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Minova Sees Personnel as Key to Its Future

13 July 2011

SEVENTY per cent of Minova’s Queensland underground workforce entered the industry through its clean skin program which it started in 2005 to help sustain growth within its underground contracting division.

This focussed program, which facilitates the safe introduction of new workers to the underground mining industry, involves a staged introduction to the underground mining environment with a range of time and skills based objectives over a 12-18 month period.

During this time personnel are able to obtain the necessary tickets required to operate bolters and underground diesel equipment including personnel transport and loaders. 

Acknowledging the current shortage of available personnel to support the growing requirements within the Australian mining industry, Minova has taken a proactive approach to ensure the high calibre of its personnel continues into the future, it said. 

“One of the keys to success for any organisation is a healthy level of good quality personnel both in existing and developing roles,” it said.

During 2010 Minova joined parent company Orica’s Global Graduate Program.  This three year rotation program has run within Orica for more than 20 years and includes more than 70 new graduates globally each year covering multiple areas within the business.

The best-in-class program aims to develop high potential graduates for a strong pipeline of future leaders.  Graduates attend annual development workshops, experience three diverse rotations and are mentored by Orica and Minova’s current leaders.

Minova Australia general manager Greg Warren a former graduate of the Orica program, is now a member of the Orica graduate advisory committee who guide and champion the program.

Mining engineers Chris Hunter and Daniel Polack commenced at the beginning of 2011 as the first two graduates within Minova Australia.

After spending his first year of rotation in hard rock with Orica Mining Services, Hunter in his second year is now based with Queensland operations in Mackay supporting Minova’s growing underground coal Emergency Response and Ventilation business.

Polack has joined Minova’s technology team based in New South Wales during his first year and may remain within Minova for the full three years of his rotation.

The graduate program is growing within Minova and two more graduates are expected to start by January 2012.

In 2010 Minova Technology also recruited the services of Dr Chris Lukey (PhD-Chemistry) to lead the resin products development program.

Prior to starting with Minova Chris spent 12 years on the engineering faculty at the University of Wollongong where he worked on collaborative projects with BlueScope Steel as well as being the lead researcher on the Tough Skin Project.

Dr Lukey’s role with Minova ranges from improvements to existing products and processes right through to blue sky projects on new chemical technology.