When Shanmugam Supramaniam joined the Singapore Harbour Board more than 40 years ago as an apprentice in an electrical workshop, he did not dream that it was the beginning of a lifelong career that would eventually take him from harbours to airports and around the world.

Today, the 62-year-old engineer at Keppel FMO is part of Keppel’s team handling maintenance works in airports all over Asia, such as the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Doha International Airport.

Back in 1963, Maniam underwent two years of training in the electrical workshop before being posted to the shipyard’s maintenance department. His strong work ethics and consistent performance gained recognition from his supervisors.

In the mid-1980s, when Keppel moved into facility management, Maniam’s skills gave him the opportunity to be transferred to Keppel Engineering to take charge of maintenance work at Seletar Airport in 1986. Thus began Maniam’s life-long career revolving around airports.

Nine years later, a promotion saw Maniam take on a major assignment to Singapore’s Changi Airport, taking charge of lighting and power generation work in the annex buildings and later in the then new Terminal Two. Not long after, Maniam’s career took another positive turn in 2003 as he embarked on a new assignment to oversee the upgrading of electrical works at the National University Hospital. This move came as Keppel FMO was expanding its business spread to government buildings, healthcare facilities, and institutes of higher learning.

Having to adjust to the different work environments and conditions was never a problem for Maniam who shared, “I was happy to take on fresh challenges and appreciate Keppel’s recognition and confidence in my abilities.”

Maniam’s strong track record and gamely attitude towards change and getting out of his comfort zone then set the stage for a global trot in an exciting slew of assignments.

In 2007, after 33 years in Keppel, Maniam took on his first overseas assignment as a facility manager in airport maintenance for Qatar International Airport.

Given his depth of experience and expertise, he was then posted as an expert in planning and M&E (mechanical & engineering) works at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India.

Notwithstanding the challenge and hardship of yesteryears, Maniam’s journey in his career with Keppel from harbour to airport has certainly rewarded him well with an electric dream come true.