Meet Andrew Sheldon-Collins, Training Systems Lead & Head of Discipline

Andrew, could you tell us a bit about yourself? What sparked your interest in training & simulation activities?

Hello, thank you for this opportunity. That’s a big question. I spent 18 years in the Royal Australian Air Force, and at the end of my career was medically retired as a field-grade officer. I was fortunate to have a very active career, deploying to Timor Leste, the Middle East, the Philippines, international exercises and various domestic and humanitarian operations. Throughout that time, I developed two core interests: strategy, and psychology. Towards the end of my military career, I explored the strategy interest by completing a Masters in International Relations, and concluding my career as a military planner at Joint Operations Command. Having been there and done that, I decided that path ultimately would leave me unsatisfied, and started instead to embark down the psychological path.

On the psychology side, I found the opportunities in my military career to mentor and teach to be incredibly satisfying, so applied for various training roles. When leaving the military, I had three offers: the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, or Thales. I ultimately chose Thales, because of the diverse range of complex problems the company works on, and because I hadn’t yet worked in the private sector. That was about three and a half years ago.

What is your current role about? Can you tell us about your daily work life?

I have two roles in the company. The first is as the Training Systems Lead in Thales Training and Simulation. This role is both a functional and operational one. I oversee the career management, professional development and professional standards of the instructor workforce in the business line. I also directly supervise delivery of training deliverables for our customers.

In my other role, I’m the Head of Discipline – Training in the Australian Engineering Competence Centre. This is a cross-CBU role aimed at facilitating better integration of the diverse array of training capabilities across the group. In this role I primarily facilitate cooperation between CBUs, advise executive leadership, deconflict our multiple training organizations from competing in the same markets, and facilitate access to the right tools and processes.

What is the best part of your job?

People. I don’t care what industry you work in, if you’re in any kind of leadership position and your primary motivation isn’t the love of people, their potential, and the desire to see them at their best, you’re in the wrong job. 

I’m incredibly fortunate to have some of the best people I’ve met in my life working with me. They are true experts at what they do, and most often the best thing I can do as a leader is get out of their way, and back them up. It is self-evident that I can’t achieve anything without them, and they push me every day to be a better version of myself. Leading and mentoring them is an incredible privilege, and I’m hopeful they’ll all surpass me one day.

Tell us about one memorable experience in your career at Thales

My favorite moments relate to delivering training to our customers, especially in their workplaces. Joining our customers and instructors on the back of a Mine-Countermeasures Support Boat while they learn to deploy and employ an Underwater Autonomous Vessel, awarding diplomas to technicians maintaining critical systems in the Australian Defence Air Traffic System, and watching our ground training instructors train and mentor future Australian Defence Force aircrew. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the confidence and skill of our customers grow, and watching the skill and dedication of our instructors.

What, in your opinion, are the benefits of working at Thales?

At its core, Thales solves complex problems. Doing so requires a curious mix of conscientiousness, cooperation, intelligence, humility, and creativity. I come to work every day and learn something new. I’m also continually challenged to be better. 

If you had to convince someone to join Thales’s training & simulation activities, what would you tell her/him?

Thales is a dynamic, challenging place to work. If you want to be involved in solving complex problems, and If you’re the kind of person who wants to continually improve themselves, this is the place to be.

Do you have any hobbies? How do you enjoy spending your free time?

The primary focus of my spare time is my family. I firmly believe that the most important thing you can do in your life is be a good parent, spouse, sibling, and/or offspring. Beyond that, in line with my passion for psychology, I’m in the midst of completing a Graduate Diploma in Psychology through Monash University; of the various Bachelors, Masters and graduate qualifications I’ve done this is by far the most rigorous, challenging, and worthwhile. Hobbies-wise I enjoy martial arts, archery, shooting, weightlifting and running. Factor in work, socializing, sleep, and general life-admin and that’s all of my time accounted for!

Share with us your favorite quote!

There’s just no way I can cut this down to 1 quote. Here’s three that are representative:

• "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" 1 Corinthians 13:12
• "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" Plato
• "Discipline equals freedom"  Joko Willink