The Faces of WPO
Get to know our amazing staff and their stories
Ian CONDRA, Operational Controller
1. Could you describe your role as Operational Controller and the main responsibilities it entails ?
The role is diverse and multi-faceted.
As an Operational Controller, I am responsible for the safe access to over 100 windfarms across Europe, and the transfer of control of individual wind turbines to maintenance technicians.
I am also responsible for the constant monitoring of our wind farm assets
I am in charge of programming wind farm curtailements in advance of negative price events, particularly in France and the Nordics, and where these assets cannot be programmed, I am responsible for manually pausing their output for the duration required.
Other duties include responding to alarms on site
2. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role ?
The challenges of the role quite literally change with particular circumstances being faced on any given shift.
One of the biggest challenges is ensuring that regardless of the situation, all the required steps are taken to ensure we remain in control of our assets and we are aware of and reacting to any potential risks.
Dealing with large volumes of information, coming from various sources at the same time, and often relating to different functions of the role requires an eye for detail, the ability to prioritise and the training and support to know how to manage those competing demands.
Another challenge facing a busy Operational Controller is maintaining their focus and concentrating on what they can do now, and what they can delegate to other colleagues within the various TMS departments, in a phrase, working under pressure
3. What are the key qualities and skills someone needs to possess in order to be successful as an Operational Controller?
An eye for detail, an ability to multitask and to focus on a range of equally important issues at times of pressure. Strong time management and organisation skills
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4. How do you foster teamwork within your department?
I see teamwork as key to our continued success. For myself, I foster teamwork through building good relations with colleages across the business and within our client base. Showing empathy and respect to colleague whose immediate priorities are sometimes necessarily urgent to them, and always attempting to assist them, knowing they would do the same for me.
Sharing information and learned experience with newer colleagues, and being willing to aslo learn from the experience of other colleagues.
5. What do you like most about WPO ?
The diversity of our staff.
We are a company that embrace skills regardless of the age, colour, nationality, religion or sexual orientation of the individual.
I joined the company in my late 50's and was made welcome from day one.
We are at the cutting age of a new industrial revolution, a cleaner energy solution to battle against climate change and fuel poverty. We bring our technical, people, and innovative skills to bear to with real “people energy”, working as a whole, a team, to deliver the highest standards in asset management, customer service, and technical performance.
We take pride in what we do, and we know why we are doing it!
Ian Condra's professional path
Ian Condra has a degree in Sociology and Social Policy.
He has been employed in a diverse range of roles over a career spanning over 40 years.
Most recently, he had co-owned a small business, then worked in customer services with both a telecoms company and a global communications company in business to business client services.
Before joining WPO in 2023, he had been employed for 3 years as a Client service Advocate with Pitney Bowed (Ire).