Tackling waste at every step

From the moment glass arrives at our Distribution Centre in Padstow, Sydney, we work to ensure materials are managed responsibly.

• At the Distribution Centre: Timber, metal, cardboard and Styrofoam from unpacked glass crates are separated and recycled.
• At Service Centres and Branches: Broken glass, dried urethane, rubber spacers, soft plastic packaging and more from glass replacements are collected and separated.

“We’re already doing a fantastic job of recycling our glass, but working with ResourceCo has allowed us to address our dry waste streams in a meaningful way,” says Mark, Business Improvement Partner at O’Brien Glass. “It’s great to see real, measurable results from this partnership.”

To make recycling simple and effective, we have rolled out clearly labelled, dedicated bins at our sites to ensure every piece of recyclable material is separated correctly before heading to a ResourceCo facility.

A smarter second life for waste

Through our partnership, dry waste from O’Brien sites is sent to a ResourceCo Resource Recovery Facility. Here, the waste goes through advanced processing systems that remove as many recoverable materials as possible. The remaining material is transformed into Process Engineered Fuel (PEF) – a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels that’s used by high-energy industries like cement production.

In just the first half of this year, we’ve recycled over 180 tonnes of dry waste that previously would have gone straight to landfill.

“O’Brien demonstrates the positive impact businesses can have when they prioritise sustainability,” says Henry Anning, CEO of ResourceCo. “By diverting significant volumes of dry waste from landfill, O’Brien is reducing emissions and helping produce a valuable alternative fuel for Australian industry.”

Real impact, measurable results

By working with ResourceCo, we are supporting a process that:

• Achieves 95% diversion from landfill on average.
• Produces alternative fuels, reducing carbon emissions.
• Prevents roughly two tonnes of CO₂e for every tonne of waste processed into fuel – one tonne saved from landfill, another from fossil fuel replacement.

“Every tonne of dry waste diverted from landfill saves roughly one tonne of CO₂e. Every tonne of alternative fuel produced to replace fossil fuels saves approximately another tonne of carbon,” says Henry Anning, CEO of ResourceCo’s Energy business.

Aligned with a sustainable future

This partnership supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that we have committed to through the UN Global Compact. By working with ResourceCo, we are helping to advance these shared global priorities:

• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Supporting local jobs and sustainable industries through resource recovery.
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Contributing to inclusive, community-focused business practices.
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Keeping valuable resources in use for longer, avoiding landfill, and promoting a circular economy.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: Reducing carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuels and diverting waste from landfill.

Continuing the momentum

For us, this is just one part of a broader commitment to operate in a way that’s better for our customers, our people and our planet. Partnerships with companies such as ResourceCo help us divert waste from landfill, a key step towards our goal of reducing Scope 3 carbon emissions by 25% by 2030.

Looking ahead, we’re exploring more ways to reduce our footprint across our operations ensuring every part of our business contributes to a more sustainable future.  By turning waste into a resource, we’re making a tangible difference every day. Because at O’Brien, we believe sustainability is about action, not just ambition.

The post Turning waste into worth: O’Brien Glass partners with ResourceCo to drive sustainability appeared first on O'Brien.

That’s right, we’ve been serving customers in all kinds of glass across Australia since 1924.

And while a century of service is a rare feat that we’re incredibly proud of, time has truly flown.

What started as a humble silvering business by Frank G. O’Brien in Allen Street Waterloo, Sydney, has steadily grown to become one of Australia’s most iconic brands delivering expertise in home and business glazing, vehicle glass repair and electrical and plumbing services.

• Today, O’Brien® is Australia’s leading
  vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration company, providing a national service to nearly 500,000 motorists in the past year,
• We’ve come a long way, and with a shared passion for excellence and a drive to exceed customer expectations, we will continue to serve customers with high-quality products and service when they need us. To commemorate this special occasion, and to highlight the ethos that has driven us for a century, we’ve decided to take you on through the O’Brien® decades.

The 1924 – 1939: humble beginnings.

Founded in February 1924 by Frank G. O’Brien, our journey began here. We may have been small in size to start, but we were bold in our pursuit of customer satisfaction and employee well-being, and that hasn’t changed.

In fact, it was this zeal for service that led Frank and his growing team to incorporate under the Companies Act in 1930, laying the foundation for our future success.

The 40s and 50s: the war effort.

From 1940-1959, we quickly expanded our services into domestic and commercial glazing, specialising in shatter-proofing shop fronts and larger businesses.

As the World War II threat approached Australia, we were quick to support the effort by manufacturing windscreens for Australian aircraft and hand mirrors for our troops.

It was a trying time, but in the true Australian spirit, we persevered and did everything we could to assist.

The 1960s: mergers and expansion.

The 1960s brought a more peaceful era in Australian history.

In a time of rapid growth and industry, we merged with fellow Australian company, Glass Supplies, allowing us to broaden the scope and capabilities of our complex glass manufacturing and processing.

In 1965, we relocated our company headquarters to Padstow in Sydney (where our head office remains today) and introduced  Armourplate Doors to secure retail shop fronts and large office buildings.

The 1970s: joining Belron Group.

In 1971, we were proud to become the first overseas limb of the renowned vehicle glass repair and replacement, Belron Group.

With the support of Belron and our now 350 employees, we continued to grow and excel in the industry and established two separate divisions: Windscreens O’Brien and O’Brien Glass.

In 1976, manufacturing of laminated windscreens and architectural laminates became integral additions to our service offering in glass.

The company renamed to O’Brien Glass Industries Ltd on 2 March 1978.

The 1980s: expansion and milestones.

The 1980s was an exciting era for O’Brien®, despite the challenging economic conditions.

We started with extending our footprint to 95 branches, employing 800 staff.

Our Building Glass division diversified its product range to introduce the O’Brien Lock Service.

The first ever TV advertising campaign was launched in 1983. This marked the beginning of a range of quirky, yet memorable ads to grace Australian TV (and became part of advertising folklore for those that grew up in this decade). By this time, we were sourcing more than twenty thousand tonnes of glass annually for our automotive business and we solidified our presence across the country by opening branches nationwide.

By the end of the decade, we also reached several significant milestones, including:

• 60 years of operations,
• 1000+ employees, and
• Manufacturing our millionth windscreen.

The 1990s: A branding and advertising focus.

As the 20^th century ended, we continued our upward trajectory.

We continued to achieve record sales growth and in 1996, we launched a new TV advertising campaign for Windscreens O’Brien, showcasing our side and rear vehicle glass replacement expertise, together with our convenient mobile service.

We also refreshed our logo during the 90s, incorporating the distinctive Belron red and yellow symbol, and began to place an increasing emphasis on our customer service – a trait which we are still recognised and applauded for today.

The 2000s: “O’O’O’ O’Brien®”.

After the turn of the century, our windscreen and glazing divisions united under one brand: O’Brien®.

We introduced a new fleet of vehicles across the nation, revitalised our branch signage and forwarded our focus on technical expertise with the establishment of the Technical Training Centre of Excellence for our Auto division.

Then, in April 2005, the iconic O’O’O’ jingle was registered, becoming synonymous with the O’Brien® brand you know today.

The 2010s: advanced tech and service expansion.

The 2010s brought significant advancements in global automotive technology and we introduced best-practice tools like the Glass Medic Repair Kit and 1-Tek®. A formidable partnership with Bosch was formed and O’Brien® launched an Australian first for the automotive industry, our Cal-Tech® ADAS Recalibration service.

Our TV commercials continued to highlight our care and expertise and featured Mark, and our customer surveys were moved online as we embraced the digital future, sought greater convenience, and enhanced our customer’s experience with a new design for our branches.

In 2018, we acquired Laser Plumbing & Electrical, further expanding our service offering to our customers.

The 2020s: doubling down on advanced tech.

The 2020s brought a tumultuous time with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But as we did during the 1940s, we adapted and persevered.

With the increasing demand for our Cal-Tech® Recalibration services, we strategically expanded our O’Brien® AutoGlass branch locations right across the country and continued to advance our service by introducing the Advanced Repair Technology (ART) Chip Repair Kits and remote headsets for Cal-Tech®.

From 2020, the first of our Electrical and Plumbing franchisee members took up the opportunity to brand as O’Brien Electrical & Plumbing.

Our iconic O’O’O’ jingle gained renewed focus with its familiar sound played across TV, radio, and digital advertising, reaching an estimated 200M+ jingles heard each year.

2024: O’Brien turns 100!

In late February 2024, O’Brien® turned 100!

And while we’ve grown and changed significantly over the years, one thing we are proud of: O’Brien® is committed to the highest standards of quality service.

We’re excited to celebrate a century’s worth of experience, expertise, passion for customer service and pride in our workmanship, but we will never get complacent.

We know that the key to our success and growth over the decades has been the pride we take in our expertise, the quality of our workmanship and our dedication to providing first-class service to every customer.

In 2024, as for the last century, we’re committed to solving your problems with real care whenever you need us, as our leadership team expertly steers our company towards new horizons.

Get in touch with your local O’Brien® experts for vehicle glass, glazing, electrical or plumbing services here.

At O’Brien®, solving your problems is what we do.

Nothing is more satisfying to us than delivering the high-quality service you need with genuine care and expert support.

From vehicle glass, and home and commercial glass to electrical and plumbing services, our O’Brien® team is here for you.

So, call us today or find your nearest expert.

For more images from our history, click here.

The post Celebrating Our 100-Year Journey at O’Brien® appeared first on O'Brien.

We recently sat down with Jake to get to know him better (without the cameras).

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m the Managing Director of O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing Lismore & O'Brien Electrical & Solar Yamba and have been in the industry for over 20 years now. Outside of work, I pride myself on being a husband and father. My kids are aged 10, 7, 3 so there is never a dull moment at home with plenty of music, sport and dance. I also thoroughly enjoy camping, particularly at Hat Head National Park on the Mid-North Coast – it’s a natural paradise. We travel there as a family almost every Christmas. I picked up the guitar in my 20’s and love music as an outlet. My daughter has picked up percussion and our favourite duets are doing covers of The Wiggles songs.

How did you join the industry?

I wasn’t getting what I needed out of school, so I decided to join my Dad in the plumbing industry. Dad owned the plumbing business and joining him was the best thing I’ve ever done. Now as the business owner, I’m inspired to give other people opportunities. I find it rewarding to help people with their careers and build their skills professionally and personally. 

How does it feel knowing you’re on TV screens around Australia?

I was naive to how big the filming was until I got there. It was a big day for a 30 second ad! I was well and truly out of my comfort zone, though the film crew and the team from O'Brien were really supportive. They made it easier for me. I have no previous acting experience so I was pretty nervous but loved the challenge. Filming was held just after the floods which affected Lismore greatly – I enjoyed getting down to Sydney to film and take my mind off it for a couple of days.

What is it like representing O'Brien Electrical and Plumbing?

It’s great representing a network of good people. I’ve formed relationships that span over 15 years. Though the floods were a hard time, I felt the support of the wider group. I’m proud to be part of such a resilient and helpful network of other business owners like me. 

See Jake in the latest O'Brien Plumbing and Electrical ad below. 

If you have any Electrical or Plumbing needs, head to obrien.com.au to find your nearest expert.

The post Meet The Star Of The O’Brien Electrical & Plumbing TV Commercial – Jake Campbell appeared first on O'Brien.

As part of the campaign, Lorraine and Pat talked about their expertise at O'Brien Glass^® and the importance of fixing broken glass quickly to make people feel safe and secure. Here at O'Brien Glass^®, we are proud to feature real members of our hardworking team in our marketing and advertising campaigns, as they are the real backbone behind what we do.

We recently sat down and spoke with our new radio stars,to get to know more about who they are, what they do and how they contribute to the O'Brien Glass^® reputation for service excellence.

Introducing Lorraine Wilson

Lorraine is our O'Brien Glass^® Customer Service Administrator in Greenfield Adelaide, and she has been working with us for 14 months now, having 10 years of prior career experience in the glazing industry.

She is known to be a jack of all trades and the go-to person when she’s around the office. “On a typical working day, you can find me behind the front desk talking with customers. I also take phone calls, answer any questions and process all the paperwork for orders,” Lorraine said.

She joined O'Brien Glass^® through a recommendation from her friend who already works for the company. “My friend forwarded my name on to the Branch Manager. After an initial meeting and a follow-up interview, I was thrilled when they offered me the role. I love what I do!”

Although Lorraine had prior industry knowledge and experience in glazing due to her previous roles, she mentioned how things have changed so much since she worked in the industry.

“As part of my induction with O'Brien Glass^®, there was a thorough training program to get me up to speed with the many codes and regulations around glass, as well as the full product range on offer. It’s exciting to learn about new glass products, films, pet doors and more. I’ve been with the group for over a year and I’m still learning every day.” Lorraine said. “I love being part of O'Brien Glass^®. The team is down to earth, supportive and all work together to get the best result for our customers. “

According to Lorraine, she’s always enjoyed customer service roles and doesn’t mind being the centre of attention, which made her perfect to be one of the voices behind our radio ad. “Being featured as the voice artist for the O'Brien Glass^® radio ad was such an incredible experience. My friends and family – even one of our cleaners here in the office approached me and said that they’ve heard me on the radio!”

While the radio ad recording was a new experience for Lorraine, this was not her first time in media! She was featured on the famous TV show Wheel of Fortune when she was 28 years old

When not working, she spends her time learning the guitar, visiting her new 7-month-old grandson and is a classic car enthusiast together with her fiancé.

Let’s meet Patrick David

Also known as ‘Pat’ to friends, family and colleagues, Patrick has been with O'BrienGlass^® Launceston for over 30 years!

Pat, together with his Glazing team, services almost half of Tasmania, which makes him one of the most well-travelled and respected members at O'Brien Glass^®. “Being with the company for more than three decades now, I’ve met so many people, all with their unique circumstances and needs. This is the most challenging yet fun part of my job. However, I can safely say I’ve always gone above and beyond to provide them with outstanding service.”

Although Pat has been with us for over 30 years, he’s still learning new things every single day. “Everyone in our team has something to contribute and what I love the most about having this job at O'Brien Glass^® is the chance to visit many different places in Tasmania which I consider the most beautiful state in Australia.”

“Being a part of the O'Brien Glass^® radio ad as a voice artist was an enjoyable experience but was very different to my normal day of glazing!”

When not working, Pat is a car enthusiast, just like Lorraine. He is particularly proud of owning three BMWs as part of his collection, including a motorbike. He also enjoys recreational activities like hiking and spending time with his three children.

Listen out for Lorraine & Pat – on your local radio

Lorraine and Pat did such a great job across the airwaves in Adelaide, that they’ll soon be sharing the story of the local O'Brien Glass^® teams in Newcastle and Perth as well.

Well done Lorraine & Pat – for telling the O'Brien glazing stories across the country!

There’s an opportunity at O'Brien for you, too!

At O'Brien^®, we’re always open to welcoming new talent with potential – and from there, we can help you grow as we do. With divisions in Glazing, Auto and Electrical and Plumbing, and a national footprint of branches collectively covering 99% of the Australian population, the opportunities are many.

If you join us, you’ll always know that you’re in excellent hands, surrounded by a professional and knowledgeable team who considers your safety and wellbeing as a priority every day.

So, if you would like the opportunity to build your career in a company that will appreciate and reward your talents, contact us today.

For the latest roles available at O'Brien^®, visit obriencareers.com.au.

Needing a local glazing expert to help make your home or business safe again?

Think of O'Brien^® Glass. We’ll help you replace and protect your home or office with quality glazing services, available 24-7. For more information about our services, visit our website or call us on 1800 059 829 today.

The post Meet Lorraine And Pat – The Voices Behind The O’Brien Glass Radio Campaign appeared first on O'Brien.

Service Heating & Air Conditioning

Heating and cooling accounts for around 40% of household energy use in most Australian homes. Older air conditioners need to be maintained in order to run efficiently. Older Air conditioning systems use about two and a half times more energy to run. You can achieve an ideal temperature during any season and help avoid a higher bill or energy use by calling your local O'Brien Electrical expert to inspect your heating and air conditioning.

Upgrade Interior/Exterior Lighting

You can help reduce your energy consumption by upgrading your Lighting. Dimmable LED or CFL (Compact Fluorescent) light bulbs are energy efficient, easy to install and last longer than the conventional light bulb. CFL bulbs use 75% less power than conventional incandescent bulbs.

O'Brien Electrical and Plumbing experts can install new lighting fittings and retrofit your home. Find your nearest expert here.

Solar Power

Installing solar on your roof can help offset your power usage so the energy you are producing from solar is used in your house without the need to buy power from the grid. Any excess power you do not use, can often be exported to the grid and you will receive a credit on your energy bill.

Lower Electronic Power Consumption

Many devices, such as televisions, microwaves, sound systems and gaming consoles use power even when not in use. Using Smart Plugs and installing smart home devices that use electricity only when you need to may help you save energy. Having power outlets that are linked to multiple appliances makes it easier to turn them all off at once. Talk to your local O'Brien Expert and they can guide you through options to consider.

Update your water fixtures

Updating and maintaining your home’s water fixtures can help you to become more efficient with your water consumption. Low flow fixtures are designed to maintain pressure while reducing the amount of water that actually flows through them. Low flush and dual flush toilets are also a great option for reducing water use.

If you would like to talk to a licensed plumber or electrician about your home efficiency, contact your local experts at O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing.

The post Designing An Energy Efficient Home appeared first on O'Brien.

Since the start of the Covid outbreak, we have put in place measures in each of our branches and with our mobile technicians to help reduce the spread of the virus. We have continued to evolve how we do business in line with best practices recommended by government and health officials.

This is now even more important as restrictions ease in certain states across the country.

To give you that extra degree of confidence when you bring your car in for vehicle glass damage such as a windscreen repair or replacement, some of the things you may notice are;

• While we will give you a very warm welcome – we won’t shake your hand when you bring your car to us at a branch or we arrive at your home.
• If we are attending a job at your home or workplace, we will politely decline any drinks or refreshments offered to us.
• We wear disposable gloves when handling equipment, these gloves are disposed of after each job.
• We clean and sanitise the work area and other areas of your car that were touched by us while repairing or replacing your windscreen or other car windows (this includes door handles, window hinges, steering wheels).
• At the end of each job, we sanitise the tools we use, and we wash our hands.
• We will keep a 2-metre distance from other people within the branch and out on mobile jobs.
• As per government requirements, we wear masks within the branch and on mobile jobs.
• We have QR codes at each branch so we can accurately record the details of all customers we serve for the purposes of contact tracing.
• Our technicians dispose of all rubbish at their workstations or within their mobile van regularly.

We are proud of all we are doing to help keep our communities safe as we continue to deliver you excellent service.

For more information please refer to our COVID-19 support page.

The post We Are Committed To Your Safety appeared first on O'Brien.

Jake has worked for 12 years with O'Brien®. While he’s normally well at home on the tools repairing or replacing windscreens out of our new O'Brien® AutoGlass Moorebank branch, this month he was put slightly outside of his comfort zone, starring in a series of new service related videos.  

The videos, which cover topics such as windscreen chip repair and explaining ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) see Jake star as an O'Brien® AutoGlass expert. He helps explain and demonstrate the processes of a windscreen chip repair, windscreen replacement and the O'Brien® Cal-Tech ADAS Recalibration. 

Jake was picked to feature in the videos for his experience and passion for his job but here we learn a bit more about him outside of the bright lights and cameras. 

What was your first job with O'Brien® and what other jobs have you had in your time here? 

I started working with O'Brien® 12 years ago in the Bus and Truck division and then later moved on to be a trainee doing windscreen repair and replacements on cars. From there I worked my way up to become a Level 4 Tech (the most experienced automotive technician level at O'Brien®) and most recently I have been working as a leading hand (senior technician managing and overseeing other technicians) at our O’Brien® AutoGlass Moorebank branch. 

What do you like most about working for O'Brien®? 

I like working with the great bunch of people I have around me. We all help each other and have a laugh while we work. 

What is your career highlight so far? 

I replaced a windscreen of a car that was on set for the movie Hacksaw Ridge (the World War II movie released in 2016, starring Sam Worthington and directed by Mel Gibson). Once I had finished the job, I was shown around the movie set. It wasn’t your average day in the office that’s for sure and one that sticks out for that reason. 

When you’re not at work, how do you spend your time and what do you enjoy doing? 

I have two little kids who keep me pretty busy but outside of that I also own a project car. I love working on it and even take it racing. It’s a 2003 Subaru WRX that has been built to be a street and track car. I have raced it at the drag strip, at roll racing as well as various racetracks including Eastern Creek Circuit, Wakefield Park Raceway and Pheasant Wood Circuit. I have even raced it on the skid pan against NSW Highway patrol. 

If you’d like to see Jake in action replacing windscreens, repairing chips and performing an O'Brien® Cal-Tech ADAS Recalibration then cehck out these videos:

• Windscreen chip repair 1
• Windscreen chip repair 2
• Windscreen recalibration 1
• Windscreen recalibration 2 

Our O'Brien® technicians are experts in this field, so if you need your windscreen repaired, and Jake is not around to help you can rest assured that you’re in good hands with any of our experts. Just call 1800 059 829 or go on online today to book in your car.

The post Meet Jake – Our Senior Auto Technician and YouTube Star! appeared first on O'Brien.

When you hear the term ‘tradie’, especially in relation to plumbing, electrical, automotive or glazing – most people think of a male in that role. But that is changing. At O'Brien, we encourage diversity and are proud of the talented females who work here, in a variety of roles, including ‘tradies’! Adele Wardrope, Jodi Spooner and Vivian Oppl are just some of our amazing female leaders in the O'Brien^® business, and here are their stories and experiences in O'Brien^® Glass, O'Brien^® AutoGlass and the Support Office.

Name: Adele Wardrope

Role: Glazing Branch Manager, Dandenong

Time at O'Brien: 10 months

Favourite pastime: Exploring, generally on horseback – and cooking!

What led you to join O'Brien?

I started my career 30 plus years ago as a windscreen technician at O'Brien as a fitter (after being rejected for an apprenticeship as an electrician). I always knew I wanted to work with my hands and build from there. I stayed in the industry for pretty much the entire time rising to General Manager of a smaller firm before leaving for another challenge. I was an Operations Manager in my new role but found my skills weren’t being utilized. I saw a position advertised as Melbourne Glazing Manager with O'Brien and thought “wouldn’t it be great if I were to bookend my career”?!

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love the challenge of being able to bring a group together to be the best we can. Tapping into ‘what makes a person fulfilled’ is exciting but where you’re able to champion someone to be their best…that’s such a reward and a privilege to be part of. Each day brings something new, I like that.

What women support and inspire you on your career path?

Most women. Any woman who breaks stereotypical norms, who has passion, who chases a dream, any woman for whom NO or CAN’T don’t exist, any woman who can work and raise a family, who does it alone, who falls and gets back up.

What gender-specific challenges, stereotypes, or barriers have you had to overcome during your career?

I’ve had so so many!!! I was teased for my look, made fun of for my sexual preferences, told I wasn’t as good as a man, told I wouldn’t fit in, overlooked for opportunities because I was female etc. Thankfully, things have changed, and my challenges that were mostly gender and preference-based seem to have almost disappeared.

What would you say to other women considering applying for a role like yours? Go for it… You’ve got this!

Name: Jodi Spooner

Role: Auto Branch Manager, Underwood

Time at O'Brien: 19 years

Favourite pastime: Spending time with family

What led you to join O'Brien?

I was working at a dealership doing some extremely long hours. I dropped a car off at O'Brien and that led to a job offer. The boss at the dealership told me I would be back, and I set out to prove him wrong. In fact, before O'Brien, I hadn’t stayed in a role longer than 3 years as I had moved around a lot.

What is the best piece of feedback you have received at work?

Winning the Belron Exceptional People Awards “BEPA” for Frontline Leader of 2019. It was incredibly grounding to firstly, be nominated, and then to win was very exciting. Being recognised on an international level, feedback doesn’t get much better than that!

What do you want out of your longer-term career?

I want to be able to make a difference to the operational side of the business. We have a lot of great people in that team and I want to be able to help them by streamlining our processes.

What gender-specific challenges, stereotypes, or barriers have you had to overcome during your career?

O'Brien and its people have never made me feel as though being a female was a barrier or challenge that I had to overcome. For me personally, it has always been about my individual strengths and what I bring to the role. While this isn’t the type of industry that women flock to, I have never heard the words ‘you can’t do this”

Name: Vivian Oppl

Role: Group Marketing Manager, Support Office

Time at O'Brien: 2 years

Favourite pastime: Sailing, mountain biking, spending time with my dogs

What led you to join O'Brien?

In the literal sense, it was a recruiter. I applied for one role being offered by the agency but after reading my CV they called me saying I was a better fit for another Marketing role. The job description sounded just perfect for me and was filled with many opportunities. When they revealed it was for O'Brien, I couldn’t help but sing their jingle – O’ O’ O’ O'Brien – and then I wondered why I hadn’t heard it in so long. I was excited to be part of O'Brien and help bring it back.

What do you want to achieve in the future?

My life so far has taught me I need to be flexible and say yes to opportunities that are presented to me. You just never know where they will lead. What if I never said yes to working in Norway and travelling solo through Europe for 2 years before going to Uni? What if I never asked in my first ever interview if the job could be done part-time and not full-time so I could finish my degree? What if I never said yes to an acquaintance to take me sailing which led to racing from Sydney to Lord Howe Island and my love for sailing and my love for him. I’ll never know, but saying yes to opportunities has led me down new and exciting paths that have shaped my life and my career.

What women support and inspire you in your career?

It’s not just women who have inspired me in my career but men too. I still remember the first email I received from one of my earliest Managers. After our very first meeting, he sent me an email titled “Marketing support for you”. He explained he could see my potential and wanted me to step up and lead the marketing direction and build a team. It was the first time I felt someone believed in me. At the same time, I had another wonderful Manager enter my life. She taught me the hands-on practical aspects of marketing and pushed me to look at things differently. Before I knew it she had me travelling to international marketing conferences presenting best practices to my global marketing colleagues – I was 27 at the time.

I thank all those people in my life who have believed in me and presented me with opportunities to grow and learn from. I only hope I’ve been able to offer the same in return to them.

We’re constantly looking for new superstars to join our team at O'Brien^®. Visit obriencareers.com.au to learn more about the different types of roles we offer, and explore our current vacancies – we look forward to receiving your application!

The post Inspirational Women Working With O’Brien® appeared first on O'Brien.

Mark is the expert featured in our new 15 and 30 second radio ads that are playing on radio stations across NSW and QLD. The purpose of the ads is to reinforce the message that chips on your windscreen could crack at any time, and therefore the importance of getting chips repaired before they do. 

‘With international travel still not back on the cards, we know a lot of people will be driving to holiday destinations within Australia this year. It’s much easier and quicker to get a windscreen chip repaired than to have to replace the entire windscreen and we hope these ads will remind people to get the repair done before they pack their bags,’ said Vivian Oppl, Group Marketing Manager.  

Mark was first thrust into the spotlight in 2008 when he was tapped on the shoulder to be part of a radio ad. Since then he has featured in several TV and radio marketing campaigns, a couple of which you can see here!

Mark TV Ad 1

Mark TV Ad 2

Having had that previous experience, Vivian was keen to cast Mark again in the new ads. 

“We think it lends credibility to our advertising to feature one of our techs and Mark is a hugely likeable personality. So passionate and knowledgeable about O'Brien® and the business. He has a warm, natural way of presenting information that is so quintessentially Australian,” said Vivian. 

In his 27 years with the business, Mark has worked as a mobile vehicle glass technician, a senior branch technician and now, a technical trainer.  

O'Brien® has approximately 7 technical trainers across the business. Mark is part of this team whose responsibility it is to train all new O'Brien® AutoGlass technicians on all elements of windscreen repair and replacement and most recently, driver safety system recalibration. The technical trainers are experts on existing technology and have their fingers on the pulse of the new technology and products out there to further improve the process. 

What Mark likes most about the business is the people at O'Brien® and the fact he’s solving problems for customers. ‘I work with a great team and really love the work I do to help constantly focus on always improving standards and the service we provide our customers.’ 

Outside of work, you’ll find Mark on the tools at his own house or on the golf course. 

And if you do need a windscreen repair or replacement, you can always call O'Brien® on 1800 059 829 to book it in. 

The post Meet Mark – Our Technical Trainer and Voice of Our New Radio Campaign! appeared first on O'Brien.

Although he joined as an apprentice, glazing is his second trade, having already worked as a fitter and machinist.

Matt says the best thing about being on the tools with O'Brien^® is the comradery and the fact that every day in the job is different.

“I love how everyone brings their own skills and experience to the role. There are lots of tips and tricks and everyone brings something unique. I have been fortunate enough to have worked in a great team and been taught well.”

Matt admits to being a perfectionist in his work, which is great news for his customers.

“The best part about my job is seeing the job from start to finish; assessing the damage, working to fix the damage and then ensuring the customer is happy and satisfied with the result.”

There has been a fair bit of development in Matt’s part of Sydney and he has relished the opportunity to work on large scale commercial jobs that require more than one glazier. In the biz, they are referred to as “multi-handler”.

“The large scale commercial stuff can be complex and require different thinking to be able to do the work safely but I find it hugely rewarding to solve those problems as part of a team.”

Outside of work, Matt is a keen snowboarder and the sport has taken him around the world. He’s looking forward to getting his daughter out on a board in time.

The post Local Glazier Spotlight – Matt Clarke, Sydney’s North Shore appeared first on O'Brien.