Ivan Waterfield
Chairman
General Manager – Engineering Services – WesTrac
Ivan holds a Master of Science in Advanced Manufacturing Management, a Mechanical Engineering Degree and a Tool Fitting trade qualification. Ivan has worked in the rail industry all of his working life, prior to his move to WesTrac. His work life has been spent in many countries across Europe, Asia and now Australia.
He commenced with Bombardier in the UK, then Alstom in 1996. He moved to Newcastle in 2005 to join United Group Rail, prior to commencing with Downer EDI Rail in March 2007. In October 2011 Ivan commenced with WesTrac to set up a new Business Unit to manufacture CAT products here in Newcastle.
Ivan has a keen interest in developing employment opportunities for the next generation of Apprentices, Engineers and Trades people. The opportunity to join WesTrac to bring Manufacturing back on shore under licence from CAT was an opportunity to good to miss.
Robert Wolter
Deputy Chairman
Faculty Director of Industry & Natural Resources, TAFE NSW – Hunter Institute
Rob has lived and worked exclusively in Newcastle. After completing his Electrical apprenticeship with NESCA (now Ausgrid), he began training as a high school teacher at the University of Newcastle. After graduation and some additional years of working back in industry, Rob began a full time career as a teacher of Electrical Trades at TAFENSW-Hunter Institute in 1982 and later as Head Teacher of Electrical Trades at Glendale campus.
Rob’s current role in the Hunter Institute is Faculty Director of Industry & Natural Resources. He has responsibility for the quality of education and training to the Engineering, Manufacturing, Building, Transport, Rural, Electrical, Environmental and Mining industries in the Upper Hunter, Hunter and Central Coast.
Ross Bolth
Director
Director, Maxwell Engineering
Ross completed a Fitting & Machining apprenticeship followed by a year of Toolmaking.
After 25 years in the trade Ross began working for himself from home. Now, 23 years on Ross is the director of his highly successful company Maxwell Engineering with more than 20 full time employees.
Ross has been a member of Hunternet Cooperative since 1994 and a member of the Hunternet Group Training Company since its inception in 1997. So, between managing his business and his Hunternet Group Training Company duties, Ross still finds time to enjoy the finer things in life like riding with the boys on weekends and is an active member of the fund raising group “Harleys for Humanity”. Ross’s philosophy on life is …. Work hard, play hard.
Tony Cade
Director
Chief Executive Officer, HunterNet Co-Operative
In 2013, Tony Cade became the Chief Executive Officer of HunterNet Co-operative Limited, a Hunter based network of Engineering and Manufacturing companies and is responsible for the planning and management of the operations of the Network and its subsidiary, HunterNet Group Training Company. In this role, Tony is required to work closely with the network’s membership as well as industry, Government and professional bodies throughout the Hunter and Central Coast regions.
Prior to HunterNet, Tony held the position of Group General Manager, Veolia Environment and senior executive positions within WSN, the Hunter Waste Planning and Management Board, Newcastle City Council and BHP Steel.
Tony possesses strong leadership skills, a track record in developing and implementing business and strategic plans, has extensive experience in building business relationships, and is well connected with all three (3) tiers of government. Further, Tony has an extensive network of alliances and relationships with many charitable and community organisations.
Tony possesses tertiary qualifications in metallurgy and economics and has completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School (Boston), Wharton Business School (Pennsylvania), and IMD (Switzerland).
John Coyle
Director
Born in Sydney, John commenced his career in sales, marketing and advertising in Australia and the UK, with a focus on industrial and manufacturing markets. John has held numerous positions in his career, CEO of HunterNet Co-Operative Ltd, Managing Director of BEP Engineering and the Treloar Group of Companies.
Currently, John is on the board of HunterNet Group Training Company, Varley and Newcastle Innovation (The University of Newcastle Research Associates Ltd), and is a Section Councilor on NSW Council AIG, member and past Chairman of the Hunter Manufacturing Council, past Director and Vice Chairman of the Hunter Export Centre. John is also a Director of the Hunter Community Foundation and is a member on the TAFE NSW Hunter Institute Advisory Council.
Wayne Green
Director
Head of Build Operations, UGL Rail
Wayne has been employed with UGL for thirty (30) years. During this time he has successfully demonstrated a record of managing Safety in the Workplace, Financial and Commercial requirements and obligations, Production, Supply Chain (including Warehousing), Planning and Quality Control on a wide variety of Manufacturing and Overhaul Projects with a strong focus on implementation of Lean Principles and of Change Management.
Wayne has valuable experience in Customer and Stakeholder Relations, as well as an advanced knowledge of Employee Relations, specifically Law of Employment, Enterprise Bargaining and Negotiation and Advocacy.
Having come through UGL, starting out as a Metal Fabricator has enabled Wayne to formulate relationships with colleagues and co-workers based upon integrity, trust and personal experience.
Breony Johnston
Director
National Human Resource Advisor, DYWIDAG-Systems International
Breony is an accomplished Human Resource professional with experience in generalist HR, employment relations, workers compensation and recruitment. Breony is currently employed as the National Human Resource Advisor for DYWIDAG-Systems International (DSI) looking after all areas of HR for their Australian business. Breony started her career in recruitment and worked in both agency and internal recruitment positions before moving into HR after completing her studies. Breony holds a Dip. Human Resource Management, Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management and is currently in the final subject of her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management.
Breony is a Certificated Professional (CAHRI) with the Australian Human Resources Institute and a Mentor in the AHRI mentoring program.
Eric Kreutzer
Director
Business Development Manager – Technical Services – Energy, Aurecon
Eric has over 30 years experience in the mining experience in the mining (Steeltley Industries and Anglo American) and consulting industries (CW Pope, ETRS, PearlStreet) including senior management of mining operations and consulting companies.
His consulting clients have included state and federal government, multinational mining companies and multinational oil and gas companies and public utilities in the power generation, water and ports sectors. Experience covers, general management, project management, market and business development and geological program supervision.
