Dean Stonebridge

Dean Stonebridge’s journey with UGL is one of growth, commitment, and adventure. Starting as a 17-year-old electrical apprentice, Dean has risen through the ranks to become a test supervisor for the project team in Auburn, New South Wales, making contributions to UGL’s projects around Australia.

Dean began his career with UGL 34 years ago, undertaking an electrical apprenticeship while also pursuing an associate diploma in electrical engineering through night school. Balancing full-time work and classes each week was challenging, but his determination paid off.

“It was always a dream to become an engineer. Although I started as an apprentice, I was driven to complete my diploma, which opened doors to new opportunities within UGL,” Dean shared.

After completing his qualifications, Dean transitioned into field engineering services, traveling extensively across Australia and internationally. His career has taken him to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Townsville, Western Australia, and overseas to Hong Kong, China, UK, and Belgium, working on projects such as a level luffing crane that is used for freight loading in ports.  The project involved working on switchboards, drive systems, and manufacturing and testing programable logic controllers in UGL workshops in Australia and shipped to China for installation and commissioning on the crane.  Dean spent six weeks in China testing and commissioning and has fond memories of this project.

Today, Dean oversees the inspection and testing of manufactured equipment in line with rigorous standards. His work spans various tasks, from testing switchgear and trackside signaling equipment to repairs and production testing of new products.

Dean appreciates the variety and short-term nature of his work, stating, “I enjoy the dynamic environment — everything is in and out quickly. Whether it’s testing a product for a week or repairing modules in just a few hours, it keeps things exciting.”

Outside of work, Dean is dedicated to coaching youth in cricket, soccer, and athletics, helping them achieve their goals in school sports and beyond. “I love seeing kids reach their potential and succeed —it’s incredibly rewarding,” he shared.

For Dean, the culture and people at UGL are key to his long-standing commitment.

“The values and camaraderie here are unmatched. It’s rare to find a company with such a strong history of impactful projects and a supportive team. That’s what has kept me here for so long,” he said.