Introducing Chemistry Australia’s emerging leaders

Last year, we established the Emerging Leaders Advisory Council (ELAC) to support the professional development of our industry’s #futureleaders and advise the Chemistry Australia Board on future strategic opportunities for the growth and sustainability of our industry.?

18 people were selected to be part of the first ELAC and we are profiling each of our emerging leaders and their professional experience to celebrate the wealth of talent within our industry.

This fortnight, we’re featuring ELAC member Kathryn McDonald , Altona Engineering and Business Improvement Manager, Qenos.

With a keen interest in tackling big strategic challenges and growing the engineering talent of the future, Kathryn is the Engineering and Business Improvement Manager for Qenos in Victoria.?Her multidisciplinary team works to improve safety, health, environment and business performance by implementing projects and creating or tweaking systems.?

What are you most passionate about in your working life?

I really enjoy leading teams to solve problems, making a tangible difference and helping others to reach their full potential.?Its hugely satisfying to be able to say “we did that” after completing a seemingly impossible task and know that we’ve developed new skills to solve the next difficult problem.

What do you believe are the most important qualities of an emerging leader in your industry?

The next 10-20 years will be a time of phenomenal change.?Being able to explain complex ideas and concepts in a clear and compelling way, helping people to adapt to change, encourage excellence in groups working on challenging problems and fostering the next generation of leaders and problem solvers are critical skills for emerging leaders within the chemical industry.??

What do you want to be known for??

Helping people and teams be the best that they can be.?Encouraging people to give things a go, try, take risks but use those results to learn and improve and ultimately deliver the best outcome.?Creating a constructive, collaborative environment for people to thrive and matching people and opportunities to develop the skills needed to solve hard problems. ?And at the end of my career, I hope I can look back and say that I’ve made a real difference.

What problem would you most like to find a solution to in your industry?

A substantial shift in energy sources and a move towards a circular economy will not be easy or straightforward.?It will be challenging, uncertain and at times we might not always pick the right solution – but this is all part of the learning process.?It is also exciting and a time of fantastic opportunity.??I’d love to be part of the decision process and making change happen as part of this upcoming transition.

What motivates or interests you outside of work???

Fingers crossed, I’ll have the chance to travel later in the year.?I also enjoy baking for friends, family and colleagues and listening to podcasts.