Meet Callum McNaughton, Registered Surveyor and Townsville General Manager

With more than 25 years of experience across Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand, Callum McNaughton brings depth, direction and a people-first approach to the Vision Surveys Townsville team.

He joined Vision Surveys in August of 2025 and hit the ground running, guiding his team, connecting with clients and helping strengthen operations. “It’s been great to see everyone come together,” Callum said. “The crew here are committed and capable, there’s a real sense that we’re building something solid together.”

A leader who backs his team

Callum has spent much of his career leading survey teams across mining, engineering and cadastral projects. He’s held registration in three states, New Zealand and served as President of the Australian Institute of Mine Surveyors and as a Mine Surveying Adviser for the Surveyors Board of Queensland.

For him, leadership starts with people. “The team is the backbone of this office. I’ll always drop everything when they need a hand,” he said. “Seeing them grow, seeing them lift, that’s what motivates me.”

He believes good mentoring is the key to a strong team and a stronger industry. “I’ve trained a lot of surveyors over the years,” Callum said. “It’s not about putting yourself out of a job, it’s about building capability. The better surveyors we have out there, the better the industry becomes.”

A lifelong learner

Despite decades in the field, Callum isn’t done learning. In 2023, he completed a Bachelor of Spatial Science (First Class Honours), returning to university after twenty years to formalise his experience. “Going back to Uni after all that time was a challenge,” he said. “But it reminded me what it’s like to be the student again, that’s made me a better mentor.”

Now he’s working toward his Cadastral Surveying endorsement, continuing to grow his own expertise while encouraging his team to do the same.

From architecture to surveying

Callum’s path into surveying started with curiosity. While studying an architectural diploma, he took a surveying subject and never looked back. “It’s the best of both worlds,” he said. “You get to be outdoors, you get to problem solve and there’s always new tech to learn and play with (I mean survey equipment!).”

Life outside the field

Outside of work, Callum’s life is full of family, laughter and the kind of stories that make you smile. He and his wife Trish have six kids between them and nearly seven grandchildren. “Yep, we’re the Brady Bunch. And to top it off, Trish’s mum’s name is Alice,” he laughed.

For Callum, balance and perspective are what keep him grounded. “Surveying can take you anywhere, but it’s the people around you that make it worthwhile, your team, your clients, your family. That’s what keeps me showing up.”