Corne Wessels Email and Phone Number

Working on the Rio Tinto Simandou Project in Guinea is an unique experience. This $11 billion development is Africa’s largest mining project, focused on unlocking one of the world’s richest iron ore deposits. My role is centred around the construction of the new port, a vital part of the infrastructure that will enable the export of the ore. It's been an incredible challenge so far, not just in managing the complexities of the build but also in guiding and supporting the teams on site. With such a diverse workforce, I’ve had the opportunity to foster collaboration and ensure everyone is working towards a common goal. It’s been a rewarding experience to see the progress we’ve made and to be part of something that’s set to have a lasting impact on both the region and the global mining industry.

Construction, Commissioning, Start Up, Operations, Drilling, Well ServicesSuccessfully implemented an innovative cost-saving solution that effectively mitigated downtime exceeding $5 million USD.- Served as the Lead Incident Investigator, maintaining a robust incident recording system, evaluating all incident reports, and providing timely corrective actions to ensure their closure.- Implemented and efficiently managed Health and Safety Management Systems throughout the construction, commissioning, start-up, and operational phases of an upstream greenfield early production oil facility.- Led Operational Excellence initiatives in alignment with Chevron's Operational Excellence Management System, identifying, assessing, and prioritizing operational risks. Mentored and verified individuals and workforces to ensure the implementation and effectiveness of necessary safeguards before work commences.- Acted as a mentor and coach for the effective use of the Stop Work process, building confidence within the workforce to apply Safe Work Analysis (SWA) and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.- Led the HSE team during construction, commissioning, and start-up, ensuring compliance with company and client policies, standards, and procedures.- Maintained control of works during intrusive maintenance activities on process equipment, adhering to strict safety protocols.- Participated in maintenance and reliability initiatives for process equipment, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.- Actively and effectively managed simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) during construction, commissioning, and drilling activities, minimizing risks and ensuring safe execution.- Implemented and conducted emergency response plans and drills, including evacuation, fire, oil spill, medical emergencies, H2S (15%) response, search and rescue, and other incident scenarios as required.

Estimated $1Billion Civil and Railway Project- Oversaw and provided leadership to a team of 30 HSE Officers and Technicians on a challenging 240-kilometer civils construction project encompassing 22 bridges, a railway, and demolition operations across difficult terrain.- Directed civil activities, ensuring compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations set by the Malawian Government.- Facilitated monthly HSE meetings with stakeholders and government officials.- Lead Incident Investigator for the company, client, and the Malawian Government.- Organized and conducted induction programs, specialized health training, and task-specific training.- Provided coaching and mentoring to supervisors and senior management.- Identified non-conformances, tracked them, and ensured timely closure of corrective actions.- Conducted Toolbox Talks during management site visits.- Ensured comprehensive training of personnel, including 7000 employees at the peak of the project.- Developed strategies for monitoring driving speed to ensure compliance in rural Africa.- Devised measures to control drug and alcohol abuse.- Developed emergency simulations and recommended actions to address identified deficiencies.- Assisted in preparing monthly reports for clients and consolidated key performance indicators (KPIs).- Provided daily reports on site activities from 54 work fronts.- Delivered weekly presentations on Health and Safety to management.- Conducted audits of 450 heavy equipment inspections and delivered feedback to management.- Led bi-weekly inspections of work fronts to ensure compliance.- Managed simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) in confined and congested work areas.

- HSE Advisor on multiple major civil and construction sites throughout South Africa in remote locations. - Implemented robust Process Safety Management practices for an offloading and storage facility connected to the PetroSA refinery.- Implemented effective measures to control ignition sources at the loading facility.- Ensured proper control of works during intrusive maintenance activities.- Effectively managed simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) during drilling activities.- Conducted weekly visual inspections, promptly reporting any identified issues and submitting comprehensive reports to both the company and the client.- Conducted audits of equipment inspection systems and provided corrective actions to address any deficiencies.- Facilitated daily Permit to Work (PTW), Job Safety Analysis (JSA), and Toolbox Talks, incorporating relevant hazard identification for each task.- Ensured strict compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.- Established effective communication channels with governmental bodies to ensure adherence to regulations and legislation.