Exco & Management

Schalk Venter (46)

Managing director and a member of the AECI Executive Committee. Schalk joins the AEL fold from Akulu Marchon where he was Chemicals Executive and managing director. With a qualification in analytical chemistry, he joined Chemserve Systems in 1991 as a sales representative. He was appointed managing director of this subsidiary in 1997 and moved to AECI Coatings in the same capacity in 2001. Schalk was appointed to the Chemserve Executive Committee in 2005 and to its Board in 2007. He is chairman of a number of companies in the specialty chemicals cluster such as Chemfit Industrial Holdings, Duco Specialty Coatings, Industrial Urethanes/Plastamid, Plaaskem and Resinkem.

LIESEL DE VILLIERS (46)

Liesel is executive director – AEL Southern Africa, heading up a portfolio comprising businesses servicing the surface and underground mining markets as well as industrial customers. She joined AEL in 1987 as an engineer-in-training and gained broad experience in the areas of engineering, business improvement, IT and strategic planning.  In 2000 Liesel was appointed to the general management team to lead a number of services and supply chain functions and championed the implementation of company-wide integrated IT solutions. In 2005 she joined the marketing function taking up the position of business director. Liesel also has a BCom degree in economics 

WAYNE DU CHENNE (47)

Wayne is executive director – Global Business Services, tasked with establishing and deploying a world class service portfolio across a range of AEL activities. He joined AEL in 1993 as a technical representative and was appointed an explosives engineer in 1995. Wayne played a key role in developing the value-added blasting concept and served as project manager in this area. In 2003, he was appointed managing director: Central Africa, responsible for AEL's businesses in Zambia and the DRC. He took up his current position in 2008. He holds an MBA degree

RAFAEL FERNANDES (39)

Rafael is executive director – Group Finance, he is responsible for the company’s finance and IT functions.  He was appointed AEL's financial controller in 2007 and transitioned to financial director in 2008.  Rafael joined the company in 1996 as financial manager of a wholly-owned subsidiary then moved to AEL's head office as finance manager; thereafter he became business accountant. He left AEL in 2001 returning two years later and continued to provide financial and management support to the sales and marketing business units.  Rafael is a registered chartered accountant.

SEPADI MOHLABENG (49)

Sepadi is executive director – Group Operations, in charge of providing strategic direction in all local and international AEL operations with respect to Best Operating Practices (BOP), Quality & Manufacturing Capability, Operations integrated planning,  Procurement, Engineering and Asset care standards.  His mandate supports all of AEL’s existing and international market expansion. Sepadi has an MTech in mechanical engineering, GCC (Factories) and MSc in packaging technology. His experience spans engineering, major projects management, manufacturing, business development and turnaround strategy implementation.  Sepadi joined AEL in January 2011

DR PIET HALLIDAY (58)

Piet is executive director – Research & Development, he has overall responsibility for the technical aspects of AEL's products internationally.  He joined the company in 1980 after completing a PhD degree in the synthesis of high energy sensitisers for explosives.  Piet was recently awarded the prestigious International Society of Explosives Engineers' President's Award in recognition of his contribution to the Society and his profession.

STUART WADE (53)

Stuart is executive director – AEL Africa, responsible for directing strategic growth initiatives in Africa. He started his career in the mining industry and joined AEL in 1984. Stuart worked in several senior positions, including managing an independent subsidiary before taking on his current role in 2000.  In 2008 he was appointed to AEL's executive committee.  Stuart has a portfolio of chairmanships.

COLIN WILSON (48)

Colin is executive director - AEL International, he is in charge of AEL's international growth strategy in all markets outside the African continent. He joined AEL in 1983 as an engineer-in-training and gained extensive experience in explosives manufacture, research, mining operations and business management. Colin was appointed Business Director Surface and Massive Mining in 2006 and advanced to his current position in July 2009.