Our Science People in NSW

We are currently seeking Development Chemists for our Mount Thorley Operations and I thought it would be great to showcase our science people. Christian has almost 5 years of experience working in our Mount Thorley R&D department, and prior to that, he worked as a Laboratory Demonstrator at Monash University. He is currently the site coach, where he gets to keep his passion for teaching alive by providing training in the DET units to newly starting employees.

One of Christian's teaching methods is to break down complex technical concepts into small steps, helping novices to understand the subject matter more easily. Christian is a Chemical Engineer, Analytical Chemist, Development Chemist, and one of the people our science employees have the chance to learn from.

This week, our Technical Projects Manager, Ben De Vries, sat down with Christian to learn more about his journey, his science career, and to give the greater team and our network the opportunity to get to know him better.

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What hobbies do you have outside of work?

Bike riding, Learning how to fly a general aviation plane, music, audio/hifi

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What are you truly grateful for in life?

Good health and living in Australia

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Tell us about the best day you’ve had in your working life?

First visit to a surface mine

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What is the one thing your co workers don’t know about you?

I have never worn a school uniform

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What is the best part of your job?

Doesn’t get boring with a Variety of lab and field work.

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What made you study chemistry?

A very inspiring high school teacher made me choose engineering and chemistry

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How did you come to be working with IPL?

Applied for a vacancy of Development Chemist on Seek.

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What are some of the important issues facing our industry presently?

Pushing the boundaries in physics and chemistry in the field of reactive and hot ground

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Where can you go within your career with IPL?

Grow within the company to R&D Specialist and further progress on the company ladder.

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What has been the best part of your development and growth with IPL

All the training provided, e.g. Blasting licence, etc.

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What do you like about our industry?

The real life big Kaboom!