Hosted by Kieran Moran, the Connecting Industry Podcast series connects you with the stories of the people who work in the resource and construction sector throughout Australia. It's our goal to connect you with the latest resource and construction news, information, and procurement opportunities, but most importantly, build relationships between you and our guests so you can connect with their stories and get a better understanding of how to communicate and tell your business story right.
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#69 Cory Ebenestelli: MitiLabs – July 25, 2023
Cory Ebenestelli is the Director at MitiLabs, an innovative company that specialises in providing cutting-edge solutions and products to companies across a wide range of industries including the resource and construction sector. Starting as an electrician, Cory founded Mitilabs to develop innovative IP for companies that need it most. In that time, he has developed HAVTrack, a device that can assist in preventing significant and permanent injuries that can occur from hand arm vibration syndrome, a syndrome that happens from continual use of vibration tools and equipment.
#68 Chris Davenport: Tranz Logistics – July 11, 2023
Chris Davenport is the Queensland State Manager for Tranz Logistics, a specialist transport company working in the pipeline, mining, rail, energy, civil and construction sectors. Starting his career as an apprentice Plant Mechanic working on earth moving equipment, Chris’ love for the Transport industry began when he started traveling from site to site working on machines which was followed by working with the likes of Chubb Security, TNT, Metro Express Transport, and Personalised Freight Management. Over his career, Chris’ passion for the logistics of the transport industry grew further where he now manages an extensive team and a fleet of vehicles and trucks as the Tranz Logistics Queensland State Manager.
#67 Tim Keffe: Actrua Performance Cultures – June 27, 2023
Tim Keeffe is the CEO of Actrua Performance Cultures, a company that’s passionate about supporting the true Growth of individuals, teams, and organisations. From working with companies like BHP, Glencore, Hastings Deering, Thiess, and Rio Tinto, Tim has an extensive background in operations, management, and leadership with career foundations in the Australian Military. Actrua Performance Cultures are an award-winning performance culture consultancy that focuses on behaviour change in organisations across strategy, culture, leadership development, and safety solutions.
#66 Mark Smithwick: Onsite Rental Group – June 13, 2023
Mark Smithwick is Onsite Rental Group’s Northern Region General Manager. Onsite Rental Group is a specialist equipment hire provider delivering intelligent rental solutions to businesses across Australia. Mark is a qualified and highly motivated leader, skilled in leading and coaching teams in customer service, and asset and operations management. Mark is adept at developing business improvement strategies and customer relationship management across a range of industries, including mining, oil & gas, construction, industrial, infrastructure, and government.
#65 Willem Robinson: STEINERT Australia – May 30, 2023
Willem Robinson is the Business Development Manager for STEINERT Australia. From traditional and trusted magnetic separation equipment, right through to sensor sorting technologies, STEINERT Australia have developed intelligent separation and sorting solutions for a range of industries throughout the Mining, Resource Recovery, Scrap, Waste and Recycling sectors. Willem is an experienced Chief Sales Officer with a demonstrated history in Business Development and Relationship Management across cultures and has helped shape the direction of the company through analysing markets and identify avenues of growth.
#64 Scott Walton: CQ Soil Testing – May 16, 2023
Scott Walton is the managing director and owner of CQ Soil Testing. CQ Soil Testing specialise in the investigation, sampling and testing of soil, groundwater, and geotechnical work for the domestic, industrial, government, and mining sector. After working in the domestic market for 10 years, over the next decade, CQ Soil Testing expanded into the commercial and industrial markets and the mining industry including geotechnical and pavement works. Since then, the company has opened offices in Hervey Bay and Mackay, have a fleet of state-of-the-art drilling rigs, and have grown to 12 staff. And now in 2023, the business is expanding again by starting their own soil testing laboratory – CQ Soil Lab.
#63 Brad Waldon: The Corehesion Group – May 2, 2023
Brad Waldon is the managing director of the Corehesion Group. The Corehesion Group transforms processes and deploys a suite of combining application modules to facilitate proactive planning and safety management for heavy industry. From starting his working career as a mechanical engineer to an analyst programmer, and even a high school teacher, Brad began Waldon Services developing custom built software for heavy industry however, to bring the company forward he only recently launched the Corehesion Group to ultimately bring together People, Safety and Productivity for industry.
#62 James Moohan: Vertical Horizonz Australia – April 18, 2023
James Moohan is the chief executive officer of Vertical Horizonz Australia. Vertical Horizonz Australia provide tailored safety training to various industries. With a solid background in operation management, business development and leadership, James started his working life as a plumber and then with the New Zealand Defence Force. On leaving the military, James reentered the construction industry as a senior project manager with the Hawkins Group post the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010/11 and in 2020, James became the CEO of Vertical Horizonz Australia, New Zealand, and International. His experience spans the construction industry, industrial Health and Safety, and Public Service.
#61 Anthony Groen-int-woud: Multitrade Building Hire – April 4, 2023
Anthony Groen-int-woud is the managing director of Multitrade Building Hire. Founded in 1979, Multitrade Building Hire has over 40 years’ experience providing quality temporary site accommodation buildings for the oil, civil, construction, and mining sectors allowing for turn-key solutions that can arrive on site and commence operations immediately. Originally starting his career as an apprentice plumber, Anthony eventually moved into the family business and built it up to one of the largest suppliers of temporary building in Queensland specialising in making project visions a reality.
#60 Cian Brennan: Quantum Contract Solutions – March 21, 2023
Cian Brennan is the Chief Executive Officer of Quantum Contract Solutions, a company that assists construction subcontractors avoid contractual landmines when it comes to contracts in the resource and construction sector. Cian was on, what he calls, ‘the Dark Side’, which is the Client Side of Construction, for almost two decades. Over this time, he saw hundreds and hundreds of Construction Companies being bullied contractually, losing money and going out of business. In 2019, after becoming deeply concerned with the state of the Industry and having inside knowledge of how the clients manage Contractors, Cian started Quantum Contract Solutions to help Construction Contractors. Please note: This podcast was recorded via a video podcast.
#59 Anthony Buenen: Gladstone Drafting – March 7, 2023
Anthony Beunen is the Managing Director of Gladstone Drafting. Gladstone Drafting are a specialist multi award winning design drafting and licenced building firm servicing the resource and construction industry including mining, infrastructure, local government and the building design sectors applying engineering, design and drafting services from conception to completion. Gladstone Drafting is unique in Central Queensland because of its approach to managing complex projects and its ability to supply all necessary complementary services in house, under one roof, and from start to finish.
#58 Mark Turner: Greenvale Mining – November 10, 2022
In the lead up to the Connecting Industry Luncheon on November 16 in Gladstone, we speak with Mark Turner, Chief Executive Officer of Greenvale Mining. Mark is an engineer with over 20 years of energy experience and a proven track record of major project delivery in the oil & gas, water, power, renewables, and nuclear industries. Mark expertise encompasses all project phases and across his career, he has held senior management and executive positions with Jemena Ltd, Wood Group, and WorleyParsons. Alongside sitting on the Greenvale Board, Mark also holds the role of General Manager of the Alpha Project.
#57 Arran McGhie: Genex Power – November 8, 2022
In the lead up to the Connecting Industry Luncheon on November 16 in Gladstone, we speak with Arran McGhie, the Chief Operations Officer for Genex Power. Arran has over 27 years’ experience in project delivery of large underground mine development and urban infrastructure projects, in Australia and overseas. Arran has held key roles on the construction of the Olympic Dam Expansion Project, Newcrest’s Ridgeway Gold Project, the Cross City Tunnel and Lane Cove Tunnel projects in Sydney as well as the Northern Sewerage Project in Melbourne. Since joining Genex in 2015, Arran has played a key role in the development of the companies Kidston Clean Energy Hub (Pumped Storage Hydro, Solar, and Wind) currently under construction in Nth Qld.
#56 Mike Wood: Sunrise Energy Metals – October 25, 2022
In the lead-up to the online Connecting Renewable Energy Conference NSW, we speak with Mike Wood, Sunrise Energy Metals Regional Manager for the Sunrise Battery Materials Project. Mike is an experienced project manager with over 25 years operational experience in mining and minerals processing across nickel, uranium, copper and gold. He has held numerous leadership roles over the past 20 years across projects, engineering, maintenance and operations disciplines. Mike has worked across a variety of management roles with China Molybdenum, Rio Tinto, North Limited and Western Mining. Mike holds an MBA from Charles Sturt University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic engineering from Flinders University and is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia.
#55 Clare Sykes: Hunter Hydrogen Technology Cluster (NewH2) – October 18, 2022
In the lead-up to the online Connecting Renewable Energy Conference NSW, we speak with Clare Sykes is Cluster Manager for NewH2 – Hunter Hydrogen Technology Cluster. She is an advisor in resources and energy sector value chains and has worked across government and listed companies. Her career has included the support of various multi-stakeholder initiatives including technology and decarbonisation roadmaps, industry cluster development, and challenge-based innovation programs. With engineering and applied finance qualifications, Clare brings a broad perspective to the scope and possibilities in future energy and resource sectors. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), is a Churchill Fellow, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Newcastle Institute of Energy and Resources (NIER) and Chair of Resources NSW an initiative of the NSW Energy and Resources Knowledge Hub.
#54 Maja Barnett: Tilt Renewables – October 4, 2022
In the lead-up to the online Connecting Renewable Energy Conference NSW, we speak with Maja Barnett, the Project Director of the Liverpool Range Windfarm for Tilt Renewables. Having worked in the renewables industry since 2002, Maja has experience in the end-to-end development of renewable projects from initial site investigation and new technologies and acquisition opportunities, through to asset management and operations. In her current role, Maja leads the development of the large-scale Liverpool Range Wind Farm which involves the coordination of a multifaceted team to deliver the strategic objectives for the business and advance the project through to financial close.
#53 Greg Story: Hunter Lakes Corporation – September 20, 2022
In the lead-up to the online Connecting Renewable Energy Conference NSW, we speak with Greg Story, the Director of the Hunter Lakes Corporation who are developing the Hunter Lakes Scheme, a project involving the establishment of interconnected water reservoirs in the Upper Hunter Valley in NSW. Greg has worked on large scale infrastructure developments for over 30 years with investment banks and major internationals. In those roles he arranged developments and investments in mining and resource projects, power stations, electricity transmission and distribution assets. Greg was involved in sustainable infrastructure in Europe for 8 years, particularly Renewable Energy and is now focussed on sustainable infrastructure in Australia.
#52 Nick Sankey: BlueFloat Energy – September 6, 2022
In the lead-up to the online Connecting Renewable Energy Conference NSW, we speak with Nick Sankey, Country Manager of BlueFloat Energy, a company developing the Hunter Coast and Wollongong Offshore Wind Projects in New South Wales. Nick has worked in the energy sector for over 20 years and is currently responsible for offshore wind project developments for BlueFloat Energy in Australia by leading the development of projects from site screening through to the Final Investment Decision (FID) and beyond. Nick manages site selection, consenting, development planning, and establishes and maintains relationships with strategic partners and key local stakeholders.
#51 Andy Evans: Oceanex Energy – August 23, 2022
In the lead-up to the online Connecting Renewable Energy Conference NSW on October 27, we speak with Andy Evans, the CEO and founder of Oceanex Energy. Oceanex Energy is an Australian company who are progressing the development and construction of up to 5 offshore wind farms including the Novocastrian Offshore Wind Farm, 20km off the coast of Newcastle, NSW. Andy has 20 years of experience in Australia’s energy sector and has been heavily involved in the development of renewable energy projects since 2006, firstly in onshore wind and bioenergy, before introducing offshore wind to Australia in 2012.
#50 Steven Boxall: Resource Centre of Excellence – June 28, 2022
Steven Boxall is CEO of the Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay, Queensland. Steven has a proven ability to drive business improvement outcomes across both public and private organisations as well as experience working across all levels of government and doing business with a strong focus on communication and engagement. The Resources Centre of Excellence was established to connect the brightest minds in research, technology, education, and METS to shape the resources sector of the future.
#49 Samantha Martin: RX Global – Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME) – June 14, 2022
Samantha Martin is the Event Director for RX Global, the people behind the WA Mining Conference & Exhibition, and the Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition to be held from the 19th to the 21st of July in Mackay. With over 15 years working in event management, Samantha is a passionate and experienced event and marketing professional. For over 25 years the Queensland Mining & Engineering Expo has been at the heart of the mining sector in Mackay and central Queensland showcasing supplier innovation and excellence.
#48 Ramone Close: YINDI Manufacturing – May 10, 2022.
Ramone Close is the Founder and CEO of YINDI Manufacturing, an Indigenous company that manufactures office chairs. Ramone is one of the speakers at the online Australian Wind Construction Safety Conference on May 19 which aims to assist the sector in the planning and implementation of wind projects specifically focused on safety, training, and community engagement. Ramone believes “finding someone a job can change a persons life” and this motto drives him to form great relationships with Indigenous communities to provide long-term employment opportunities.
#47 James Thomas: Australian Wind Construction Collective Founder – April 26, 2022
James Thomas is the founder of the Australian Wind Construction Collective. The Australian Wind Construction Collective is a collaboration of industry leaders under the shared objective of building resilience into remote projects and establishing a baseline in safety performance whilst creating a training pathway for regional and indigenous workers. The Australian Wind Construction Collective is hosting the Australian Wind Construction Safety Conference on May 19, a conference designed to promote industry awareness of the performance in wind construction and to support tangible positive outcomes in training and employment.
#46 Matthew Campiutti: Walz Group – April 19, 2022
Matthew Campiutti is the Chief Executive Officer of Walz Group, one of Queensland’s largest independently owned multi-disciplinary industrial infrastructure groups. Joining the company in 2013 as Chief Financial Officer, Matthew became the CEO in 2018 which now sees him working alongside the company’s shareholders to lead the future strategy of the business with a focus on ensuring Walz continues to be responsive to the ever-changing landscape of the resources sector.
#45 Cameron Smith: Fortescue Future Industries Head of Manufacturing – April 5, 2022
Cameron Smith is Fortescue Future Industries’ Head of Manufacturing. A former military officer who holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Cameron has over 20 years’ experience working in senior leadership roles in both government and private organisations, predominantly in the Military, Security, Construction and Mining sectors. Cameron has been with Fortescue Future Industries since its inception. More recently, he was given the Manufacturing portfolio where he is responsible to ensure all the major input systems and components for Fortescue Future Industries Projects are available at a viable cost, quality, and quantum, with a broad focus across the value chain and currently involves projects in wind and solar generation, hydrogen production, and major electrification systems.
#44 Arran McGhie: Genex Power – March 29, 2022
Arran McGhie is the Chief Operations Officer for Genex Power. Arran has over 27 years’ experience in project delivery of large underground mine developments and urban infrastructure projects, in Australia and overseas. Arran was involved in the construction of the Olympic Dam Expansion Project, Newcrest’s Ridgeway Gold Project and has also held key roles on the construction of the Cross City Tunnel and Lane Cove Tunnel projects in Sydney. Since joining Genex in 2015, Arran has played a key role in the development of the companies Kidston Solar and Pumped Storage Hydro Project and the Bouldercombe Battery Project.
#43 Cairan Dillon: Acciona Energia – March 23, 2022
Cairan Dillon is the Project Manager for Acciona Energia’s Aldoga Solar Farm Project in Gladstone, Central Queensland. Cairan has a proven track record of developing and delivering renewable utility-scale generation projects in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Acciona Energia is the biggest energy operator in the world that works exclusively with renewable energies. As project manager for the Acciona Energia’s Aldoga Solar Farm, Cairan manages all aspects of the development, including permitting, land contracts, grid connection, and commercial opportunities relating to the project.
#42 Aaron Schultz: Outback Mind – November 23, 2021
Aaron Schultz is the Director of Outback Mind. Outback Mind offers wellbeing solutions to men predominately working in the resource and construction sector to help them manage anxiety and stay healthy in body, mind and spirit including practical advice and self-management solutions that promote pathways to better mental health. Aaron’s vision is to empower those working in the resource and construction sector to take a proactive approach to wellbeing and become free of physical and mental illness by building healthy lifestyle behaviours that help them to become self aware, live more consciously and thrive.
#41 Matthew Healy: Greenvale Mining – November 2, 2021
Connecting Industry Podcast special edition: Connecting Coal Conference Queensland project Speakers and Sponsors. Matthew Healy is the Chief Executive Officer of Greenvale Mining. Matt is a highly experienced geologist and Australian mining executive. He has a Master of Science with first-class honours in Geology and has over 15 years of experience working at senior levels within major mining companies and several ASX-listed explorers. Matt’s experience is built across a range of commodities and deposit styles including copper, gold, tungsten, and metallurgical coal, in exploration and resource development capacities.
#40 Andrew Shaw: Makita Australia – October 19, 2021
Connecting Industry Podcast special edition: Connecting Coal Conference Queensland project Speakers and Sponsors. Andrew Shaw is a Business Development Manager with Makita Australia. Andrew is an experienced Business Development Manager with a successful demonstrated history of working within the wholesale industry. Skilled in Sales Management, Marketing, Negotiation, Business Planning, Operations Management and Coaching, Andrew has been with Makita for the past five years. Makita was founded in 1915 and is the world leader in manufacturing fit for purpose tooling and equipment solutions for the Building, Construction, and Heavy Industrial sector.
#39 Chantale Lane: Gladstone Engineering Alliance – October 5, 2021
Chantale Lane is the general manager of the Gladstone Engineering Alliance (GEA). The GEA is an organisation linking business with opportunity to create sustainable growth and diversity in the Gladstone Region that has been operating since 2003. GEA is committed in assisting the engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain services to meet world best practice for its skills, proficiency, capability, and quality of work. Their Mission is to represent, support and promote the capacity, capabilities, competitiveness, and the interests of GEA members.
#38 James Thomas: Risk Services Australia – September 21, 2021
James Thomas is the Principal of Risk Services Australia, a company that assists organisations manage safety risks effectively by monitoring, auditing and contract managing, to resolve risk management issues through leadership in sustainable improvement strategies and streamlined systems. James current industry collaboration has involved spearheading Australia’s Wind Construction Safety Forum, currently undertaking the “Yaamagara” initiative, aiming to benchmark training in wind construction to create a pathway of employment for Regional & Indigenous workers ahead of the 2022 construction boom.
#37 Garry Douglass: Gladstone Training Services – September 7, 2021
Garry Douglass is the Managing Director of Gladstone Training Services, a Registered Training Organisation delivering certificates and licences for the Resources and Construction sector. Garry was a part of industry training from his high school years with his parent’s running a successful RTO in Perth, Western Australia. After 20 years of Mining and Offshore Oil & Gas experience he decided to utilise his knowledge of the training sector to provide a flexible, inclusive training service to local Gladstone businesses and individuals.
#36 Tim O’Brien: Job Skills Network – August 24, 2021
Tim O’Brien is the Director of JobSkillsNetwork, a business dedicated to recruitment and business growth for regional areas. Describing himself as a Business Talent Scout, Tim assists businesses in regional areas, including within the resource and construction industry, to source and attract the right talent, for their highly-skilled and hard-to-fill positions, ensuring their businesses can continue to grow and thrive. With a strong background in HR and Recruitment, as well as Finance and Business Leadership, Tim is passionate about talent acquisition, commercial strategy and helping ambitious people to fulfil their potential.
#35 Jack Trenaman: SMW Group Ltd – August 10, 2021
Jack Trenaman is the CEO of SMW Group, an engineering and maintenance services company working in the mining and construction industry including rail and defence. With 30 years’ experience in the areas of industrial manufacturing, process and mining equipment maintenance, and management, Jack started as a Fitter Machinist, moved up to a maintenance manager, and worked in the coal industry including the management of contracting companies, prior to moving into the engineering business and co-founding, the SMW Group.
#34 Robert Dark: Industry Queensland – July 27, 2021
Robert Dark is the publisher of Industry Queensland, an online publication producing information on mining, construction, and infrastructure development predominately across Queensland. From growing up in a mining region to becoming a journalist in Central and Northern Queensland, to starting Industry Queensland as a print publication in 2004, Robert talks about the future, current issues and opportunities in the resource sector including the future of coal, critical minerals, the renewables industry, and the effects of the battery revolution.
#33 Peter Jones: The Australasian High Pressure Water Jetting Association (AUSJET) – July 13, 2021
Peter Jones is the Chairman of the Australasian High Pressure Water Jetting Association (AUSJET), the peak national industrial services representative body with members across Australia and internationally. Formed initially as a response to injuries sustained in the water jetting industry, AUSJET exists to strengthen safety standards for business and industry working in the Water Jetting, Drain Cleaning, Vacuum Loading and Hydro Excavation Industries. Peter has more than 20 years of management experience in the Service Industry and moved into the Industrial Service Industry in 2004 and is currently the business manager at KOR Equipment Solutions in WA, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.
#32 Mike Ferraro: Strandline Resources Limited – June 29, 2021
Mike Ferraro is Strandline Resources Ltd Technical and Marketing Director. Mike is a resource industry professional with 30+ years’ experience and is a qualified metallurgist. His experience includes significant roles including Managing Director of Doral and Chief Operating Officer of MZI as well as earlier technical and operational management roles with Cristal and Simcoa. Specific to mineral sands, he has managed completion of bankable feasibility studies, operational readiness from greenfield for several operations and subsequent management thereof, as well as oversight on several expansions including design, approvals, project management and market development.
#31 Nigel Hunt: Metronet – June 15, 2021
Nigel Hunt is Metronet’s, the single largest investment in public transport Perth has ever seen, Morley-Ellenbrook Line Principal Project Director. Nigel has over 30 years of experience in the design and construction of passenger, freight and heavy haul railways and his experience includes management roles for the design and construction of Perth’s last major new railway line to Mandurah. In the Pilbara, he has worked on major railway and non-process infrastructure projects for the mining sector.
#30 Sarah Smith: Scenario – June 8, 2021
Sarah Smith is the CEO of Scenario, a company that offers project, portfolio and enterprise-wide solutions, by providing a platform to manage project delivery, collaboration and processes for large to major projects. Sarah took over as Scenario’s CEO in June 2019 however, she started working for Scenario almost 21 years ago, initially starting her career in Quality Assurance, then specialising in providing workforce management solutions for mining for 15 Years, before stepping into various management roles within the organisation.
#29 Vincent Algar: Australian Vanadium Limited – June 1, 2021
Vincent Algar is the Managing Director of Australian Vanadium Limited. Vincent is a geologist by profession with over 27 years’ experience in the mining industry, spanning underground and open cut mining operations, greenfields exploration, project development and mining services in both Western Australia and Southern Africa. Since 2015 Vincent has been Managing Director of Australian Vanadium Limited and is responsible for advancing the company’s high-grade Australian Vanadium Project in Western Australia with its mine site south of Meekatharra and processing plant location between Mullewa and Geraldton.
#28 Anton Guinea: The Guinea Group – May 18, 2021
Anton Guinea is the director of the Guinea Group, a company that supports leaders to create high performing teams and an environment of psychological and physical safety predominantly within the resource and construction sector. As a 21-year-old sparkie, Anton survived a near fatal workplace incident which changed his life forever. Over the last 15 years, Anton has worked with over 150 businesses globally, and has dedicated himself to safety thought leadership. The Guinea Group have developed and implemented methodologies which create lasting and impactful safety change, through a combined approach to psychological and physical safety.
#27 Nicole Allison: EQIP Gladstone – May 4, 2021
Nicole Allison is the Operations Manager of EQIP Gladstone (Education Queensland Industry Partnership). EQIP is a non-profit initiative, providing a central point of contact to facilitate collaboration between Education Queensland, business, industry, and the community, to provide alternative education opportunities and career pathways into the resource and construction industry. EQIP’s Workplace Learning Programs have won two Queensland Training Awards for Industry Collaboration and have been twice finalists at the Australian Training Awards. Prior to EQIP, Nicole worked in Engineering, Safety and Training roles, predominantly in the Coal and Gas industries.
#26 Stefan Maslak: Stabilised Pavements of Australia National Sales & Marketing Manager – April 20, 2021
Stefan Maslak is the National Sales & Marketing Manager at Stabilised Pavements of Australia, the largest specialist stabilisation contractor in Australasia providing services in the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of pavements. Stefan has 20+ years working in the resource and construction sector within the civil and building industry. Utilising an established network of contacts in global markets, Stefan has worked for several companies in the sector not only throughout Australia, but with Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, India and Europe. Welcome Stefan to the program.
#25 Tony Harmey: Apricity Finance – April 6, 2021
Tony Harmey is the National Head of Sales and Relationships for Apricity Finance, a company that provides invoice finance facilities available to businesses providing goods or services to high credit customers including the resource and construction industry. In his role as National Head of Sales and Relationships, Tony works closely with his clients to ensure the model is right to assist with the continued growth of their business. Prior to joining Apricity, Tony owned and operated his own hotels for more than 20 years, providing him with extensive knowledge of small to medium enterprises, and the day-to-day challenges and opportunities they face.
#24 David Watt: Inland Rail Head of Commercial – March 23, 2021
David Watt joined the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) in 2020 as Head of Commercial for the Inland Rail Program. He is accountable for the Program’s commercial strategy, assurance, procurement and delivery strategy, as well as all procurement and contract management activities and insurance services. David has more than 25 years’ experience across all aspects of commercial, risk, contract, project, and general management – both on project sites and in the corporate environment – and brings his most recent experience from a range of Director-level roles at SNC-Lavalin. David’s sector experience includes rail, construction, commercial, aeronautical, mining, major infrastructure, ports and marine, and heavy power construction in Australia, Canada, the UK and Southern Africa.
#23 Paul Hodgson: National Energy Resources Australia (NERA) – March 9, 2021
Paul Hodgson is the East Coast General Manager, Innovation and Stakeholder Engagement for the National Energy Resources Australia (NERA). Paul works with stakeholders to increase the productivity, competitiveness and export potential of the energy resources sector. Paul has spent over 20 years exploring the competitiveness of businesses, industries and regions, and designing and implementing strategies to improve performance through innovation and collaboration and most recently, he has been leading the establishment of Australia’s national hydrogen technology cluster network, including a funding program for regional clusters across Australia.
#22 Joseph Adair: Green Tape Solutions – February 23, 2021
Joseph Adair is a senior ecologist at Green Tape Solutions, a consultancy specialising in environmental assessments, environmental approvals, ecological surveys and environmental auditing for private and public sectors within major infrastructure, mining, renewable energy, and residential developments. Before joining Green Tape Solutions, Joe worked within the environmental sector as a Project Coordinator and Sanctuary Manager for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Consultant to Arrow Energy and Papuan Oil Search and Principal Ecologist for the Santos GLNG project, and for the Queensland Government’s Parks and Wildlife Service.
#21 Dean Lynch: Snowy 2.0 – February 9, 2021
Dean Lynch is the Snowy 2.0 Relations Manager for the Snowy Hydro project. A fifth-generation resident of the Monaro and Snowy Mountains region, Dean has been a leader in the community as Mayor of the Cooma Monaro Shire and administrator of the Snowy Monaro Regional Council. He also has extensive experience in business as the former owner and operator of a chain of electrical retail stores, and in civil earthworks and contracting. Dean remains a retail business owner in Cooma and owns and manages Kunuma Stud.
#20 Barry Maluga: Emergency Response, Readiness and Recovery – February 2, 2021
Barry Maluga is co-founder and director of Emergency Response, Readiness and Recovery – a consultancy that assists the mining and industrial sector on emergency response planning, readiness and procedures, and developing recovery guidelines including auditing emergency response operations and emergency vehicle acquisition. Prior to establishing the business, Barry managed the Biloela Command for Queensland Fire & Emergency Services where he led the agency in natural disasters and emergency incidents within the mining, industrial and private sector including all levels of government.
#19 Kate Swain: McCullough Robertson – January 5, 2021
Kate Swain is a Leading Environmental and Planning Lawyer at McCullough Robertson based in Newcastle, NSW. Kate is a Partner in the environment and planning team and works primarily in the resources and renewables sectors with a particular focus on land access, pollution, water licensing and approvals, native title and biodiversity. She assists her clients through the complex development assessment process, including overseeing the preparation of project applications and environmental assessments and is recognised as a leading mining lawyer across the eastern seaboard with a detailed understanding of Mining legislation and associated policies.
#18 Ian Hudson: Industry Capability Network (ICN) NSW – December 15, 2020
Ian Hudson is the Executive Director of Industry Capability Network (ICN) NSW. ICN supports local and regional business by helping them access major project new business opportunities or individual buyer requirements. At ICN, Ian has held roles as Regional Manager in Central West NSW, where he engaged SMEs in major mining, construction and transport projects. Prior to that, he held an Agrifood industry role and Aboriginal business development mentoring role. With almost 10 years at the ICN, Ian now leads a passionate team of people located in regional and metropolitan NSW who are intent on helping buyers efficiently develop a competitive and capable supply chain by finding and introducing competent suppliers.
#17 Carey West: Loadscan – December 1, 2020
Carey West is the director of Loadscan, a company providing load volume scanners and measurement systems for mines, quarries, and civil construction companies for the resource and construction industry to optimise production and loading which has subsequently become the industry standard . Carey formed the company in 2012 when he acquired the license from Tally Clerk to manufacture and sell load volume scanners globally which was the brainchild of Carey’s father, Wayne West. Carey has since developed the product from the ground up which is now being used in over 20 countries from around the world
#16 Patrice Brown: CQG Consulting – November 16, 2020
Patrice Brown is the Director of CQG Consulting, a firm offering planning and development, environmental and engineering services to local, national, and international clients. Patrice has been a Corporate Environmental Advisor for over 30 years’ experienced in industrial and environmental management, regional business leadership and an advocate for sustainable development. A leader in environmental impact assessment and a Certified Environmental Practitioner, Patrice established CQG Consulting in 2003 as a professional consultancy to deliver practical, creative and cost-effective solutions throughout regional Australia.
#15 Mark Hinton: Longwall Hydraulics – November 2, 2020
Mark Hinton is the Manager for Longwall Hydraulics, a hydraulic engineering company specialising in design and manufacture of longwall pump and tank stations, based in Mackay. Mark has worked in the mining industry for the past 40 years beginning with working in a mineral sand’s mine in WA. For the last thirty years he has worked in sales and management with manufacturing and engineering companies in Perth and Brisbane, supplying equipment into the exploration drilling and the hard rock mining industries.
#14 Ben Hughes: Hughes et al – October 20, 2020
Ben Hughes is the Principal at Hughes et al, a local content consultancy working with resources and infrastructure projects who want to increase manufacturing and deliver on regional jobs. Ben began his career in local content in 2008 and has represented a range of proponents and contractors throughout Australia. He has only recently published the ‘Project Directors Local Content Guidance Note’ which provides thought leadership on how projects can maximise local content. Hughes et al work for tender and delivery teams and project owners to design and implement local jobs, supply, and regional capability projects.
#13 Sam Hill: Coffey Testing – October 6, 2020
Sam heads Coffey Testing’s Central QLD office in Rockhampton. Coffey Testing offer construction materials testing and geotechnical services for the construction industry from mining, oil and gas and residential projects to publicly funded roads and social infrastructure works. Coffey Testing Central Queensland has grown substantially under his guidance from its inception only two years ago to now having a Rockhampton based laboratory with over 20 technicians working from just below Mackay to as far as Gin-Gin in the south and west to Emerald.
#12 Jodie Currie: Bowen Basin Mining Club – September 22, 2020
Jodie Currie is the Director and founder of the Bowen Basin Mining Club (BBMC), as well as a co-founder of Strategic Mining Communications, a consultancy business working with mining industry leaders. Jodie started the Bowen Basin Mining Club in 2010 after seeing a need for mining industry suppliers to work together by bringing high-profile speakers to regular regional networking events. Jodie has established the BBMC Yearbook, an annual thought leadership publication, as well as recognising the industry’s achievers through the Queensland Mining Awards. In 2020, Jodie launched the BBMC’s newest extension, The Crib Room podcast.
#11 David Nunn: High Risk Solutions – September 8, 2020
David Nunn is the managing director of High Risk Solutions (HRS), a scaffolding company working within the mining, construction, and residential sectors. Operating for over 8 years and with over 2000 tonnes of scaffold available on hand and the backup capability when required, David has established a team of industry specialists where the business delivers specific project teams for large, one-off projects through their industry partners. . David has a double Diploma in Business and Human Resource Management and he believes his greatest asset is the ability to look at each job differently, often coming up with simpler more economical solutions.
#10 Edwin Davis: Pure Gold Films – August 25, 2020
Edwin Davis is the founder and creative director of Pure Gold Films, a video production company with a primary focus on the resource and construction sector. Edwin is responsible for all end-to-end production requirements and has an in-depth knowledge and passion for heavy industry and has been delivering unique insights and the right advice to create engaging corporate and commercial videos across Australia for well-known businesses and brands working in the resource and construction industry since 2006.
#9 Nicola Curtis: MAXAM Australia & OHS72 – August 11, 2020
Nicola Curtis is the Health, Safety, Environment, Quality and Security Manager for MAXAM Australia, PNG and the Pacific Islands and business owner of OHS72. Nicola is a qualified trainer, accredited auditor, and workplace rehabilitation coordinator and has extensive experience in mining, heavy manufacturing, transport, and infrastructure including RTO management and oil and gas. Nicola is also the managing director of OHS72 which provides health, safety, environment and quality assurance management systems and certification audit programs across the resource and construction industry.
#8 Andy Shone: The Southpac Group – August 4, 2020
Andy Shone is the CEO of The Southpac Group. The Southpac Group assist organisations improve safety across three key objectives – Human and Organisational Performance, Management Systems and Leadership. An active facilitator, lead auditor and consultant, Andy has led the development of innovative training and assurance programs covering leadership, quality, safety and continual Improvement all with a focus on the critical role of people. He is a postgraduate of the Griffith University Safety Science Innovation Lab in Brisbane and is a passionate proponent of cutting-edge leadership concepts and safety science.
#7 Stephen Grocott: Pure Minerals Limited – July 28, 2020
Stephen Grocott is the CEO of Pure Minerals Limited who are developing the Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub. He most recently sat on Clean TeQ’s ExCo where he was Chief Technical Development Officer having responsibility for process development, technical guidance and technology development for Clean TeQ’s Sunrise project. Prior to that, Stephen worked with Rio Tinto where he was Chief Advisor – Process Development, having responsibility for operations technical support and investment advice. Before that, he worked with BHP where he was Global Technology Manager – Minerals Separation & Hydrometallurgy.
#6 Leonie Andersen: Vision Environment – a Trinity Consultants Company – July 21, 2020
Dr Leonie Andersen is Director of Vision Environment -a Trinity Consultants Company. Vision Environment is a company of environmental monitoring specialists experienced in the fields of water quality and marine ecology. Leonie holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and a Masters in Environmental Science. A founding Director of Vision Environment, Leonie has over 15 years of experience in marine environmental monitoring and project management. She directs a team of 9, who specialise in the delivery of high quality real time compliance data, and provide technical teams for projects in Australia and overseas.
#5 Daniel Belton: ACCIONA Energia – July 14, 2020
Daniel Belton is a senior engineering professional and has worked across a variety of sectors, including engineering, automotive and defence. In his role as the General Manager Engineering and Construction for ACCIONA’s Energy’s business in Australia, Daniel leads a cross-functional team to design, develop, deliver and grow ACCIONA’s renewable energy portfolio. Daniel will lead the engineering and construction team for the MacIntyre Wind Farm, and his large-scale renewable energy experience extends to other projects including the construction and development of Stockyard Hill and MacArthur Wind Farm (both based in Victoria).
#4 Michael Swart: Industry Capability Network (ICN) – June 30, 2020
Michael Swart is the Executive Director of the Industry Capability Network (ICN) in Queensland and the Director of QMI JV – Online Procurement Services (OPS). Michael has held various senior positions in Europe, Africa and Australia and is skilled in procurement and supply chain, business development ,planning and operations management in the resource and construction industry. As Executive Director of ICN, Michael manages a team of procurement specialists focused on supporting major projects to achieve local content targets by identifying suitable suppliers to meet the supply chain requirements of the project.
#3 Mick Storch: The Bullion Group & 4PS Software – June 16, 2020
Mick Storch is the managing director of the Bullion Group and 4PS Software. Mick has worked in the mining, construction, agriculture, forestry, and water utilities industries which has assisted him to take a methodical approach to safety in industry. For the last 14 years he has converted his safety knowledge into the business and digital world where he develops compliance software for managing and tracking the requirements of people, plant, procedures, and processes, including the tracking of drilling activities and most recently digital customising processes for managing projects in engineering, manufacturing and plant hire industries.
#2 Lucas Dow: Adani Carmichael Mine and Rail – June 2, 2020
Lucas Dow, CEO of Adani Australia, is an experienced senior executive who oversees the strategic direction and activities of the Carmichael Mine and Rail. Lucas has managed full profit and loss accountability for multibillion-dollar businesses and capital projects. Prior to joining Adani in April 2018, Lucas held senior roles in global organisations including CEO and Asset President for BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance and VP of Operations and Director at South 32. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering and in his early career held operational and management roles in thermal and metallurgical coal operations.
#1 Paul Olsen: Brolga Cranes – May 19, 2020
Brolga Cranes & Equipment is the first 100% indigenous owned and managed crane company in Central Queensland. Managing Director Paul Olsen has traveled the country working in the crane and rigging game for the last 17 years but after long periods working away from home and inspired by his wife and two daughters, Paul decided to start his own crane company in August 2019. After putting things on hold due to COVID-19, he has only recently acquired his first crane which he’s branded with indigenous artwork and the spirit of the Brolga Crane and can be found working in Gladstone, Central Queensland.