How Michael Valerga Engineered His Way to the Top

Most people don’t think about what happens to their rubbish once it leaves the bin…but Michael Valerga thinks about it a lot. As Technical Plant Engineer at SUEZ Recycling & Recovery Isle of Man, he helps power nearly 10% of the island’s electricity by turning waste into energy. No biggie.

It’s exactly this kind of behind-the-scenes brilliance that saw him named in the Gef 30 Under 30 class of 2025, taking home a spot in the Innovation category, supported by Zurich Isle of Man.

Michael’s been quietly changing the game ever since he knocked on SUEZ’s door back in 2015, fresh out of school with a curious mind and a love for engineering.

‘I just enquired about any possible opportunities that could lead to a career in engineering,’ he says. ‘I started as the site’s Maintenance Apprentice, and I’ve been building from there ever since.’

Degrees, Steam and a Lot of Grit

It’s not just the machinery that runs hot at SUEZ. Michael’s career has been fuelled by a serious amount of hustle.

When a promotion required a degree, he didn’t let the fact he didn’t have one stop him. Instead, he signed up with the Open University and studied in his spare time. Four years later, he walked across the stage in Manchester with a degree in Environmental Technology and Sustainability, cheered on by his family.

Not bad for someone who didn’t think university was ever on the cards.

‘That whole experience taught me that even the most unlikely is achievable,’ he says.

Always Something to Upgrade

So what exactly goes on inside the energy-from-waste plant? According to Michael, it’s a bit of an engineering wonderland, but one most people don’t even know exists.

‘There’s a lot of complexity involved in turning waste into energy,’ he says. ‘We use heat to create steam, spin a turbine at 8000rpm and generate enough electricity to power approximately a tenth of the island.’

And while the tech is cool, the part Michael gets excited about is finding ways to make it work even better.

‘As engineers, it is part of our everyday role to come up with innovative ways to improve process efficiency and methods of work, whether it’s improving how efficiently we run or rolling out initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint,’ he says.

It’s that everyday commitment to improvement that bagged him his spot in the Innovation category. From cutting utility use and boosting biodiversity to working smarter and connecting with the community, Michael’s the kind of person who doesn’t sit still for long.

F1 Inspiration and Engineering Wisdom

When it comes to role models, Michael doesn’t go for the usual suspects. His pick? Toto Wolff, the man behind Mercedes’ Formula 1 dominance.

‘He shows that innovation isn’t only about technology,’ Michael says. ‘It’s also about how you lead people, build trust, and make data-driven decisions to drive success.’

And speaking of wisdom, there’s one bit of advice that’s stuck with him from a colleague back in the UK: ‘Issues that appear in front of you aren’t blockers, they’re opportunities to create new solutions.’

If that’s not an engineer’s motto, we don’t know what is.

A Moment That Meant Something

Winning a spot on the Gef 30 Under 30 list wasn’t just a nice LinkedIn update. It hit a bit deeper.

‘To know that what I’m doing is meaningful, and valued by others means a lot,’ Michael says. ‘It’s motivating. It pushes me to keep going, to keep aiming higher.’