Dear Elexon Mining Community,

 

As we approach the end of this challenging year, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for your support during our recent difficult months. As most of you would be aware, a devastating lithium battery fire consumed our facility. It was 4 months and 17 days ago. In that time, we’ve achieved a lot:

 

• We found and secured the most suitable building for what we do.
• We recovered our IT system and all data, almost seamlessly.
• In less than 2 weeks, we had the first people working from the new building.
• In less than 6 weeks, we produced the first circuit board assembly on new equipment in the new building.
• We’ve reconstructed every manufacturing jig and every Automatic Test Equipment set for the Beacons and Markers and improved most of them in the process.
• We’ve retested the Markers and Beacons as if they were new products being manufactured by a new team. In the process, we’ve made a series of improvements. As a result, both products withstand more punishment before they fail and the Beacons have more significantly more battery capacity.
• We’ve restarted Marker production and started to satisfy orders.
• We’ve released an updated GeoHive software package with significantly better performance.
• We’ve almost completed the construction of the production facility at our new address.

 

We achieved this with amazing support from our team, our customers, Moreton Bay City Council, our insurance company, our suppliers and other electronics companies (in particular Intellidesign, who literally went out of their way to help us). We’re very, very grateful. We couldn’t have achieved what we achieved without your support.

 

We want to ensure that what happened to us never happens to another business working with lithium batteries. We’re therefore initiated collaboration with the Queensland University of Technology to accelerate new legislation and standards for lithium batteries.

 

We are excited to make 2024 our best year yet and look forward to your continued partnership on this exciting journey of recovery and triumph. We believe we will come out of this stronger than before the fire – again, thanks to your help.

 

May your festive season be filled with love and cheer.

Warm regards,

Pieter Kuiper and the Elexon Mining Team

Meet Elexon Mining’s new HR Lead, Chantal Simons.

 

“With the wheels set in motion, Chantal embarked on her journey, armed with the strategy that by nurturing the team’s collaborative spirit, Elexon Mining will grow and become a shining beacon of success.”

 

Building a high-performance team

With a background in high performance and a dedication to building up a strong and collaborative team, Elexon Mining is thrilled to welcome the new HR Lead, Chantal Simons, on board. Chantel is set out to recruit top talent and create a work environment where everyone can contribute their best. Her dedication and commitment to creating a cohesive and collaborative team will undoubtedly shape the future of Elexon Mining.

“There is a lot of energy and passion here at Elexon Mining. We have many extremely talented and dedicated people who push the boundaries of innovation to the next level. I find being surrounded by smart and enthusiastic people very inspiring. That’s something I thrive on, and that’s what attracted me to join the Elexon Mining team,” says Chantal.

Creating a collaborative workplace

Elexon Mining is growing into a medium-sized business, and the company structure and dynamics are changing. We currently have more than 50 staff members spread out in multiple locations and different continents. “My role is to connect them and ensure that by knowing one another and by sharing experiences, professional insights, and personal stories, we will lead to larger rates of success. “There is an analogy between high-performance sports teams, where my previous experience lies, and busy work collectives. I’m bringing in psychology and my coaching skills with the aim of building the best team that we possibly can. “In general, being understood as a human being makes us collaborate better in teams and makes us perform better as a whole,” explains Chantal Simons.

Attracting the right team 

Chantal is amazed by Elexon Mining’s operations and high-level business ventures. The products and services we create are groundbreaking, attracting a special kind of individual. “We seek those who thrive on new challenges and are eager to think outside the box while also collaborating with diverse teams on a high level. This sets us apart from traditional businesses,” Chantal says about her strategy to attract the right people to the team.

“Feeling valued is not just a claim here; it’s a reality.” At Elexon Mining, it’s recognized that every employee is hired for their specific skill set and experience. “When you share your viewpoint or expertise, it is genuinely appreciated. Your voice matters, regardless of hierarchy or position. We support and care for each other, fostering an environment where we bond, share, and learn from one another. We are a gathering of intelligent individuals who genuinely enjoy exchanging ideas,” shares Chantal excitedly.

It’s truly remarkable how intelligent and diverse our workforce is. Each person brings something new to the table, both professionally and personally. We have individuals with fascinating travel experiences, multicultural backgrounds, and unique perspectives. The mixture of cultures, experiences, and brains creates an incredibly dynamic and enriching environment.

“You are the expert on your specific piece of the puzzle – regardless of hierarchy, regardless of your position in the business, your voice and your input are valued” – Chantal Simons.

Preserving Elexon’s family closeness in a growing environment

Chantal’s main focus is on nurturing and expanding teams by recruiting the right individuals and cultivating a supportive environment. “I aim to foster the growth of our existing work environment, enabling people to thrive and bring out their best. What sets us apart is our culture of genuine care for one another.” The owners of the Elexon Group have fostered a sense of family within the company. Chantal says that it is easier to achieve that in a small business setting where communication flows freely. “One of the intriguing challenges I’m taking on is figuring out how we can maintain that level of closeness and connection as we continue to grow. It’s about preserving that sense of family care and connectedness even as we expand into a larger organization.” “People who know each other and people who understand each other also understand why someone’s reacting the way they are. They understand if there’s something going on for a person at home, they need a hand. And it’s those small things being seen, being heard in a business and being understood as a human being that makes us collaborate better in teams and makes us perform better as a whole,” says Chantal.

Inclusive workplace valuing diversity

In a highly knowledgeable and skillset-driven industry such as geo-tech and mining, Chantal’s perspective is that people who bring their skillset with them to the position also bring certain ideas and experiences unique to them. This is Chantal’s next challenge. She firmly believes that by embracing individuals from various backgrounds and cultures, the organization can harness a vast array of perspectives, thus leading to a greater diversity of solutions and out-of-the-box thinking. Currently, Elexon Mining’s employee base encompasses approximately 30 different backgrounds—an accomplishment that Chantal respects, given the size of the business. However, as the company continues to grow, she envisions a future where organizational diversity grows alongside it. Expressing her determination to devise innovative strategies to attract and welcome new employees who bring fresh perspectives and invaluable expertise to Elexon Mining.

With the mining industry growing rapidly, as new technology is being generated, Elexon Mining’s new and ongoing strategy is to employ more industry experts to solve unique customers’ geo-tech requirements. Chantel shares this ideology in the context of recruiting the best industry professionals to cater to the needs of the industry but also emphasizes it is just as important to foster a collaborative mindset. This also applies to Elexon Mining’s expansion into international markets and the setup with more employees being situated overseas. Chantal sees it as a priority to maintain the closeness even on an international scale through ensuring company meetings and events are shared globally. Whether it is over Zoom or at different times of the day, Chantal insists that the notion of sharing the “small things” globally is what will lead to a connected team on a global sale.

“Building a team is not just about getting the best players. It’s also about being able to collaborate within the company as well as we possibly can. It’s about bringing everyone together. It’s about having a common goal.” – Chantal Simons.