Russell Tierney

Beginning his working life as an apprentice fitter/machinist, Russell Tierney worked evenings in second jobs before buying his first business 11 years ago.

In 1992, while running the family restaurant with his wife, Mr Tierney purchased a small home-based company with 6 personnel and a contract to service one mine site.

Within 3 months, the company had increased to 35 employees and by 1998 growth had reached 50 per cent resulting in the purchase or larger premises and a support business, Tierney Coating Services.

Anticipating a change in mining culture in the Goldfields and a decline in contract maintenance, Mr Tierney steered the company to the project portion of mining, ensuring its success amidst the difficult years of a mining downturn.