More than 30 graduates join GFG Alliance family
06 February 2023
GFG Alliance continues to grow its Whyalla skill base with the placement of 31 new graduates at its steelworks and mining operations.
Building on the intake of 28 graduates last year, the new crop of graduates has been employed as part of the GFG career-based Pipeline Program that also includes vacation university student placements, apprentices and trainees.
The graduates have all completed university studies in their chosen fields which include engineering disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, metallurgy, chemical, geology, environment and procurement.
These graduates bring additional capability, new ideas and thinking and are a breath of fresh air to our businesses”
Bianca Standing
Head of Organisational Development for GFG in Whyalla, Bianca Standing said the intake of more than 50 graduates over two years was a real skill boost for the businesses and, potentially, an opportunity for future leaders.
“These graduates bring additional capability, new ideas and thinking and are a breath of fresh air to our businesses,” Bianca said.
“They will receive a combination of on-the-job learning whilst also applying their theoretical knowledge.
“The graduate intake is a key component of our Pipeline Program and we see the graduates joining our businesses as our future leaders and mentors themselves.”
While, for many, these graduate placements are their first job in their chosen field, some are also coming to Whyalla after completing post graduate masters studies. Moving to Whyalla and embarking on the two-year placements brought a mixture of excitement and a sense of challenge for the graduates.
Fresh from completing a Masters in Chemical Engineering in Austria, Joseph Campbell has moved to Whyalla from Glasgow in Scotland to take up his graduate position in process engineering and metallurgy.
“This is a brilliant job for me and an opportunity to really grow,” Joseph said.
“I am very, very excited and looking forward to what I think will be a perfect balance for an engineering job with hands-on and theoretical work.”
Jane Zhang has moved to Whyalla for her position as an Environmental Engineer after completing her studies at the University of Adelaide.
“I never thought I’d be working for a steelworks and mining company but from speaking to my supervisor and learning about GREENSTEEL and CN30 (Carbon Neutral by 2030), I’m really excited about the challenge of the environmental work and projects,” Jane said.
The placement of this year’s 31 graduates adds to the recent Pipeline Program intake of 14 university students (those in their penultimate year of study) for vacation placements over the 2022-23 summer. This program will grow again this year with the intake of trade apprentices in February.
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