THE GRILL: Bas Bolyn

Bas Bolyn is Svitzer’s new Global Head of Communications, a massive endorsement of his role since 2022 as Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs for Svitzer Australia. Dale Crisp sought the secret to his success.

Do you speak Danish?

I do not, but I will be learning. The Danish government offers a free Danish language program for recent migrants – I think the catch is you do need to go to X number of classes and pass for it to be free. Or you get a bill in the mail. The Danes speak excellent English, so, being a Kiwi, I’m hoping to learn a thing or two on that language too.

Did you push for your new job or was it the pull of the industry?

That’s a hard one to answer. I think with any role it will be a bit of both, as you want both a committed person that wants to do well, as well as an organisation that will support your learning, growth and development.

My overwhelming reflection on Svitzer, is if you work hard and you demonstrate value, then there are incredible pathways and opportunities available to you.

You have had quite a varied career, judging by your LinkedIn profile. Very multimodal. Which is your favourite?

I sound like a suck-up, but I’m generally in awe and a fan of the freight supply chain. In our industry – be it rail, road, sea or air – on the docks or at the terminals – you are at the heart of international trade, politics and current affairs. Our industry plays a vital role in sustaining livelihoods, improving quality of life and keeping our world connected. That’s pretty cool – and to boot, we have some awesome machines that do it. Right now, my favourite is maritime – and have you seen the TRAnsverse tug? An outrageously good invention by Svitzer.

Melbourne or Sydney? Or Auckland?

Sydney wins hands down.

Who is the toughest to wrangle? Soccer fans? NZDF? RailCorp?ARTC? A certain tug company?

I think everywhere I’ve worked the common theme has been really passionate people who are willing to call out bullshit and stand up for what they believe in. That keeps you honest – and when you are tasked with helping guide how you engage with your employees and customers, it’s a pretty welcome challenge. I think I have been chewed out at most of the places I’ve worked at (in a good way). It’s because people care and it helps keep my ego in check.

On your Instagram account you label yourself as a ‘manfluencer’. Were you instrumental in doing away with that silly ‘ship-assist’ when good old ‘towage’ is fine?

Ha. These questions really are a gee up! I need to lock down my social accounts it seems. My brother and I enjoying poking fun at social influencers, so it’s a bit of a play on that.

Tell me about your invention of the reverse sledge.

At the footy or the cricket, it’s very easy to give a player or ref a spray. If you’re on the sidelines, and you’re tempted to do the same, I suggest the opposite. Yell out the player or ref's name in a hostile way and then praise them. E.g. “Oi Ref! You have been very impartial this game, well done.”

In which sport have your talents been sadly overlooked?

I think everyone has had their moment of being Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite. Imagining they could have been that amazing sports star.

I think my talents have been overlooked in most sports, but it doesn’t stop the dream.

Does your love of “watching average parallel parking attempts” extend to close family members?

Of course. I’m completely impartial when it comes to parallel parking.

Every tabloid journalist knows how to muck-rake, and DCN used to be a tabloid. What dirty deed should we know about?

I don’t know about dirty deeds, but I have noticed that when you do try to be too clever, you often get found out. So I’ll sit this one out.

This article appeared in the October | November 2025 edition of DCN Magazine