The Hunter Manufacturing Awards' Board of Directors has appointed 2 new Directors for 2015.
Kari Armitage, MD at Quarry Mining and Rob Martin, Regional COO at Dwyidag-Systems International, will join the HMA Board for their April 15 meeting. HMA Chairman, Bob Cowan, said he is very pleased to have Kari and Rob as Board members and said that having people of their calibre join the already talented and diversified board is a great asset for the manufacturing sector
.Kari’s career began at engineering firm Parson Brinckerhoff where she designed and supervised the construction of a range of infrastructure projects. Kari broke new ground for women through her leadership of high profile developments including the Hunter Economic Zone and PB’s first ‘design and construct’ of an underground mine in NSW, Mandalong Mine.In 2006 Kari took up the leadership role as the sole director of Quarry Mining, and the company has become a leading Australian manufacturer, employing more than thirty five tradesmen, technical representatives, operations and support staff across workshops and offices in Newcastle and Mackay.
Rob commenced his career as an electronics engineering technician in the automotive, bio medical and consumer electronics market. After ten years on the tools, he entered the electronics manufacturing business, Steel River Manufacturing. Initially working as the production manager, he then started the companies R&D department before taking up the role as General Manager. A short time after Rob took on the role as General Manager of the sister company Austrol technology group.Rob’s introduction to metal processing commenced when he accepted the role of general manager of Sankey Australia. The sale of the business resulted in Rob divesting the manufacturing operations throughout Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand & Taiwan.Rob commenced with DSI in September 2012. Since that time his team has significantly restructured operations throughout Asia Pacific. Extensive efficiency programs have been rolled out across the Australian based operations in Newcastle and Perth. A number of advanced automation programs have enabled the Bennett’s Green facility the ability to compete with international rivals.
