Dr Donald Williams
WILLIAMS, Donald, AO HonFIEAust CPEng FTSE (1937-2001)
Don Williams was employed by the Western Australian Government Railways as a student and graduate Civil Engineer. In 1971 Williams took up a senior management role on the West Gate Bridge construction project in Melbourne following its collapse, where he gained great credit for his work in reconstruction.
He then returned to railways as Assistant General Manager Engineering and Planning of the Australian National Railways Commission, located in Adelaide and, in 1979, became the Chief Executive. While remaining Chairman of Australian National Railways, in 1987 Williams accepted the role of the first Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed Australian Submarine Corporation charged with executing the $3.9billion contract to build six new submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. This challenging role leading the then most expensive contract for Australian Defence equipment meant balancing the cultural differences among the Swedish, American and Australian shareholders; dealing with multi-cultural staff; and with the political ramifications, at both the State and federal levels, of the project.
The core of Don Williams’ efforts was to create an Australian business enterprise of strategic magnitude and to foster the raising of standards and the active participation of Australian industry in the submarine project. Don Williams’ contribution during this period to the quality standards of South Australian industry are noted by his insistence on quality accreditation of suppliers to ASC. This led to a large increase in quality accredited companies, which is an enduring legacy to this day.
Don Williams left an enduring heritage at ASC and in South Australia. He firmly believed that the South Australian industry would prosper through ASC’s growth as borne out by the subsequent development of Australia’s premier shipyard at the Techport submarine and shipbuilding facility at Port Adelaide.
He was South Australian President of Engineers Australia in 1986 and was added to the Engineers Australia South Australian Hall of Fame in 2013.
