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Walter Schweiger is BAI’s National Operations Control Centre Manager for critical communications. With over 38 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, he has a wealth of expertise, having worked previously with Telecom/Telstra, Ericsson, Vodafone, Nokia, and Optus before joining BAI in January 2021.

Walter is based at our Sydney Olympic Park office, where he leads a team responsible for the 24/7 operations of the Public Safety Network (PSN) and Paging network. The PSN is a critical radio network used by frontline emergency services, government agencies, and essential services in Australia to communicate during natural disasters and other emergency situations.

Walter is passionate about supporting communities across Australia and takes pride in knowing that he and his team make a difference. His favourite part of the workday is interacting with his team, the wider BAI teams, our customers, and he enjoys that no two days are the same.

At BAI, Walter has expanded his knowledge and developed skills operating our critical infrastructure, and he believes BAI is reimagining connectivity and building the networks of the future, which are essential for keeping families, friends, and communities connected, informed, entertained and safe.

Walter is proud to use his experience to improve BAI’s systems and advance processes and operations to improve our services for customers and audiences every day.

Located in Brisbane, Jenny Cook’s main responsibilities include managing workplace and enterprise applications, as well as delivery functions in IT. This means she is responsible for the day to day running of many of the tools and applications we use, and she also develops the delivery processes for IT projects and enhancements.

Before joining BAI’s Australian business, Jenny was part of BAI’s Group IT team. Her passion for technology is inspiring everyone around her and she loves using it to empower people. Jenny believes that the best way to solve a problem, is to look at it from different perspectives and that is why she enjoys working with her team so much.

Every day she looks forward to catching up with her team and hearing about all the amazing projects they are working on. She has learned a lot during her time at BAI, having been involved in a wide variety of projects across all areas of the business, honing her technical expertise, time management, prioritisation, and focus skills.

Last year, Jenny introduced a wellbeing app to her former team, which encourages wellness challenges, such as steps, yoga, team races, and meditation. She is passionate about building a great team culture at BAI and is planning to introduce the wellbeing app to the Australian IT team.

Proud of the work we do at BAI and how we connect people across the country, Jenny considers herself and her team an important part of building reliable, safe, and secure networks of the future.

Jenny’s enthusiasm and commitment to her work make her an asset to BAI. Her focus on teamwork and her dedication to empowering people through technology will undoubtedly continue to benefit our organisation and in extension the communities we serve.

With a remarkable 12-year journey within our organisation, it is Mitch McNeilly’s dedication and expertise that have allowed him to progress from starting as an apprentice in 2011 to team leader, heading up a team of eight technicians, in the Newcastle area.

Based at the Beresfield district maintenance base, as team leader, Mitch played a pivotal role in planning and scheduling routine maintenance activities for both the New South Wales Public Safety Network (NSW PSN) and our broadcast operations. To him, working at BAI, especially in NSW, matters because the PSN supports emergency services across the state by ensuring they have a reliable radio network for critical communication.

In this role he was also a go-to person for handling complex resolutions and oversees the day-to-day operations of sites spanning from Lightning Ridge, Bourke, and Cobar in the West to Coffs Harbour in the North.

Throughout his time at BAI, Mitch has honed his skills and developed extensive expertise in AM and FM radio, digital television, and P25 radio transmission systems. Our commitment to fostering growth and providing opportunities for professional development has empowered Mitch to become a true industry expert. Most recently, Mitch was appointed technical trainer, which is testament to his expertise.

Mitch’s greatest passion lies in finding innovative and efficient ways to enhance our network. He always seeks opportunities to maximize his team’s potential, allowing BAI to improve our performance, ultimately reducing downtime, and providing seamless experiences for our customers and communities across Australia. He also enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience, and it’s this commitment to nurturing new talent within BAI that sets our teams apart.

Meet Vaish Dwarakanath, our talented Bid Manager. With a background in telecommunications and project engineering, Vaish brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her responsibilities include developing winning bid strategies, crafting high-quality proposals, assessing risks, negotiating contracts, and driving continuous improvements.

Passionate about crafting comprehensive proposals tailored to client requirements, Vaish thrives on overcoming challenges and meeting deadlines. Witnessing the transformation of a proposal from an opportunity to success is a major driving force for her. Collaborating with diverse stakeholders to create high-quality proposals is both challenging and fulfilling, making it an exciting aspect of Vaish’s work. Her innovative contributions have streamlined the bid management process, resulting in improved efficiency and effectiveness.

During her time at BAI, Vaish has honed her skills in various domains, such as telecommunications, Wi-Fi, broadcast, and government grants. Actively engaging in contract management and commercial arrangements has played a pivotal role in her learning journey, enabling her to develop a solid understanding and foundation in these areas.

At BAI, we believe in building networks of the future, and Vaish shares our passion for this mission. These networks empower individuals, drive innovation, support critical infrastructure, and bridge digital divides.

About working at BAI, she says: “The people at BAI have fostered a supportive and friendly working environment, making it a pleasure to be part of the team. The flexibility and seamless collaboration with colleagues add an exciting and fulfilling aspect to my work experience.”

Michelle Casson’s journey with BAI started in September 2008, as a part time Administration Assistant at the Newcastle District Maintenance Base. Today, she proudly holds the role of Service Support Manager, which she assumed permanently in June 2022 after acting in the same capacity.

Based in Newcastle, NSW, Michelle oversees a team of eight. As the national service support lead, she spearheads strategic initiatives and projects, ensuring operational excellence and championing the transition to more efficient service support functions.

Michelle’s passion lies in simplification. She is dedicated to finding innovative ways to streamline tasks, empowering her team to redirect their efforts towards projects that harness their strengths. Her commitment to making her colleagues’ jobs more manageable is evident in every aspect of her work.

Some of Michelle’s favourite moments are at the start of each workday. Stepping into the office, she looks forward to her tasks, whether it’s arranging accommodations for early-morning technicians or expediting crucial job components.

Michelle’s journey at BAI has been one of growth and empowerment. Her leadership skills have flourished, and her industry knowledge has expanded exponentially. From navigating the complexities of the broadcast sector to becoming well-versed in health and safety protocols, Michelle’s evolution over her fifteen-year tenure is a testament to her dedication.

When envisioning a visit to one of our sites, Michelle’s choice is the awe-inspiring Mount Bellenden Ker site in Far North Queensland. She would love to take a ride on the cable car to the peak, taking in breathtaking views despite its reputation as Australia’s wettest location.

Ahmad Bazzari, an exceptional Presales Engineer within BAI’s telecommunications engineering team, joined BAI in mid-2022. He brings more than 15 years industry experience from roles with small system integrators to global research and development giants.

For Ahmad, BAI’s mission to build networks of the future is of paramount importance. With a deep-seated passion for telecommunications, he has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of modern communication networks, from enhancing critical communications in remote areas to bringing near-real-time entertainment to a broader audience. His vision includes a world where remote critical surgeries become routine, thanks to reliable and robust networks.

One of his focus areas is exploring how we address connectivity challenges within buildings, no matter the size or construction complexity – as he knows that each building has a unique character and its own engineering demands.

Ahmad is fuelled by the opportunity to work with various stakeholders from a diverse range of backgrounds, to collectively enrich people’s experiences through improved connectivity.

BAI’s fundamental principles, of being courageous and doing what matters resonate strongly with Ahmad. He believes they foster trust and respect within the team and among customers. Continuous improvement is at the heart of BAI’s culture, and it’s also a core driver for Ahmad.

So, how is BAI ‘reimagining connectivity’? According to Ahmad, it’s all about embracing boldness and tackling the most challenging and complex connectivity issues head-on. BAI pushes boundaries and expectations, aiming to bridge the gap between network owners and end-users in a win-win scenario. Ahmad Bazzari is a testament to our commitment to shaping the future of connectivity in Australia, one innovative solution at a time.

Based in South Queensland, Kate Goodridge covers a sprawling region from Bundaberg to Grafton and all the way to the South Australian border. Since joining in January 2023, she has been an integral part of our team, pursuing a four-year apprenticeship that blends a TAFE Certificate III in Electronics and Communications with hands-on experience within our Service Integrity Unit (SIU) team.

Kate’s passion for electronics and her unyielding determination to learn and improve shine through in every aspect of her work, and her vibrant personality adds a touch of pink to her dedicated workspace.

Kate’s main responsibilities involve two primary paths: completing her TAFE course to develop fundamental understandings of electronics and working alongside our fully qualified technicians in the field. Her TAFE coursework emphasises foundational principles, cultivating a deep understanding that enhances her problem-solving skills as she encounters increasingly complex circuits.

Working alongside the SIU team, Kate actively applies her theoretical knowledge to practical situations during routine maintenance visits and rapid responses to incidents.

With a love of problem-solving, Kate relishes the lateral thinking required during call outs. She appreciates the diversity of paths available in our industry and is eager to continue learning and exploring her career trajectory.

Working as a broadcast technician at BAI holds significance in addition to the provision of radio and TV. Kate highlights the vital role we play in maintaining emergency broadcast systems, particularly during crises, where our efforts can make a life-saving difference.

Kate is also making her mark as one of the few women in the SIU field team, bringing a fresh perspective and youthful energy. Beyond her fieldwork, she is actively involved in developing and improving our apprenticeship program, collaborating with the National SIU management team and the People and Culture team to create a structured learning and teaching guide.

This guide aims to provide a solid foundation and direction for apprentices to complete their requirements for the Certificate III in Electronics and Communications, while also offering mentors effective tools for teaching and assessment.

As we strive to reimagine and advance connectivity in Australia, Kate’s innovative contributions extend beyond her fieldwork. Her dedication to enhancing the learning experiences of apprentices and mentors aligns perfectly with our commitment to building networks of the future. We’re proud to support Kate in her journey and look forward to seeing her continue to thrive as a valuable member of the BAI Communications team.