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Get To Know Our People - Tim Chau

Meet our people and learn more about the faces behind Viva Energy.

23 Mar 2020
BY

Viva Energy Australia

I’ve worked at Viva Energy since Nov 2014.
My first job was as a car wash attendant at Shell Brandon Park.
My role is as a Product Trader for the national market. I’m responsible for negotiating short-term supply agreements as well as identifying commercial benefits for Viva Energy through the analysis of our supply chain. Working together with Viva Energy's Supply Chain Team, we are constantly trying to deliver the best commercial outcomes whilst also ensuring supply reliability and a high standard of safety.
I help people reach their destination by maximising the efficiency of our supply chains. I work with all parts of our business to drive safe and efficient outcomes and make sure our customers have fuel when they need it.
The biggest misconception people have about my role is that supply is a boring place to work when in reality it’s a dynamic, exciting part of the business with a great team spirit and an abundance of opportunities.
I was led to this career by chance. I left a career in mining in rural QLD to move back to Melbourne. Whilst looking for engineering work I took a casual position with Viva Energy packing boxes for the office move from Hawthorn to Docklands. In those first 3 weeks, I met my first manager and was offered a position in Supply Operations Excellence as a Stock Accountant. Fast forward 5 years and I have worked across a range of geographical supply portfolios and recently taken on a new role as a Product Trader in our Commercial team.
I am energised by playing sports. I enjoy futsal, cycling and badminton, and I'm looking forward to being able to do these things again one day.
The one thing that surprises me about working at Viva Energy is the flexible, adaptable motto of the business. If you have good ideas, Viva Energy will support you in achieving the changes required.
The greatest career advice I was given was focus on doing the best job you can in your current capacity and the rest will work itself out.
The most important skill every person should have is communication because everyone has something valuable to contribute and good communication helps the right information get to the right people for the best results.
The one topic I wish I knew more about is Global Politics. With so much recent changes in the Global landscape, the world of the future could be very different to that of the present.