Connecting Industry

#14 Ben Hughes: Hughes et al

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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).