OLD GUILDFORDIANS
The road less travelled:
Dr Michael Ottaviano
B.Eng MSC DBA MIEngAus MAICD
On 5 August 2015, a new initiative was launched, called the
Old Guildfordian in Residence program. The concept of this program
is to invite former students to the School for a day, to share their
life experiences and to provide an insight into their work within a
specific field. The first Old Guildfordian to be a part of this program,
Dr Michael Ottaviano (Wb 1986-1990), is the Managing Director
of a technology company called Carnegie Wave Energy.
Carnegie Wave Energy’s systems are made up of large buoys that
are submerged below the water’s surface and harness the energy
placed on them by waves, converting this energy into zeroemission electricity and desalinated freshwater. This technology is
environmentally friendly and has minimal visual impact. The buoys,
which also attract marine life, are fully-submerged in deep water,
away from breaking waves and beachgoers, and are unaffected by
storms.
During his time at Guildford Grammar School, Michael was a School
Prefect, Captain of Woodbridge House, Captain of Music and a
part of the 1st XI Cricket and 1st XVIII Football teams. Academically
speaking, Michael held the Charlotte Carlin Scholarship for 1989
and 1990, and also won the Council Prize in his final year. His
leadership skills and ability to engage those around him made
Michael the perfect choice for the pilot of the Old Guildfordian in
Residence program.
As a student Michael loved Geology. After graduating from the
School he went on to study at Curtin University’s Western Australian
School of Mines, in Kalgoorlie, for four years. He then took a job
at a Perth engineering company, which specialised in research,
and later went on to study for his Masters in Germany. One day
Michael happened to cross paths with the inventor of the CETO
wave energy technology. The inventor had an ingenious idea, but
needed help taking the concept to market, so Michael decided to
form a partnership and applied his commercial knowledge to create
a business model. Michael eventually took over the operation of
the company as Managing Director and now focuses on product
development and commercialising the wave energy technology.
As part of his day at the School, Dr Ottaviano gave an inspirational
address to students at the Senior School Assembly, visited a range
of classes, shared lunch with the students and engaged in several
question and answer sessions regarding his career path and
accomplishments post-school. On reflection و\