Bernard Madden

Cable Installation & Protection Lead, Nalcor Energy

Bernard Madden was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where he completed his engineering degree at Memorial University in 2008. Through internships, Bernard initially developed an interest in the construction industry; however, he found his niche in the energy industry through reservoir, marine installation and project engineering positions stationed in Calgary, Houston and St. John’s.

Upon graduation, Bernard was approached by Husky Energy with an exciting opportunity to be part of the installation team for the North Amethyst Tie-back, allowing for an accelerated learning curve in a two-year position.

Due to his successful tenure with Husky Energy, Bernard subsequently accepted a position with Nalcor Energy on the Lower Churchill Project Marine Crossing Team (MCT) as a Marine Installation Engineer. The MCT has been mandated to install three power cables across the Strait of Belle Isle and serve as due diligence for the Cabot Strait power cable installation. Bernard has since been promoted twice to a project engineering role and to his current position as cable installation and protection lead, consulting through his business Madden Solutions Limited, which he formed in 2011.

Bernard has also recently undertaken another business venture with an engineering partner to launch a recruiting agency company—Nexus Energy Inc. The idea is to provide a fresh look and more of a personal composition to the recruiting market.

Bernard enjoys traveling the world with his fiancée and is appreciative that his position with Husky and Nalcor has also allowed for travel experiences in other Canadian provinces, the U.S. and Europe.

Bernard is an avid sports enthusiast and spends the majority of his leisure time participating in basketball, football and baseball leagues, where he is an annual participant in the Canadian Senior Baseball Nationals.

We asked Bernard:

The OGM: What does sustainability mean to you?

Bernard: Sustainability in the energy sector should reflect a continuous effort to develop and re-invest in renewable resources and technologies, thereby converting non-renewable resources into a sustainable future.

On a personal level, I believe that sustainability is bred through the promotion of higher education in all disciplines, resulting in the necessary knowledge base for a long-term self-sufficiency.

The OGM: Have you had a mentor?

Bernard: I have had several positive influences throughout my life and believe that you must take as much as possible from your experiences and knowledge to avail all of your full potential. My parents have provided me with the tools to be a successful addition to any team and have lead by example with their hard work. To date, I have been very fortunate to have managers that have motivated me to be independent while still providing me with the much needed guidance to learn from their experience and allow me to contribute at the highest level.

The OGM: What does success mean to you?

Bernard: Success is measured by happiness. If your career brings you joy and you are passionate about it, then you are successful.

The OGM: If you were to describe your career in three words what would they be?

Bernard: Exciting, unpredictable, and demanding.

The OGM: What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in the Energy Industry?

Bernard: In order to learn and develop your skills quickly, you must challenge yourself and approach unfamiliar and difficult tasks with confidence. In my opinion, project positions compared to operation positions provide fast-paced learning opportunities for young professionals.

The OGM: Describe a milestone in your career?

Bernard: I managed a marine-vessel data-acquisition program in the fall of 2010. It was the first major project that I was asked to run independently, which gave me confidence going forward to successfully lead future projects.

The OGM: Describe a challenge you faced in your career?

Bernard: One of the challenges I faced was the ability to gain the respect and confidence from industry experts.

The OGM: What impact does Technology have on your career?

Bernard: Technology has provided me with immediate accessibility to worldwide communication and information. Daily state-of-the-art advancements in marine and subsea technology allow for more effective solutions.

The OGM: What do the next 5 years look like in your career?

Bernard: The Lower Churchill Project including the Marine Crossings will be completed in 2016, and, therefore, I envision myself consulting for Nalcor Energy for the next several years unless another great opportunity/challenge presents itself. Following the Lower Churchill Project, I would like to take a position with an installation contractor overseas to further develop my knowledge base.

I would also like to see our recruiting company Nexus Energy Inc. successfully expand its employee and company database with the overall objective to recruit valuable qualified employees in this dynamic industry.

The OGM: Were you always interested in a career in Energy?

Bernard: My career in the energy industry solidified during my internship with Petro-Canada, where I was involved in a mooring chain remediation project. This position gave me the opportunity to gain valuable insight into many intricacies of the oil/energy industry.

The OGM: What interests you to sustain a career in the Energy industry?

Bernard: The energy industry will always be relevant, and offshore explorations ensure exciting opportunities for the duration of my career and for the foreseeable future.

The OGM: What does Energy mean to you?

Bernard: Energy is the lifeline for the majority of the world’s population. Energy provides limitless opportunities in the areas of technology development to meet worldwide demands.

The OGM: What is your favorite APP on your phone?

Bernard: I would say that I use the APPs “words with friends” and “mlbtraderumors” the most.

The OGM: What impact will the Millennial Generation have on the Energy industry?

Bernard: Due to the broadening knowledge that the latest generations have developed with technologies, I believe that there will be many new exciting innovative solutions to the current operations. And the environment and safety will continue to be at the forefront of all processes.

The OGM: What’s your take on Social Media and our ever changing digital world?

Bernard: Everyone is a part of social media whether they are a driver or just a passenger. I don’t think we even realize how much Social Media impacts our lives. So much of what we hear, see and know came to us by some form of Social Media, even if it was through another channel before it finally reached you.

The OGM: What Social Medium do you use on a daily basis?

Bernard: I regularly use LinkedIn to contact suppliers, contractors and previous classmates and colleagues. I also use social media related to music every day, such as the website hypem.com.

The OGM: Do you use Social Media for work?

Bernard: I have recently started to take advantage of several social media platforms to ensure providing further exposure for my businesses.

The OGM: What do you think of Social Recruiting?

Bernard: I believe that social recruiting ensures a greater potential to find a suitable candidate for each position and guarantees communication of and access to worldwide opportunities.

The OGM: Why do you love what you do?

Bernard: Continued new challenges and international opportunities keep me engaged and passionate.