In a career that has spanned thermal generation, storage and renewables, and a consistent focus on asset management, safety, risk, and delivery, CS Energy’s Head of Engineering Mick Johnston often describes himself as an ‘accidental engineer’.
“Engineering wasn’t a fixed plan after school, but I received early exposure to asset management and operational environments which sparked my interest,” Mick said.
“I saw how good engineering decisions protect people, improve reliability, and deliver long‑term value,” he said. “That grounding shaped my career around understanding how assets actually operate, and the responsibility that comes with custodianship or critical infrastructure.”
Mick has more than 20 years’ experience across Australia’s energy industry, and joined CS Energy in 2017 as Major Projects Services Manager. He has since held a range of senior roles including Head of Projects, Head of Renewable and Firming Operations, and Acting Executive General Manager Asset Management.
Across these roles, he has delivered new assets, overseen major maintenance and overhaul programs, and supported teams through significant operational and organisational change, bringing a practical, people-centred approach to his role.
His own experience underpins Mick’s strong advocacy for STEM careers and the breadth of opportunity the energy industry offers.
“Early roles I had in maintenance, operations, safety, and major projects gave me exposure to the full asset lifecycle and the real‑world trade‑offs engineers face every day,” Mick said.
“I’ve been fortunate to have had strong mentors and an industry willing to invest in people as key influences, and I feel a sense of responsibility to pay that investment forward by creating the same opportunities for others.”
Safety IN ENGINEERING
Safety sits at the centre of Mick’s view of good engineering.
“Strong process safety, clear standards and an environment where engineers feel safe to challenge assumptions and raise concerns are non‑negotiable,” he said.
Mick places particular importance on learning from near‑misses and weak signals, seeing them as opportunities to strengthen systems before harm occurs.
CS Energy is currently undergoing a process of improvement and uplifting its way of doing business across the board, which Mick is strongly supporting.
Mick with Electrical Engineer Sarah Haskmann at the Greenbank Battery.
“I am really enjoying advocating for strong technical and commercial alignment, embedding consistent engineering standards and processes in a business that really values both the effort and outcomes these will bring, across both our thermal and emerging assets,” he said.
In 2025, Mick led the $80 million overhaul of Callide Unit C3, one of the largest maintenance programs in the site’s history. The project involved more than 60 specialist companies and a peak workforce of around 400 people, reinforcing the importance of clear standards, strong coordination and visible safety leadership. It also highlighted the value of consistency in engineering and process safety across the organisation.
Mick sees great engineering as disciplined, repeatable and aligned.
“It’s about balancing risk, opportunity, safety and commercial outcomes through sound decision‑making and shared understanding,” he said.
“I’m always aware of the responsibility of delivering safe, reliable energy while helping shape the next generation of assets and engineers as the industry transitions.”
Mick said he is motivated by working through complex technical challenges, aligning engineering outcomes with strategic intent, and leading capable, committed teams.
“Success as a leader is less about having the answers, and more about creating the conditions for people to do their best work,” he said.
His advice to emerging engineers is simple: stay curious, build breadth early, understand how assets really operate, and never underestimate the importance of safety fundamentals.
“The next generation of engineering leaders will be the ones who combine strong technical thinking with humility, discipline and the courage to speak up,” he said.