Professional Services Staff Award 2024

It is with great pleasure that we present the inaugural Professional Services Award to John Nieuwoudt, Property Manager at Scots College.

John has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication in his role, exceeding expectations and advancing the College’s Strategic Goals.

His unwavering commitment to excellence is evident in his consistent performance, which surpasses expectations. He takes immense pride in understanding the needs of the College and ensuring it is always presented at its best. His dedication is unparalleled—late nights, weekends, and even injuries do not deter him from supporting the team.

John’s contributions are invaluable, and his willingness to tackle any task, regardless of its size, is truly commendable. As one colleague noted, “John will do anything for us—from reloading toilet paper, to repairing heaters, to finding furniture, fixing ANYTHING, and ALWAYS has a smile on his face no matter what you ask him to do.”

John joined Scots College in 2019 as Custodian. He quickly demonstrated his capability to handle more responsibilities, leading to his promotion to Property Manager in 2022. This significant role encompasses the management of a team of six property staff, overseeing all College properties, including boarding facilities, grounds, residential properties, maintenance, and project work. Additionally, he manages our cleaning team of nine staff members to ensure the College is always looking its absolute best.

The year 2024 has been a testament to John’s ability to go above and beyond. This year, he not only managed his teams and the College’s day-to-day property maintenance but also volunteered to project manage the internal fit-out of the Gym Refurbishment project. This substantial project exceeded anything he had previously managed and would typically have required the College to hire an external project manager. Through his effective management, savvy contract skills, and innovative thinking, John successfully completed this project on time and under budget, without compromising the final finish or project outcome.

The following are a selection of the comments made in John’s nominations:

• John always performs above expectations. He has a high sense of pride for what is needed in the College and how to present it at its best.
• John is always available, always has a solution, super friendly. I know he’ll sort it out!
• John works tirelessly to ensure Scots provide the best environment for students to study. John is efficient and attentive to the needs of all staff and students and makes sure the Health and Safety is maintained.
• John embodies the spirit of service and dedication, making him a most deserving recipient of this prestigious award.