From Sales Engineer to Director of MMD Australia Pty Ltd
Patrick Adams, Director of MMD Australia Pty Ltd
Why did you decide to join the company?
I went to university in the USA and then worked in industrial sales until the global financial crisis of 08/09 when my wife and I decided to come back to Australia to start again. The mining sector has always been a strong part of my life growing up in Newcastle, NSW where the predominant jobs in the 90s were either with BHP or in the local coalmines of Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley. Therefore, looking back it was inevitable that I would make my way into mining.
My initial attraction to MMD was its culture, where the team had a solid foundation in leadership and a work ethic that reflected my own.
What achievements are you most proud of since joining the company?
MMD Australia has always operated with a team and company-first mentality, so this is an attitude that I have carried with me throughout my 12 years and is something that I will continue to drive into the future. The accomplishments of MMD Australia over the years are a shared win, so I have always felt that if you are putting the company first then you are setting everyone up to be successful.
How has your role evolved over the years?
My roles and responsibilities have evolved over the years from Sales Engineer to Sales Manager to Director, which again is a credit to the MMD culture and leadership where promoting from within and growing your industry knowledge through the guidance and experience of senior directors and personnel across the MMD Group is paramount. Asking questions and having an open mindset to consistently refine your trade is critical to a developing and growing business, and I feel that I have been afforded every opportunity to do so throughout my tenure.
What have you learned about yourself during this journey?
The reflections and lessons that I have learned over the years and continue to learn are based on common sense and practicality. Treating others with respect, being honest, and having a professional integrity that not only reflects your core values but also promotes that of MMD. Having an attitude of humility and willingness to listen and learn has always been a key attribute to my success with MMD as it has afforded me the opportunity to meet some outstanding people that I now call mates.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in the company?
To any graduates or apprentices starting out in mining; be a sponge and surround yourself with industry experts from all spectrums of the company totem pole, from operators and maintenance personnel to mine managers and procurement. Learn how these people interact with each other and with suppliers like MMD. Build those relationships where for example, you can cultivate and educate them on the strategic benefits of how the MMD brand and product will provide consistent value across many years of operational life.
What are your goals and aspirations going forward with the company?
Being a new Director with MMD Australia, I am looking forward to growing the business with our fellow Directors and providing our employees with the opportunities to better themselves through a culture of hard work and acknowledgment of the core values that have been forged by those in MMD before us.
If you'd like to join the MMD team, you can view our current vacancies here.