Introduction

Dean Muir is an Operations Product Specialist in Pumps and Water Management at Kennards Hire, based at the Crestmead branch in Brisbane. He travels across Australia and New Zealand to work on customer projects and help develop the company’s product and service solutions.

Career Journey

After a decade in the equipment hire industry, Dean joined Kennards Hire in 2012 when a connection told him about a role specialising in Pump and Power. He spent seven years with Kennards Hire before leaving to work with two specialist pump companies, deliberately broadening his industry expertise and perspective. When Kennards Hire asked if he would like to return, he said yes — and has been back ever since. His work covers Pumps and Water Management equipment selection and logistics, business development, training and industry networking, often across multiple states in the same week.

Areas of Expertise

Dean’s expertise spans pump systems, sewer bypasses, dewatering, and water treatment solutions for metals, turbidity and contaminants. His team works with contractors and specialist subcontractors on dewatering management plans, using the latest proven systems including telemetry for operational performance and remote monitoring and control. He is passionate about developing people within the equipment hire industry and has been an official mentor in the Hire Industry Association’s mentoring program for the past two years.

Standout Projects

During the 2022 floods in south-east Queensland, Dean received a call from a major Brisbane hospitality venue about to lose its second electrical circuit board to rising basement water, which would have resulted in months without power. He loaded two tonnes of pumping equipment and drove through torrential rain to get on site.

“We set up the system with the water about 25mm from the circuit board and started pumping. The customer and I got great satisfaction from watching the water drop away from the circuit board. Once I knew it was under control, we brought in bigger pumps and made sure they were fully protected and ready to clean up.”

Another challenge came when a Queensland water authority needed to test a one-to-50 scale dam model to design the final construction. Dean set up five diesel pumps to be able to run water at a flow rate of over 1,000 litres per second while hydrologists tested the proposed construction.

Innovation and Product Leadership

Dean is enthusiastic about Kennards Hire’s collaboration with AU Environmental Water Technologies, a portable water treatment systems supplier, in developing sediment tank solutions, chemical dosing equipment and water treatment systems. He also points to a pontoon-based pump he introduced for desludging a difficult water treatment pond — a solution that worked so well it found multiple other applications.

“When something new works, we look for other uses across our customers,” he says.

Customer Impact

Dean says Kennards Hire’s family business values have remained consistent as the company has grown.

“Even though the company now has the largest nationwide network of branches, it still looks after its people, and that translates to how we care for customers and contribute to the industry.”

He is a member of three pump and water industry associations, Water Industry Operators Association, Australian Water Association, Wateraid and Stormwater Queensland.

“The people in the industry are very smart and passionate. They know they’re making a difference to keep clean and healthy water systems maintained in the background.”

The Person Behind the Pro

Outside of work, Dean spends time with his family, getting outside for bushwalks or Saturday morning park runs. He enjoys reading, whether it’s non-fiction for professional development or a good crime novel. He is also a committed karaoke performer, happy to entertain with his home karaoke system, at a pub or even a Kennards Hire conference. He specialises in 1970s lounge classics from the likes of Dean Martin and Neil Diamond, but his signature song is Wicked Game by Chris Isaak.

Advice for Those Starting Out

“Ask plenty of questions and give yourself time. In the first six to twelve months there is a lot to learn, but after that the industry is really enjoyable. Also finding a mentor early can help guide career momentum.”

Dean also lives by a simple principle: treat people the way you would like to be treated.

“It sounds simple, but it covers most of what matters.”