PORT Stephens MP Kate Washington, NSW Business Chamber’s Duncan Burke, councillors Sally Dover, Chris Doonan and Steve Tucker attended a lunch with around 100 of Port Stephens’ business leaders to hear Rod Henderson, Managing Director and CEO of AMPcontrol, talk about managing through the mining boom and the lessons learnt in the crash.

Rod gave a candid account of how this Company has used innovation and communication to create a sustainable future.

While AMPcontrol was not alone in failing to foresee the market crash, subsequently shedding staff across their operations and liquidating operations in South Africa.

They now have a sustainable, diversified business model across four key sectors: coal, hard rock mining, tunnelling and renewable energy.

With a core business of providing safe electrics infrastructure, Tomago’s AMPcontrol is currently working on major infrastructure projects like Westconnex in Sydney.

Taking on input from the floor, using a bottom up and top down approach has seen the organisation evolve into one which is now stronger, robust, focusing on what they are good at, smarter cheaper and better than the competition.

Rod Henderson told News Of The Area, “There is a real need for first class training, this year the business plans to take on eight apprentices, three to four trainees and three to four university graduates.”

“In many ways it is good that young people leave the area and gain broader experience and then return bringing a new level of experience and expertise into our workforce.”

“AMPcontrol employs around 200 staff at our Tomago facility alone,” he said.

Port Stephens Council’s General Manager Wayne Wallis said, “We are incredibly well positioned for business in Port Stephens; we are on the doorstep to two Ports and we have the ability to deliver on a world class level.”

 

By Marian SAMPSON