Diagnosed and repaired faulty variable speed drives and other equipment, did on-site maintenance and wrote the technical reports. MJK supplies control and instrumentation gear to the water industry.
SamRoberts
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The short version
I’m Sam. I grew up in Launceston, moved to Melbourne for uni, and worked my way through engineering and commerce degrees at Monash. I started my career in engineering on John Holland’s graduate program, then moved into financial planning, where I’m training to become a licensed adviser. Outside work, I’m building UltCast and writing Outpost Media.
- Based in
- Melbourne
- From
- Launceston
- Day job
- Financial planning
- Building
- UltCast
- Writing
- Outpost Media
- ATAR
- 98.35
The long version starts below.
Tasmania
Launceston
Melbourne
Where it
Act I
Where it
started
Launceston, Tasmania
Where I grew up, at the top of the Tamar. Finished Year 12 at Launceston College in 2017, with the Maths Specialised Subject Award and an ATAR of
98.35
Then, at 18
Across Bass Strait to Melbourne, starting out at Mannix College.
Act II
Two degrees,
plus work
Monash University · Graduated 2022Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)Major in Mechatronics. Honours project: a dynamometer for a model railway, which earned a distinction.
Monash University · Graduated 2022Bachelor of CommerceMajor in Finance, minor in Econometrics.
The bit I’m proudest of
For about a year and a half I worked two jobs on top of a full-time study load. I never failed a unit, never dropped to part-time, and still finished with a distinction average.
2jobs alongside full-time study
Ddistinction average
0units failed
0semesters underloaded
Along the way
Programmed a six-axis robotic arm to automate an industrial washing cycle for the AUSPACK 2022 trade show. Designed the gripper and system layout, and built a 3D simulation and animation to show what it could do.
Helped first-year engineering students find their feet, with academic guidance and support.
Plus the jobs that never made the resume: maths tutor, KFC, Village Cinemas, Metropolitan Golf Club and Melbourne Golf Academy.
Act III
John Holland
First stop
Graduate Program
Joined John Holland’s graduate program, rotating through engineering and commercial roles on two major rail projects.
Melbourne Metro Tunnel
Systems, then assets
16 monthsSystems EngineerAsset & Completions EngineerHelped senior systems engineers close out project requirements and contract specs. Then, as lead engineer, ran the project’s Asset Management Register and found ways to make the asset work quicker.
Inland Rail · B2A Tranche 2
The commercial side
Commercial & Financial AdministratorReporting directly to the Finance Manager and Commercial Manager. Led cost forecasting and budgeting, dug through the numbers for savings, and supported contracts and accounts on the works getting double-stacked freight trains through regional Victoria.
End of the line
Next stop: finance
I’d tried the engineering side of my degree. It had its upsides, but the finance side kept pulling me in.
Act V
Financial
planning
So I moved into financial advice. I’m learning the ropes at a small advice firm and studying a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning, on the way to becoming a licensed financial adviser.
What I’m building
Listen-along commentary for live sport, made by fans.
9:41
MMTip⋮
MagpieMick
128 listening
LIVE
Collingwood vs Carlton
Aussie Rules · AFL Premiership
Stop listening
Follow
9:41
Start a cast
Sport
Aussie Rules
League / Competition
AFL Premiership
Home Team
Collingwood
Away Team
Carlton
Tags
EnglishAnalyticalHumorousCasualStatsFan View
Go live
Home
Browse
Cast
Profile
9:41
Live now
Aussie Rules · AFL
Collingwood vs Carlton
MagpieMick
128
Rugby · NRL
Storm vs Panthers
The Short Side
64
Soccer · Premier League
Man City vs Arsenal
Priya K
41
Basketball · NBL
United vs Wildcats
Courtside Dan
23
Home
Browse
Cast
Profile
Your game, called your way
Watch the game wherever you watch it, and swap the official commentary for a caster who sounds like you: a die-hard fan, a sharp analyst or someone who just makes you laugh.
Pick a live game, pick a caster and listen along. If they’re good, send them a tip.
Start listeningGo live from your phone
If you already talk through every game, UltCast gives you a mic and an audience. Pick the match, tag your style and hit Go live. Play-by-play, analysis, comedy: call it however you like.
Share a link to bring your followers in, and keep around 80% of every tip they send.
Become a casterTwitch for live sports audio
Every big game has millions of fans and one official commentary. UltCast is the marketplace for the alternatives.
- Audio only. Casters add their own voice, never the broadcast itself.
- Tip-driven. Roughly an 80/20 split between creator and platform.
- Live beta. Built solo, out of Melbourne, and onboarding its first casters.
What I’m writing
An independent publication for long-form essays, media criticism and short briefs on politics, history and ideas.
Pinned essays
Outpost Reports
Long-form essays, often in several parts.
Press Check
Taking apart how a story was covered.
Honest Atheism
Religion, belief and society.
Outpost Briefs
Short reads: Atlas Files on countries, Concept Files on ideas, Flashpoint Files on turning points in history.
In short
That’s me.
Then
Launceston, ATAR 98.35. Engineering and commerce at Monash while working two jobs. Technical support, robotics consulting, then John Holland’s grad program on the Metro Tunnel and Inland Rail.
Now
Training as a financial adviser while I study a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning.
Also
Building UltCast and writing Outpost Media.