Ian Faber

In 2007, Ian founded PSA Engineering to deliver specialised process automation and safety systems.

“I’d been here for two years when I decided there was a need in the market for a company that could do a lot in the oil and gas industry and in safety systems. That’s where the name PSA Engineering came from – process safety and automation engineering.”

Under Ian’s leadership, PSA Engineering grew organically in a very short space of time. In response to the needs of the market, the automation side of the business developed faster than the process safety side in those early days. Working in partnership with major operators, PSA Engineering became recognised as a technical leader in coal seam gas control systems. And with Ian as lead engineer, the company delivered the first end-to-end automation and safety systems for two of Queensland’s LNG Upstream operators.

“I’ve always wanted to create a company that is slightly different from your normal automation company. That was the reason we included process safety. We wanted to provide a unique service.”

Fast forward to today, and Ian’s vision is coming full circle. As experts in both automation and functional safety, PSA Engineering brings together years of industry expertise with leading technologies to deliver integrated engineering and digital solutions for Australian industries. Our team includes highly qualified specialist engineers and TÜV certified functional safety engineers – specialising in not just process but also machine safety – as well as skilled hazards contractors and field technicians.

For Ian, being in business is an ongoing process of review and reinvigoration. It’s an approach that’s worked exceptionally well for him over the years. He successfully ran his first company in South Africa for over 15 years before founding PSA Engineering over a decade ago.

“I’ve always had a philosophy that your company stagnates after five years. That’s when you need to change the direction of your business and take at least a 90 degree turn so that your competitors are left grounded.”

For PSA Engineering, the next turn is going back to the fundamentals of why Ian started the business and a major forever priority was delivering end-to-end functional safety services.

“We’re looking very much at safety as a core focus. Not only process safety, but machine safety, process safety, that whole area. We’re a leader in that space and we’re looking to grow further.”

A prime example of PSA Engineering safety expertise is the exceptional work we’ve done for clients in the amusement park industry, where we’ve delivered best-practice safety standards and achieved the most stringent compliance levels for some of Australia’s leading operators.

Our capability to provide such total solutions to complex problems stems from Ian’s can-do attitude and his ability, like all great leaders, to surround himself with great people.

“I believe in people. I really think the business is about people. It’s not about me, it’s about the people who I have employed… At my age, I’ve realised that I have to change with the times; the younger generation is taking over and they have different way of operating, and I embrace that.”

The younger generation includes Ian’s son, Grant Faber, who joined the business as Commercial Manager. Ian is really enjoying seeing Grant and the new management team, including Jamie Parry and Mark Gracias, coming together to drive the business forward. Ian has seen the culture in the company flourishing, and it’s something that delivers him a great sense of pride.

“I’m really proud of the culture of the business. Being able to harmonise all these cultures together and have everybody work so well. We really are together as one as a company.”