Page 4 - AHAFO DIGEST trial

2018 AHAFO DIGEST
Up-close with Bernard
Wessels, Ahafo
General Manager
But for mining, he would have
been engaged in farming and
fulfilling a childhood dream of
flying an aircraft. He still hopes to
acquire his private flying license
anyway, but for now, he is focused
on guiding the Ahafo mine to
greater heights.
Bernard Wessels (BW) was
appointed General Manager of
the Ahafo mine in April 2017. After
over a year in office, he shares his
experiences, values and
expectations with Ahafo Digest
(AD):
AD: What made you accept the
role as the Ahafo mine
Manager?
BW: I was looking out for an
international organization whose
values align with my personal
values – safety and
sustainability. I must say that
Newmont is the ‘Rolls Royce’ of
mining companies in the world and
was the right fit for my aspirations.
I honestly believe a safe company
is a company that makes its
employees feel that their health
and safety is top priority.
AD: What were you up to before
joining the Newmont family?
BW: I worked for a few South
African Gold and Platinum mines
which operate deep level
underground mines as well as
surface open pits. I also worked
as a Chief Operating Officer of
a junior mining company which
successfully delivered 2 feasibility
studies and a successful
acquisition of a project under
development.
Bernard Wessels - General Manager, Ahafo Mine
AD: What were your initial to make our mine safer. I do get
impressions in the first few the feeling at times that we are
months in Ahafo? only doing it to comply. Just think
BW: Ahafo really accepted and of the difference we will make in
supported me. The first three to six safety if we properly conduct our
months was a big learning curve Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) or Risk
but I had the assistance of a great Assessments and communicate
team. 2017 was a successful year outcomes to intended audience.
for Ahafo and was great. 2018 How can we still have accidents?
started on a much more This also applies to our production
challenging note but we continue metrics, we measure but do we
to pull through these moments really follow through and improve?
and come out stronger. I am
looking forward to still see the best AD: What motivates you and
of what we can achieve together. gives you fulfillment?
BW: Knowing that a lot of people
AD: What did you find most depend on the mine pushes me to
challenging to adapt to in ensure that the mine remains
Ahafo? sustainable and productive to
BW: Hmmm! Understanding our create more value. To see people
processes and systems in addition grow and become successful in
to the jargons. Being the General what they do gives me fulfillment.
Manager, I had to make conscious ‘It’s not about the big
efforts to understand them and that achievements… but the small ones
required a great deal of learning. also count’.
I also find fulfillment in impacting
AD: What would you like to society positively and doing good.
improve on Site?
BW: Although we have the best AD: Any challenging moments?
systems and processes in place, BW: I read a book “Chasing
I have observed that most people Daylight” which gave me a new
(employees and contractors) do perspective on life and how
not utilize them to our advantage. important it is to live for every
An example is our safety moment and to be aware of every
systems which are not fully applied moment. My most challenging time
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