You’ve been at Platinum for 8 years. What’s one thing that’s changed the most since you started?

A lot has changed – from every employee attending a corporate familiarisation day at head office in Brisbane, to having just one person in Maintenance (Matt Paine, in a small office out the back of Inspec in Dysart), and no gassing of product. Back then, we had no full-service contracts, and it would be another 6.5 years before we even loaded a quarry shot.

But the biggest change by far has been the construction of our emulsion manufacturing facility in Moranbah. Producing our own emulsion for site use was a huge milestone – and now that we’ve added capability for reactive ground, it’s become a real asset to the business.

You won the “Connect” Values Award last year. What’s your secret to building strong connections on site?

I endeavour to treat everyone with respect and listen to them concerning their issues on site. I try not to jump to conclusions and ensure that I have understood their instructions or questions correctly before giving my input or instruction. I also take a lot of pride in the quality of my work. Even when the task ahead is big, I try to focus on doing it right, not getting distracted by the volume.

What’s the most unusual technical challenge you’ve ever solved in your role?

The important thing to remember when presented with a technical challenge or issue, is that Platinum has the resources available to make an educated decision. Our procedures cover almost all day-to-day tasks, and our product TDS’s cover product specifications. If I still have questions or reservations, I’m not that stubborn that I won’t pick up the phone and call either Lachlan Jensen, our recently promoted Tech Services Manager or Senior Engineer, Christine Grealy.

Would you rather wear a hi-vis vest to every social event for a year, or explain how blasting works to a curious stranger every day for a month?

As I only go to a handful of social events a year that would be the easy option, however I thoroughly enjoy explaining blasting to people who have never been exposed to it before. I love how curious people get, but it also keeps knowledge fresh in my head.

What’s your favourite thing about Platinum?

Platinum isn’t as big as some of the other blasting providers which means it’s more personable. I doubt you’d find GM’s of other companies that know everyone’s name or find them driving an MPU, baiting holes, or helping on the small hose…or engineers for that matter – Nathan truly thinks it’s his calling and I’m looking forward to having him on one again! Platinum and I have a level of reciprocal respect and loyalty and I wish to see that continue in the future.