Promotion Spotlight: Meet Civiltest's New Perth Branch Lab Manager

At Civiltest, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Providing opportunities for career growth and professional development is a key part of who we are, and we're proud to celebrate the promotion of our new Perth Branch Lab Manager – James Cameron.

Having joined Civiltest three years ago, James’s career has taken him across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, from remote site laboratories to establishing new operations and now leading our Perth laboratory.

We recently sat down with James to learn more about his journey, leadership philosophy and what's next.

Congratulations on your promotion! Can you tell us about your new role?

"I'll be leading our Perth laboratory, overseeing multiple projects for a range of clients and supporting the day-to-day operations of the branch. It's a much broader operational role than my previous position, and every day brings something different."

What excites you most about stepping into this role?

"The challenge. You're constantly thinking on your feet, managing multiple priorities and working with different people. No two days are the same, and that's what I enjoy."

You've been with Civiltest for three years. What has your journey looked like?

"It's been a bit of a rollercoaster - in the best way. I started at Onslow before managing a second annex, then had the opportunity to help establish our Darwin branch. Darwin taught me a lot about operations, leadership and backing myself to solve problems."

What contributed most to your promotion?

"Hard work, dedication and gaining experience across a wide variety of projects and locations."

How would you describe your leadership style?

"Lead by example. I won't ask someone to do something I wouldn't do myself. Good communication and understanding that everyone works differently are really important."

Best Career Advice?

"Start at the bottom and work your way up. Don't expect something for nothing."

What do you enjoy most about working at Civiltest?

"The team culture and the support. You get to work closely with senior management, and there are genuine opportunities to develop your career."

Looking Ahead

What are your priorities over the next 6–12 months?

"Growing the workload, building stronger client relationships, increasing lab productivity and continuing to build a great team."

Getting to Know You

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

"I love to travel and experience new places whenever I can."

If you weren't working in this industry, what would you be doing?

"I'd probably be plumbing—I'm actually a qualified plumber by trade."

What's one fun fact your colleagues might not know about you?

"I used to be a drummer!"

Quick Fire Questions

Favourite Test: Field Testing

Coffee or Tea? Coffee

Early Bird or Night Owl? Early Bird

Site Work or Office? Site work

Favourite Project: Pacific Highway

Best Part of the Workday? Getting in early and being prepared for the day ahead.

One Word Your Team Would Use to Describe You: Passionate

Favourite Way to Unwind: Cooking

Congratulations!

Congratulations once again on your well-deserved promotion. Your journey is a great example of the career opportunities available at Civiltest, and we're excited to see you lead our Perth Laboratory into its next chapter.

We look forward to seeing your continued success and the positive impact you'll make in your new role.