Introducing Joe Glanville, Mainmark’s new general manager in ANZresin injection technology

You’ve worked at Mainmark for many years. Can you describe your career journey so far?

Prior to Mainmark, I worked in the commercial construction sector for approximately 15 years, completing a Bachelor of Construction and then a Master of Project Management at the University of Technology, Sydney. I was introduced to Mainmark through a colleague and I remember at the time being intrigued by its unique resin injection product offering (which was Uretek at the time).

I began working with Mainmark as commercial manager seven and a half years ago. In this role I worked closely with senior management, helping to drive key business initiatives which led to my appointment as head of operations a few years later. Earlier this month I was appointed to the position of general manager for the ANZ region.

As Mainmark’s new general manager for Australia and New Zealand, what do you hope to achieve?

In the seven years I’ve worked for Mainmark, I’ve had an opportunity to watch it grow considerably. For the last five years, we’ve been very focused on reaching the objectives set out in our 2020 Vision, strategic plan. Now we’ve reached the end of this business plan cycle, Mainmark is at a really interesting point in its journey, having matured as an organisation. I’m looking forward to taking the business into its next growth stage and helping to further develop our people, technologies, systems and processes.

What are your thoughts on the ground engineering industry today?

When I first started at Mainmark (or Uretek as it was known back then), resin injection, was the company’s bread and butter; we had only just started working on a few JOG Computer-Controlled Grouting projects in New Zealand. Now we have a very diverse range of ground engineering and asset preservation solutions and we work across many industries including commercial, residential, civil infrastructure and mining.

Today, Mainmark’s Teretek^® resin injection solution has evolved and is being used in new and innovative ways. And our Terefirm^® Resin Injection technique, which was originally developed in New Zealand as a ground improvement solution to help mitigate earthquake liquefaction, is also proving to be a very successful non-invasive ground improvement technology, with broader applications outside of the New Zealand seismic upgrade market.

The huge focus on infrastructure along the East Coast of Australia provides Mainmark with some unique ground engineering opportunities, most notably the tunnelling boom in Sydney which has also allowed us to develop a significant capability in providing specialist water control, linings, coatings and concrete remediation solutions.

These advancements in our new and existing technologies, and the different applications across all sectors, is really gaining momentum and is an exciting development for the business.

How are you and the Mainmark team working through the challenges facing the industry at this present time?

There is no doubt that the current pandemic is challenging but luckily Mainmark has a diverse range of solutions and technologies which are assisting us through these troubling times.

As a business that shares resourcing across Australia and New Zealand, border closures has been one of our biggest challenges and we’ve had to bring a number of staff back home. We were busy before the COVID-19 shutdown, so managing resourcing has been tricky and we’re monitoring this on a day-to-day basis.

The COVID-19 economic stimulus from local, state and federal governments has also opened up new opportunities for Mainmark. Teretek^®, our proprietary resin injection solution, doesn’t just service the residential market; along with our other technologies, we also work with major road authorities, the commercial and industrial construction sector and the mining industry.

We recognise that Mainmark is extremely lucky compared to some business sectors that have been hit hard. The pandemic is forcing many businesses to rethink their approach and we are also looking at ways to stay ahead through innovation and improvements to our processes.

What do you enjoy most about working for Mainmark?

There are many things I enjoy about working for Mainmark but its people are definitely number one; we are very lucky to have such a great team of people. I enjoy working with Mainmark’s unique products and admire the company’s commitment to research and development. I also like the diversity of work as I’m rarely doing the same thing; there’s always a new challenge around the corner.

What does a typical day look like for you? How to you plan your day?

With three children aged 3, 5 and 7 years, I’m always woken up early by one of them!  But I’m a morning person and usually get into the office around 7am. I like to use the quiet time to set myself up for the day, catch up on emails and power through some work. Once the day kicks in, like the rest of the world at the moment, it’s currently usually a series of Zoom and MS Teams meeting as travel is restricted.

What do you enjoy doing in your downtime, do you have any special interests or hobbies?

Running is something I really enjoy and it’s a great way to release stress. But a lot of my time is spent with my family as three kids definitely keep me busy. When I’m not taking my kids to sport, the playground or a birthday party, I enjoy catching up with friends and family. And when I have some downtime, I also love cooking.