James Avery
James Avery started at Birdon in February 2012 as an apprentice, working on the tools in the shipyard. He started with Birdon to learn a trade and get hands-on experience, and over time that turned into something bigger. What’s kept him at Birdon for more than a decade is pretty simple, he likes seeing work through, from start to finish.
Over the years, James worked his way from apprentice to tradesperson, then into leading hand roles, fabrication supervision and now Production Manager, overseeing all aluminium production in the Port Macquarie shipyard.
A typical day for James is split between the workshop and the office. He works closely with engineers, project managers, procurement and the leading hands to make sure the drawings make sense, materials turn up when they should, and the work can actually be done the way it’s planned. He’s also across quality and scheduling, helping solve issues as they pop up – which they usually do.
What he enjoys most is the variety. He doesn’t want to be stuck behind a desk all day, and this role lets him stay connected to the floor while still being involved in planning and coordination. Seeing a job finished; whether that’s a vessel, a pontoon or a major structure, is the most rewarding part. Especially when he later sees something he worked on operating in Sydney Harbour or heading down the river.
James has worked across many of Birdon’s key projects over the years, with more recent work including Young Endeavour II and the AV-L program. These are complex, high-profile builds that require close coordination between engineering, production and quality and they’ve added another layer of responsibility to his role. Being involved in projects of this scale, and helping take them from design through to build, is something he takes real pride in.
Other projects include the Fort Denison pontoon, NSW Port Authority Firefighting Vessels and the Australian Army’s Regional Patrol Craft program.
For James, “making it happen the Birdon way” means not walking away from a problem. If something clashes, runs late or doesn’t make sense, the job is to find a way through it, not just say it can’t be done. That might mean re-sequencing work, changing how things are tackled, or putting in extra effort when deadlines matter.
Having come up through the trade, James leads in a straightforward way. He backs his team, expects people to do their part, and takes responsibility for making sure the work meets the standard Birdon is known for.
