Name and role: Joel Barnes – project engineer.

How long have you been with RVA Group?

One and a half years.

Describe your career journey before that:

I started as a process engineer, specialising in power station desulphurisation plants, before moving into power station maintenance management and projects.

What did you want to be, when you were younger?

I always assumed I’d be a farmer.

And what do you think is the key skill you need to be a successful project engineer?

Probably drive – don’t leave the tricky issues until last!

What’s your biggest RVA achievement to date?

There were some one-off projects in the bulk de-inventory stage at my current site that I think I managed quite well.

And the most memorable thing you’ve learnt during your career?

When I was starting out, an older colleague got me into the habit of keeping good records in a diary. It’s proved invaluable on quite a few occasions (thanks Jeff!).

Describe your dream project:

I’d quite like to drop a power station.

RVA Group is celebrating 30 years in business, with a truly global reputation for decommissioning excellence. Why do you think the company has earned such a stand-out position in industry?

RVA is good at hiring great people. Our project management system that’s been developed over the years, with productive ways of sharing learnings, has provided a solid basis throughout this time too.

Of all the sectors RVA operates in, which is the most exciting right now?

I think there will be some good opportunities within petrochem and power generation, not least as companies look to cut their carbon emissions.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you could give to an organisation preparing for a decommissioning project?

Get the right team in place!

What makes you tick outside of work?

Family stuff with Clare, my wife, and the kids. I also like a good book.

If you could be given a plane ticket for any location, where would you choose?

I’d like to go somewhere really cold. Iceland or Finland, maybe?

Which one word would you hope colleagues would use to describe you?

Moderate.