AAPA member profile

CEO AND FOUNDER OF SYNERGY GROUP AAPA MEMBER PROFILE: MIKE MILNE

Q. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE AND WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE? A. I am the CEO and founder of Synergy PaveSmart, a specialist technology and surveying business focused on automated construction and surveying of roads, airport runways, geospatial CAD design and high -speed measurement of asphalt pavements. We have sought to bring together the old and the new through highly experienced and traditional industry professionals and the latest technologies.

Q. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN AAPA MEMBER? A. I remember with great clarity my first participation in AAPA. It was nearly 20 years ago where I attended my first BiAnnual AAPA conference on Queensland’s Gold Coast. My new company Synergy had a small exhibit of our asphalt paving technology and surveying services. I had the pleasure of meeting with many colleagues and industry professionals from all over Australia, New Zealand and around the world. I enjoyed being immersed in the common language of our industry and was very kindly given the opportunity to make a presentation on some of our technology.

Q. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? A. Our clients, our people and technology are the best things about our business. Our business model is to provide onsite surveying and automation support, consultancy services, quality analysis and CAD design services to the asphalt paving, road making and infrastructure industries. We live for the challenge of assisting our clients with technically complex and stringent conformance specifications through our range of advanced measurement and automation technologies and our great depth of practical industry experience. Our goal is to deliver a service that provides

Mike Milne says now is a time for courage and to reach out to those most affected.

for simple and efficient processes giving the best possible result and protecting the financial integrity of our clients large and often challenging infrastructure projects.

Q. WHAT IS A RECENT CHANGE YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY AND HOW ARE YOU/THE COMPANY PREPARED FOR THAT? A. After my first AAPA conference nearly 20 years ago I remember returning to Brisbane feeling very happy and satisfied with my week, networking with like-minded colleagues from Australia, New Zealand and all around the world. However, in an instant everything changed. The date was 9.11.2001, and the world was never quite the same. Yet again nearly 20 years later we find ourselves thrust into another significant global challenge with COVID-19. As our scientists, health professionals and governments guide us at this critical time, it’s important to acknowledge and thank the dedicated professionals who are placing service above self during this crisis. As in 9/11 and at other times in the past, the infrastructure industry is ready to do its part to help and assist in kick-starting the economy to help ensure financial stability upon which we all rely. This is a time of great uncertainty but also a time for courage and for us to reach out to the most affected.

Q. WHAT INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENTS DO YOU THINK WILL PLAY A STRONG PART IN THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION? A. Over the years and in common with other industries, technology has played an increasing role in attempting to fill the gap between conformance and the need for ever-increasing productivity and maintaining financial viability. Technology is critical but it’s also important to understand that technology merely for its own sake will not always improve business processes. You need a proper business model and associated competency. So while things have changed and technology has presented great advantages to our world, it has also made it more complex and it needs to be used in the right way with the right personnel to make it beneficial.

Q. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN THE FUTURE? A. Our business has recently invested in the US market with on-going projects in Kentucky, Colorado and Florida. We are also expanding our range of services here in Australia to include high speed road surface analysis and road design. Our future plan is to continue to innovate and to grow. However, I still see the key to future success fundamentally the same now at it has always been, that is the benefit of working together with our clients what we call the Synergy effect, sticking to our core competencies, doing things well, doing them efficiently. This difficult time in human history will pass and without a doubt these basic fundamentals of success together with the help from technology will see us recover and be stronger in the future.