CV of speaker – Chris van Heerden

Business Entrepreneur

PROFILE:
A Business Entrepreneur with 26 years experience in Instrumentation and 8 years experience in Electrical engineering. Exceptional strategic management skills, sound operations management skills, strong negotiation skills, excellent market penetration abilities with a client orientated sales style. These attributes combined with a broad engineering knowledge and entrepreneurial leadership style gives me tactical business solutions to defined strategies and processes.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS:

• The establishment of a successful supplier network for generator sets in Sub-Sahara Africa for the company ABB Power Generation PTY Ltd.
• The submission of a business plan (MBA) at Potchefstroom University for the development of a Black Empowerment diesel generating manufacturing company in the South African dispensation.
• Started “Diesel Innovations PTY Ltd” a Black Empowerment Company for it’s share holders as a Managing Director with the following achievements in two years;
  • Entering an existing market with sales of 10 million and development of products after two years.
  • Established as a preferred supplier of diesel generators sets and electrical equipment to key customer (Telkom) within the first year of business.
  • Under my leadership the company achieved a positive cash flow in the first year of operation and paid out dividends to it’s shareholders.
  • Manage the designed, supplied and manufactured 32 generator sets to approved specifications in two years of operation

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Diesel Innovations Pty Ltd. 2001 - date

The supply, service, design and manufacturing of diesel generators including all mechanical, electrical and control equipment associated with diesel generators.

Position: Managing Director:

Duties:

• Development of the company from registration to fully operational
• Manage and initialize the Operational activities of the company
• Writing of a business plan for the company
• Development of Marketing Strategies
• Development of Operational Strategies
• Development of Policies and Standards
• Plan Human Resources functions, reimbursements, Personal Development and incentive schemes
• Financial control
• Responsible for all sales and proposals

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Circon Pty Ltd. 

Diesel Generator manufacturer and electrical company.

Position: Operations Manager

Duties:

• Planning and scheduling of production
• Marketing and networking with internal, external customers
• Management of production staff
• Management of creditors and debtors staff
• Management of sales force
• Budget control
• Management reports

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ABB Power Generation Pty Ltd.

Company responsible for power generation systems, boilers, turbines, environmental systems, hydro plants and control systems.

Position: Marketing Manager

Duties:

• Responsible for all internal and external communication
• Responsible for the setting up of sales budgets
• The creation of client date bases and facilitating customer road shows and exhibitions
• Compiling business plans for the segments and facilitate strategic plans and objectives
• Operational function of the Hydro and Generator business segments

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Eskom.

Power Utility Company

Position: Senior Technologist. (Process Control & Instrumentation)

Duties:

• Conceptual designs of utilities outside plants
• Engineering deficiency management
• Contract management
• Quality management
• Life extension studies on old power stations

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Sasol PTY Ltd.

Position: Senior Instrumentation Technician.

Duties: Commissioning and faultfinding of process instrumentation and computer systems.

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South African Defence Force.

Position: Aircraft Instrumentation Technician

Duties: Maintenance of aircraft electrical and instrumentation systems.

GENERAL:

Function:

Leadership :
Vaal Triangle Technikon SRC Chairman 1986
S.A.T.S.U President 1986
Vaal Triangle Technikon Hostel First Student 1985