Late in 2023, Johann was ready for a new challenge. He did some research and Liontown stood out as an exciting company that he wanted to be a part of. A quick chat with a former colleague, who was already working at Liontown, confirmed it was a great opportunity. When the Mechanical Maintenance Superintendent position opened, Johann applied and soon after joined the team.

With a background in maintaining nickel and copper processing plants, and later a power station and sulfuric acid plant, Johann brings a wealth of experience. “I started my career in maintenance fitting and worked my way up into management roles, where I am today,” Johann shared.

Since joining Liontown in early 2024, Johann’s days have been busy. Fresh out of the construction and commissioning phases at Kathleen Valley, his current focus is on identifying production restrictions, making rectification plans and leading the Mechanical Maintenance team to success.

Seeing Kathleen Valley quickly transition from construction to being in operation is something that Johann is particularly proud of. “Being on site since the start of 2024, I have seen Kathleen Valley grow from a construction site, through commissioning to a fully operational plant in record time. I’ve heard so many comments about how rare it is to see a brand-new plant hit so many milestones in such a short time. This is a proud achievement which couldn’t have been done without the contributions of every individual on site and off.”

What makes Liontown stand out for Johann is the company’s preparedness. We laid the groundwork early to establish systems and processes before operations began. This, according to Johann, has made everyone’s job so much easier. “A huge shout out to the teams who spent several months in head office ensuring all the documentation we use daily now was developed and put in place ahead of time,” Johann added.

Johann is also proud of the dynamic and passionate Maintenance and Production teams at Kathleen Valley. The teams’ energy is infectious, and there’s no division. Everyone works hard and enjoys the camaraderie, from coffee breaks to sharing a drink after a long day.

Thanks to Johann and his team for the great work they’re doing to ensure Kathleen Valley’s process plant runs smoothly and efficiently.