Meet the team – Michael Gunn

Michael Gunn joins Global Environmental as a Senior Project Manager

Global Environmental was pleased to welcome Michael Gunn to the team at the start of 2018. He joins us from Adamsons Laboratory Services where, latterly, he was a Quality Manager, ensuring that asbestos services met internal and external standards. As well as managing day-to-day queries that come into the office regarding new and on-going work, Michael is responsible for the supervision of Global’s team of asbestos surveyors as well as more specific issues arising from complex surveys and projects.

Have your earlier experiences given you a good insight into the challenges presented by managing asbestos?

I started my career working as an analyst for Mackenzie Asbestos Environmental Consultants and so saw the huge range of materials in which asbestos is present and indeed the type of asbestos to expect.  As well as gaining my P401 at that stage I was also P402 qualified enabling me to start surveying and air-testing.  This got me out of the lab and meeting clients. As my understanding of industry requirements grew I took on the role of Quality Manager, becoming involved in training both to UKAS and in-house standards.

From there I moved into project and customer relationship management and really enjoyed forging good working partnerships.  I still have many of those contacts now and, I think, a pretty good understanding of managing asbestos!

What type of buildings were you working on?

In recent years I have been working in Central London and was fortunate enough to be involved in the asbestos management of some very interesting buildings: The Royal College of Surgeons, University College London, Harrods, Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle and even Buckingham Palace.  There is no secret about the condition of Buckingham Palace and that the removal of significant amounts of asbestos is part of the necessary repairs, it’s a fascinating building to work on.

And do these skills translate to your new role with Global?

I’m sympathetic to the challenges faced by our team of surveyors, sometimes driving to new jobs in Central London without knowing what awaits them.  When possible, I like to make a site visit to a new job, so I can check on the availability of extension ladders or if a tower is required.  Often, I check something as simple as parking, so that the surveyor can arrive and start work promptly.

You seem a very practical person?

I love working with my hands and have good carpentry skills.  So good in fact that I am frequently asked by friends to help install their new floor or staircase!  I hide at the local cricket club where I love watching and playing cricket.  I’m also into American football and baseball and will try to get to more games this year.