DEEP DIVE
WE ‘ DEEP DIVE ’ WITH DAVID HIRST , GROUP EXECUTIVE AT MACQUARIE DATA CENTRES ,
WHO TELLS US ABOUT LIFE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICE .
In this Deep Dive , David Hirst , Group Executive at Macquarie Data Centres , talks about his career journey and how he likes to relax and unwind outside the office .
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What would you describe as your most memorable achievement in the data centre industry ?
Building and growing the right culture and behaviours within the Macquarie Data Centres team to be able to deliver on growth projects and operational excellence for some of the largest technology companies in the world . Over the past three years we have grown as well as hired many talented individuals , setting us up well for the future . During the pandemic , the team delivered not one but two data centre developments , Intellicentre 3 East ( IC3E ) in Sydney ’ s North Zone , a circa 11MW facility , and Intellicentre 5 South Bunker ( IC5 SB ) in Canberra , which is one of only three providers certified strategic by the government , meaning it is able to house the highest levels of government classified data . Both facilities were opened on time and on budget . I was very proud to lead and grow such a fantastic team who have achieved so much in such a short period of time and I ’ m excited for where we are headed in the future .
What first made you think of a career in technology / data centres ?
It started with a joy of solving complex problems in creative ways that provided real value to companies in a growing dynamic sector , and grew from there . The intellectual stimulation , constant change and innovation drew me to Macquarie . I was part of a dynamic leadership team which focused on a range of hybrid IT services offering private cloud , cybersecurity and colocation to corporates , government and multinationals . All three areas of the company were so successful that we established separate businesses with Macquarie Data Centres , launching in 2017 , and since then have opened a portfolio of sites across Sydney ’ s North Zone and Canberra .
What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position ?
My management philosophy is to create the right environment for talented people to thrive in . Cultural fit is critical and
assessed up front in the hiring process aligned to our business values .
Those values include : making a difference – we don ’ t have any passengers on the bus ; results – we are an outcome-oriented business ; collaboration – everything we do is a team sport and we each need to play our role ; customer service – happy customers tell their friends and buy more . I interview every person that joins my company and assess their cultural fit .
This philosophy has been highly effective seeing our team has expanded threefold over the past two years and has completed construction on two mission critical data centres during a pandemic in a skill constrained environment .
The cohesion in our team has had a flow-on effect of better results for customers , which has been reflected through our world-class net promoter score ( NPS ) of + 75 , which is up there with the Amazons and Apples of the world .
What do you think is the current hot talking point within the data centre space ?
Sustainability within the data centre industry is one of the hot topics right now . Efficiency of data centres will always be an important consideration , but it has widened to become a more holistic approach . Driven by evolving expectations of hyperscale customers and government , safety and security are paramount , contractors and supply chains need to be held accountable , providing fair wages and safe work conditions
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