Brendan has always loved the ocean. Growing up in Ocean Reef, WA, Brendan’s weekends were spent fishing, surfing, and exploring the coast often from sunrise to sunset.

“It’s in my DNA,” he says. “I’d wake up early, jump on my bike and spend the whole day at the marina fishing.”

That early love for the water led Brendan to his first job at 14, helping out on a fishing boat. His passion continued through high school, where he joined the Navy Cadets, an experience that evolved into a lifelong career. Brendan spent 13 years in remote Shark Bay, working his way from deckhand to commercial skipper, earning his marine engineering degree through Australian Maritime College (AMC) and acquiring multiple maritime qualifications including a Master 5 and Marine Engine Driver (MED) 2. “I was motivated,” he says. “I paid for it myself, studied after work, and made it happen.”

After years on fishing charter boats, being a Captain for hire on private vessels, a fleet manager responsible for the survey specifications of eight boats, and teaching and administering commercial marine licensing courses, Brendan found himself drawn to something more structured. A chance encounter with a Ventia employee during a training course led to a phone call, an interview, and ultimately, a role that Brendan describes as “one big adventure.”

Today, Brendan is a Navigational Aid Technician working on the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) contract which Ventia has held for 30 years maintaining WA’s coastal infrastructure. In Brendan’s role he’s responsible for maintaining critical marine infrastructure across Western Australia from Esperance to the Kimberley. His work includes servicing unmanned lighthouses, solar-powered navigation aids, and collaborating with DTMI on their wave rider buoys used for ocean and wildlife tracking.

Whether it’s flying by helicopter to offshore islands or encountering sea lions guarding jetties, Brendan’s days are anything but ordinary. “I’ve had all manner of sea life approach the boat as we service navigation aids,” he laughs.  “It’s wild, but it’s what I love.”

When asked what makes Ventia special for Brendan? “It’s the people and the comradery,” he says.

Outside of work, Brendan’s passion for the water continues and these days, it’s often shared with his young daughter. “She loves the beach and the boat. I’m definitely trying to pass it on.”

For Brendan, Ventia isn’t just a workplace, it’s the perfect intersection of his passion, adventure, and purpose.