Meet the team | Brian Graham

“You’re never too old to learn something new. At 60, I didn’t see any obstacles, only the possibility that other people’s bias might hold me back. Anything you want, you’ve got to work for it.”

With a clear Scottish accent and an infectious energy, 65-year-old Brian Graham is the oldest apprentice working on the Snowy 2.0 project. Born in Stenhousemuir, Scotland, Brian moved to Australia in 1988, the year of the Bicentenary, for a six-month role as a patternmaker.

He went on to work at Mitsubishi in Adelaide for a decade, engineering high-precision patterns. During this time, he also spent two years designing tooling for the 3.5L V6 engine used in the Mitsubishi Pajero.

After this, Brian and his family returned to the UK for 14 months. There, he worked at CA Models doing rapid prototyping for major clients like Dyson, NEC, and National Cash Registers. He learned to operate CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines, building prototype components before companies invested in tooling.

Then it was time to come back to Australia - Brian and his family moved to Queensland, where he worked in research and development for the boat-building industry. He spent 15 years with leading companies Riviera and Maritimo, helping produce full-scale wooden boat models used for fibreglass moulding and production.

In 2015, Brian returned to Scotland briefly, but before leaving, he met his now-wife Judy. They married in the Blue Mountains in 2018 and eventually settled in Sydney, where Judy worked in construction as a safety admin and document controller. When she secured a role on the Snowy 2.0 project, the couple relocated to Cooma.

Brian recalls meeting an older man in Edinburgh who had worked as an electrical engineer on the original Snowy project and spoke of it with great pride, something that stayed with Brian.

With no foundry work in Cooma, Brian enrolled in a four-week pre-construction course at Cooma TAFE. Soon after, he joined NX Blue as a mechanical TA during the segment factory construction. Hearing about electrical apprenticeships at Future Generation Joint Venture, Brian approached the team to ask about joining, despite being 60 at the time. Having the numbers already filled on the electrical side of the team, Brian continued with his mechanical TA course.

But undeterred, he kept in touch with the team so they could let him know if any new roles were to come up.

During the COVID period, Brian began an Electrotechnology course at TAFE, a stepping stone toward an apprenticeship. Physics had been his favourite subject in school.

Fernando, the electrical engineer at Polo, knew of Brian’s persistence. When a first-year apprenticeship became available, he offered the opportunity to Brian and so began his journey as an apprentice electrician.

Reflecting on his role, Brian said: “The training is great. I love my job and the team I work with. The electricians on site have been incredibly supportive. I’m grateful every day, this is an iconic Australian project.”

Now living in Tumbarumba with Judy on a two-acre property, Brian keeps busy with renovations, chooks, a vegetable garden, and beekeeping. With five grandchildren in Australia and more in Scotland, life is full.

Brian is driven by curiosity, not limitations. He sees possibilities where others might see barriers, and his journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to take on something new.

We’re proud to have Brian Graham as part of the Snowy 2.0 team.