values—Commitment, Agility, Respect, and Excellence.
The pace of change in our industry—driven by disruptive technologies, shifting client expectations, and the need for stronger technical consistency—means we must continually adapt. Our technical communities are at the heart of how we deliver value, share knowledge, and build capability. Strengthening them is key to building “One ATCW.”
Key Themes from the Meeting:
- Standardised Technical Approaches
We discussed the importance of standardising our technical approaches to improve consistency and quality across the business. - Rethinking our technical community structures
To support more flexible, collaborative, and high-performing technical teams. - Strengthening our technical leadership profile
To demonstrate the technical excellence we have within ATCW. - Embracing disruption and innovation
To improve value for our clients, plan for potential risks and barriers, and innovate while staying true to our engineering roots. This demonstrates our agility and commitment to providing sustainable solutions for our clients.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026
“The collaboration, learning, and strategic thinking that emerged over these two days will undoubtedly impact how we serve our clients and grow as leaders.”
– Kim Morrison, CTO
Our path forward is clear: we will continue to invest in our people, challenge ourselves to deliver greater value for our clients, and remain a trusted partner in tailings, water, and waste management solutions. We are especially excited about the upcoming initiatives under the guidance of Kim Morrison, CTO, who will lead the evolution of our technical communities and innovation strategies.