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Ken Bladwell
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English Full professional proficiency
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Afrikaans Professional working proficiency
- Simplifying The Complex
- Cross Functional Problem Solving
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Workplace Safety
- Industrial Safety
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Bio
Credentials
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Lean Six Sigma Foundations
LinkedInFeb, 2018- Apr, 2026 -
Six Sigma: Green Belt
LinkedInFeb, 2018- Apr, 2026 -
Effective Listening
LinkedInOct, 2017- Apr, 2026 -
Fostering Collaboration
LinkedInOct, 2017- Apr, 2026 -
Having Difficult Conversations
LinkedInOct, 2017- Apr, 2026 -
Leading and Working in Teams
LinkedInOct, 2017- Apr, 2026 -
Leading Change
LinkedInOct, 2017- Apr, 2026 -
Managing Diversity
LinkedInOct, 2017- Apr, 2026 -
Managing Virtual Teams
LinkedInOct, 2017- Apr, 2026 -
Project Management Foundations
LinkedInOct, 2017- Apr, 2026 -
Photography: Exploring Composition
LinkedInMay, 2017- Apr, 2026 -
Become a Photographer
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Building Accountability Into Your Culture
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Business Ethics
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Communication Fundamentals
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Critical Thinking
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Developing Executive Presence
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Executive Decision Making
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Foundations of Photography: Exposure
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Foundations of Photography: Lenses
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Getting Started in Photography
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Introduction to Photography
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Introduction to Photography: Lightroom and Photoshop
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Photography 101
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Six Sigma Fundamentals
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Strategic Negotiation
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
The Elements of Effective Photographs
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Up and Running with Lighting: Natural Light
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026 -
Up and Running with Lighting: Studio Lights and Flash
LinkedInOct, 2016- Apr, 2026
Experience
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Warringtonfire
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Melbourne
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Laboratory Operations Manager
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Sep 2021 - Present
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Melbourne
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Kingfield Galvanizing
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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Production Manager
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Apr 2020 - Sep 2020
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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Megabolt Australia
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Melbourne, Australia
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Production Manager
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Feb 2019 - Jan 2020
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Melbourne, Australia
Manage the production of roof strata support equipment and scheduling of resources across morning and afternoon shifts.Identify production short comings and institute improvements, as well as improve personnel capability.Part of the negotiating team for the EBA
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Self Employed
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Robina Queensland
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Consultant
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Jan 2018 - Feb 2019
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Robina Queensland
Towards the end of 2017 I emigrated to Australia. I took some time out to learn about my new home, settle the family in and do volunteering work, while continuing to assist some of the companies that I was previously involved with on an ad hoc basis. I also completed a Cert 4 in WHS in order to familiarize myself with Australian WHS legislation.
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South Africa
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Mining
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300 - 400 Employee
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Manager Assisting Wind Down and Independent Consultant
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Mar 2016 - Jan 2018
EVRAZ Highveld Steel and Vanadium Limited, a 1MT pa steelmaker, produced iron ore, structural products, rails, flat products, semi-finished steel and vanadium slag in South Africa, and sold products locally and to the Americas, Europe, and Australasia. It’s steel products, were used in the construction, fabrication, engineering, mining and shipbuilding industries. The company also converted vanadium slag into ferrovanadium, to be used as a steel additive in high-strength steel. In 2015 the company entered business rescue and in March 2016 all employees were retrenched. As an employee with extensive experience of the operations and systems, I was contracted to assist the wind down team and later developed my own customers.DutiesResponsible for the management and delivery of technical advice relating to environmental and metallurgical issues during the winding down phase of the business rescue process for the Highveld steel works and Mapochs Iron Ore mine. Delivered technical and quality advice for main line rails production as part of a state tender, assisting estimating teams in the development of business plans and tenders.Liaise and interact with various authorities relating to environmental concerns and issues.Developed and implemented mitigation plans and strategies to minimise or resolve environmental legacy risks.Provided support and metallurgical assistance to teams and stakeholders carrying out due diligence assessments on the Highveld assets.Prepared business plans for potential clients interested in facilities at Highveld.Developed wide ranging strategies and initiatives to market operating assets and waste stockpiles. Provided consistent advice on metallurgical patents held by Highveld Steel.Recommissioned the laboratory and inspection services, providing the required metallurgical parameters and quality control requirements for the recommissioning of the structural mill.
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Manager - Technical and SHEQ
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Mar 2014 - Mar 2016
I was responsible for Metallurgical, Quality Control, and HSE portfolios, including associated management systems at the integrated steelworks and Mapochs Iron Ore Mine. I also remained actively involved in Enterprise Risk Management.Ensured compliance with ISO9001, ISO14001 and OSHAS18001 Management System standards by developing specific procedures and coordinating their implementation.Ensured operating divisions conduct tasks within the ambit of all environmental authorisations and held meetings every six months with environmental authorities, reporting on the progress of environmental projects. These efforts resulted in a favorable revision of the maximum particulate matter emissions requirements. While delivering effective safety leadership to a workforce of over 2400 people, I developed and implemented a safety turnaround strategy, along with ensuring systems and standards were applied, upheld and comply with legislation, reducing the LTIFR per million hours from a high of 3.23 in 2013 to 1.60 December 2015.Investigated serious incidents and ensured actions to prevent reoccurrences were implemented and conducted audits to verify effectiveness of corrective actions.Communicated actionable information to senior management, executive and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion whilst delivering regular progress reports, proposals, required documentation and presentations to all stakeholdersCreated an operational risk register for company shut down and assisted plants in drawing up their individual shut down plans
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Manager Strategic Risk
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Jul 2012 - Mar 2014
DutiesCreated and rolled out an enterprise Risk Management Framework across the organization in line with ISO 31000 and corporate governance requirementsEstablished a Disaster Management Plan to mitigate the damage of potential events that could endanger the company’s ability to function, including training to all direct and indirect employees.Developed, monitored and maintained operational risk registers for the operational and service divisions. Designed and implemented a risk appetite statement to control the identified risks to meet and maintain strategic objectives.Consistently reviewed corporate budgets, targets and objectives to identify potential risksEstablished and chaired the Corporate Risk Management CommitteeIdentified current and future risks impacting on business strategy and recommended mitigation initiatives.Produced and distributed regular, timely and accurate reports covering the status of risk management and potential risks to the Board, Executive and Audit and Risk Subcommittee.Managed the insurance portfolio, liaised with insurers and managed the corrective actions for the shortcomings identified during audits.AchievementsDeveloped and implemented a risk management framework in line with ISO31000, 6 months ahead of target.Developed and implemented methodologies to reduce the risk of strike action during the 2013 and 2014 employment negotiation sessions, resulting in zero strikes and zero production disruption.
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Manager Metallurgical Services
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May 2006 - Jun 2012
DutiesResponsible for group wide analytical capability covering steel, ferroalloy and raw material analysis, including QC, metallurgical advice to the operating divisions and control of the Corporate ISO management systems. A team of 180 people spread across the works.Managed, coached and mentored at team of 92 laboratory employees.Designed, developed and implemented strategic plans, improving operations of the metallurgical division, including LEAN and CI initiatives.Liaised with customers on metallurgical matters, providing prompt resolution to product concerns.Monitored test results, identified trends and recommended corrective actions.Provided technical advice to the operating divisions regarding metallurgical and quality concerns.Audited and improved ISO management systems for quality, environmental and safety, managing audits and ensuring rectification of non-conformances. Incorporated risk based practices into these systems.Obtained REACH registration for Highveld products. Maintained and extended product approvals for EU export of structural and boiler steels, as well as production of ship building grades. Coordinated the restructuring and provision of independent laboratory capabilities to satellite divisions. Submitted budget proposals, recommending commercial changes where necessary. AchievementsThrough coaching, training and improving employee competence, recapitalizing and modernizing the equipment, implementing revised work methods; significant cost reductions of 36% were realized and in some cases a 50% reduction in sample turnaround times were achieved.Developed a low carbon improved weldability variant of a high strength low alloy line pipe steel for use in the South African market. This contributed to market growth and sales of 2000t per month of new coil business.Managed the restructuring and provision of independent laboratory capabilities to satellite divisions as part of the Anglo-American sale of Highveld to EVRAZ.
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Middelburg Steel and Alloys
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Middelburg Area, South Africa
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Secondment to the Board of Middelburg Steel and Alloys
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Feb 2016 - Jul 2017
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Middelburg Area, South Africa
Middleburg Steel and Alloys is an entity to house environmental liabilities following the formation of Columbus Stainless, a stainless-steel manufacturer. The three main shareholders are Samancor (a major ferrochrome producer), The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (a state-owned entity) and Highveld Steel. ActivitiesResponsible for the safeguarding of Highveld’s interests in the remediation project.Monitoring of expenditure of funds and project progressEnsured good corporate governance and that issues of concern were addressed in a timely mannerCommunicated expectations to stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion whilst delivering regular progress reports, to all stakeholders and board membersAttended AGM, board meetings and site meetings
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Senior Engineer Technical
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Nov 2003 - May 2006
I was responsible for process improvement in the steel plant and resolving a particular problem with FeTi additions. I reported in a semi matrix structure to the Technical Manager and the Steel Plant manager. This role was hands on and required significant persuading skills.Duties:Reduce the consumption of FeTi and improve control over the Ti ratio in a stabilised stainless grade product.Provide metallurgical support to Steel Plant personnel in order to produce a consistent product.Ensure business systems are implemented and adhered to.Interface between technical and production departments to ensure continuous improvement of technical standards.AchievementsRevised ferritic stainless steel 409 additions practice which lead to a 23% reduction in Ti consumption.Identified and implemented various cost saving initiatives that lead to annualized savings in excess of R15m.Learnt a valuable lesson in knowing when to step back after implementing an initiative that initially returned saving of over R5m but started showing negative outcomes.
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South Africa
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Real Estate
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1 - 100 Employee
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Various managerial positions in the steel plant
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Sep 1998 - Oct 2003
The steel making environment is hot, hazardous, fast moving and unforgiving; yet it is exhilarating and challenging. Highveld’s steelmaking process was unique as it was designed to extract vanadium and had many constraints which are not present in traditional steel making. I have had the pleasure of managing and developing the operations of this plant. Specific areas I have been involved in are:• Production management and production planning• Plant and personnel safety initiatives• Continuous improvement and cost reduction• Budgeting and forecasting• Raw materials management• Refractories• Contract management• Personnel development• Industrial relations• ReportingSome of my notable achievements were:• Achieved a record high yield• Reduced a specific raw material’s consumption to the extent it was mentioned in the supplies annual report explaining their decrease in sales.• Achieved record high refractory lining lives• More than doubled the casting sequence on problematic grades• First manager to receive an A+ rating in the management systems audit
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Assistant Manager Quality Control
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Sep 1992 - Sep 1998
The Quality Control department is subdivided into the following broad areas for which I was responsible for:• Quality planning, process capability development for nonstandard orders.• Visual inspection and non-destructive testing• Customer liaison and complaint investigation.• Mechanical testing and certification.• Physical metallurgy, failure analysis and incoming material control.Notable achievements• Reduced sample turnaround times in some cases from over 18 hours to below 4 hours• Specified the electronic in house quality and laboratory management system• Championed the development of the EDI for test certificates• Developed the chemistry and rolling practice for producing high strength heavy columns
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Senior Metallurgist
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Dec 1990 - Sep 1992
Responsible for the mills inspection teams, reporting on quality performance, advising on corrective actions and ensuring the implementation of these recommendations.Carrying out metallurgical failure analysis of heavy equipment and product, providing reports and corrective actions. Responsible for the mechanical test house which included control over samples and reporting results, machining samples and physical testing to various international standards. Producing and authorizing test certificates.Inspection of supplier premises and incoming engineering components in line with order requirements and relevant specifications.
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South African Air Force
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Pretoria
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National Serviceman
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Aug 1989 - Nov 1990
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Pretoria
Assigned to the Metallurgical Laboratory. Provided reports for a number of boards of inquiry, including the reason for a fatal aircraft accident. Had the privilege of working on first rate equipment and meeting a diverse group of professionals and provide input into novel solutions to overcome constraints.
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Metallurgist
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Jan 1987 - Jul 1989
Metallurgical work under the guidance of very competent and experienced mentors who gave me the opportunity develop professionally and allowed me to make important decisions for which I was held accountable.
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Learner Official
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Jan 1985 - Jun 1986
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Welkom
Learnt and ran all sections of the gold plant
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Education
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2000 - 2002University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria
BSc (Hons) Applied Science Metallurgy, Extractive Metallurgy -
2012 - 2015
International Institute of Risk Management
International Diploma in Risk Management, Strategic and Environmental Risk -
2018 - 2018
Inspire Education
Cert 4, Work Health and Safety -
1993 - 1999
University of South Africa/Universiteit van Suid-Afrika
BCom., Economics, Business Management -
1997 - 1998
University of the Witwatersrand
Program in Principles of Business and Management, Business Administration and Management, General -
1986 - 1989
Vaal University of Technology
National Higher Diploma Physical Metallurgy
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