This Week We Feature Young Professional Dwayne R. Nibbs
Dedicated, charismatic, ambitious and hardworking are just a few words to describe this week’s young professional. Dwayne Nibbs, at 35, is the Deputy Chief Surveyor in the Survey Department that falls under the Ministry for Natural Resources and Labour.
For the past six years, he has been managing the overall daily functions of the department, assigns tasks to eight surveyors – six certified and two trainees - who have to survey lands for the Crown or private companies and ensure that they are completed in a timely fashion and effectively. Notwithstanding that, he also goes out in the field as well.
Unlike other young professionals who may have dabbled with other jobs before landing the “it job”, Nibbs has been in the profession for 16 years.
It all began during his internship at the Survey Department, and upon his graduation in 1994 from the then BVI High School, he was called back immediately to begin his stint as a trainee land surveyor.
With a grin, Mr. Nibbs recalled “if graduation was a Saturday. I got the call the Monday informing me they wanted me back full time. So I really did not have time to relax not that I minded because I liked it. It offers both ‘in office’ and field work. They liked me because I showed enthusiasm. They said I fit what they needed for someone coming up in this profession.”
Due to his passion for the job, Mr. Nibbs spent two years as a trainee before pursuing his Tertiary education at the University of Technology in Jamaica where he obtained a certificate and Diploma in Land Surveying.
He also studied for and is about to earn an Executive Diploma in Management from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. According to the young professional, he decided to study management because he thought he needed to manage himself first, thereby allowing him to be better equipped for his job functions.
“It’s not all about knowing the technical stuff. Yeah it’s good to have that, but it’s also important to know people and how to deal with them. Under my portfolio I deal with most of the office conflicts,” he explained.
And while some of us prefer the comfort of an air-conditioned office, this young professional prefers the outdoors. “I love the fresh air, embrace nature and interact with people.”
So what’s a day like in the field for the Deputy Chief Surveyor?
“Just a typical example there may be a dispute between two land owners as to where the boundaries are. It starts with extensive research where the records for both properties will be obtained from the Land Registry, the next step is to measure what’s on the ground. So I would go out and measure everything. But while being out there, there is sense of tranquillity, especially when you have to walk say half an hour or more to a site through the trail, ducking under the vines, avoiding all the insects, running from whatever strange insects you might see out there. But seriously many times the information on the ground takes precedence over the information on the map. It takes about one week for field observation and one week to draw up the plans,” Nibbs summarised.
On a personal front, he stated that the ardour of his work ethics stemmed from a disciplined upbringing by his father, John Nibbs, who owns a construction business.According to Mr. Nibbs, he used to assist his father during his school vacations and even after school at times, mixing concrete, painting and placing tiles, among other things.
“He taught me a lot. Like you don’t sit around while there is work to be done, the need to put your best foot forward,” he added. “He is proud of me. I saw him recently, and he shook my hand and made me feel so prestigious among his friends.”
Nibbs, along with his three sisters are the apples of their parents’ eyes, the young professional said with a smile.
When asked to describe himself, Nibbs replied, “I can tell you what people say! Some say I am a positive person, funny, some find me to be inspirational, and lot of them encourage me to stay focused.”
And while he does not see himself as a role model, his eight year-old son Nathan sees him as one. Nibbs revealed that just recently his son had to compile a composition on who he would like to be and wrote a two page article on “My Superdad”. The proud father and husband, who is married to Bridget, also has a daughter Nalea, whom he affectionately calls “Dumpling”.
Meanwhile, a glimpse into the crystal ball for Mr. Nibbs reveals him being self- employed and running a successful land surveying business and more children!
His parting advice for young men who could be just like him one day is to “work honestly and you will succeed in life. If you try to cut corners, to gain what you want to do or have, you will end up in the pits.”
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