Meet the Team
Albert Smith
Group Managing Director
Albert Smith has been in the crane and construction industry for over 30 years. He has companies in Australia, New Zealand and Guam and has worked on projects all over the world. Albert was recently elected as the President of the Crane Industry Council of Queensland. Albert has partnered with other experienced and well known people from the construction industry to open Universal Cranes branches up and down the East Coast of Australia. He is also in partnership in a civil engineering company, Smithbridge, with branches in Guam, Australia and New Calendonia. Albert also has interests in Waikato Cranes, Auckland Cranes and Smith Crane & Construction in New Zealand.
Albert leads an award winning team that guarantees to provide you the best and most reliable service.
Joachim Schalck
General Manager Brisbane
Joachim has over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, and has quickly established himself as a valuable leader in Universal Cranes. He has worked with globally recognized organizations such as Vestas, Suzlon Energy, and Repower Australia in operations, maintenance, service, and training management. He brings a high level of management and technical expertise to Universal Cranes, providing valuable skills in pragmatic and efficient problem solving.
Colleen Lang
Managing Director of Universal Cranes Ballina
Colleen Lang worked as dispatcher in the Universal Cranes Brisbane office before making the brave move to Ballina to head the first of the Universal Cranes branches. Prior to working at Universal Cranes, Colleen worked 15 years for KM Crane Hire in Virginia. Her extensive experience in the crane hire industry has enabled Colleen to lead a professional and skilled team to provide effective and efficient lifting solutions.
John Hanna
Managing Director of Universal Cranes Sunshine Coast
John Hanna worked in rural New Zealand as a farmer for 20 years before moving into the crane and construction industry. John worked on several civil construction sites in New Zeland and then moved to Guam with his family where he joined the tilt panel team for Smithbridge. John also worked as Plant Manager on Guam. He and his family relocated to Australia in 2005 to open Universal Cranes Sunshine Coast.
Gordon Willocks
Managing Director of Universal Cranes Townsville
Gordon Willocks started work for John Smith Contractors in New Zealand as a teenager and has since worked on various civil construction sites. Gordon has experience in wharf, bridge and foundations construction. He spent 11 years in Guam working as Operations Manager for Smithbridge where he gained specialised experience in areas as broad as marine development, quarry and transport work before moving to Brisbane with his family and taking up the post of Operations Manager for the flagship Universal Cranes Brisbane operations. Gordon then moved north and focused on the Universal Cranes Townsville business, in which he and Albert have invested as partners.
Tony Billington
Managing Director of Universal Minicranes
Tony Billngton is a fitter by trade who has worked in mechanical and civil engineering for 30 years including 10 years spent owning and operating an excavating and cable laying business. He has been invovled in mechanical engineering in mines and civil projects through Asia, USA and Europe. Tony and his family moved to Australia from New Zealand in 2006 and Tony became involved in Universal Minicranes which was set up to specialise in limited access lifting.