The people building, powering and reshaping the Hunter.
The Hunter is being rebuilt. A grid expanding beyond coal, foundries retooling for the energy transition, and extended defence manufacturing. Engineering in the Hunter is a monthly conversation that goes inside those projects with the people actually delivering them. Hosted by Melinda Sietsma, with James MacDonald who have been involved in the local recruitment market, building teams for more than a decade.
Every episode: what's being built, what it takes, and who builds it.
New episodes monthly.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Engineering in the Hunter is produced by Day One®, trusted partners in the technology space and the team that helped build Blackbird Ventures' Wild Hearts. Sister shows include First Cheque, Oversubscribed and In The Blink of AI. Episodes are cross-promoted across the network.
Patrick Buchan: Australia's first new steel mill in 30 years
Patrick Buchan, CEO of Greensteel Australia, discusses with James MacDonald the groundbreaking all-electric steel mill set to revitalize Newcastle's industrial landscape and create 200 jobs.
15 Jul 2026
John Fry: building Australia's first missile factory in the Hunter
James MacDonald interviews John Fry, Managing Director of Kongsberg Defence Australia, about building the nation's first missile factory and its regional impact.
2 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Lex Forsyth: Founder & COO at Janus Electric
NTP Talent's Melinda Sietsma interviews Lex Forsyth, Founder & COO at Janus Electric, about electrifying Australia's heavy transport sector with swappable batteries and the economic realities of scaling a hardware startup.
2 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT
Bret Barton: HunterNet Senior Business Advisor
NTP Talent's Melinda Sietsma interviews HunterNet Senior Business Advisor Bret Barton about Newcastle's industrial growth, defense contracting, and leveraging dual-use technology for global advantage.
2 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT
Neil Hunt: Managing Director Mineral Systems at McLanahan
Melinda Sietsma interviews Neil Hunt, Managing Director of Mineral Systems at McLanahan, exploring his resilient career journey and McLanahan's 190-year legacy in mineral processing.
20 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Steve Heaton: Founder at Xetla Consulting
Host Melinda interviews Steve Heaton, Founder at Xetla Consulting, as he shares insights on navigating R&D, fostering innovation, and preparing for patents to drive career-defining opportunities.
17 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT
Annie Lacombe: Head of Engineering at MGA Thermal
Annie Lacombe, Head of Engineering at MGA Thermal, discusses her journey and MGA Thermal's innovative thermal energy storage technology in this interview.
20 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT
John Klinkenberg: Principal Industrial Designer at The Melt
Principal Industrial Designer John Klinkenberg shares his journey and insights on collaborative hardware design, startup challenges, and the value of design awards.
22 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Christie Hayward: Boilermaker At WesTrac
Boilermaker Apprentice Christie Hayward shares her journey into metalwork, detailing her daily life and insights for women in trades while interviewing host [Host Name].
15 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Peter McKinnon: Managing Director At Omnia Wheel
Melinda Sietsma interviews Peter McKinnon, Managing Director at Omnia Wheel, about his career and the innovative Omni Wheel's design benefits.
28 May 2025TRANSCRIPT
David Leask: Project Consultant At Novecom
Project consultant David Leask discusses his journey into agricultural technology and Novacom's mesh network technology for water monitoring, highlighting the importance of adaptability for a successful career in electronics in this interview.
8 May 2025
Jess Hodge: Managing Director at Resourceful Living
Host [Host Name] interviews Jess Hodge, Managing Director at Resourceful Living, about transforming plastic waste into products and fostering sustainability.
23 Jan 2025TRANSCRIPT
Sonia James: Process Engineer at InfraBuild
Join us on the NewTechPeople Engineering Podcast as we sit down with Sonia James, a process engineer at InfraBuilder. In this engaging conversation, Sonia shares her inspiring journey from India to Australia, discussing her educational background, career path, and the challenges she faced along the way. She offers valuable insights into the manufacturing industry, particularly in the steel sector, and provides advice for aspiring engineers, especially women in the field. Sonia also touches on her experience winning the Rising Star award and how it impacted her career. We explore the history and current projects at InfraBuilder, including their innovative SEN 600 product. Additionally, Sonia discusses the importance of mental health initiatives in the workplace and shares her thoughts on the future of manufacturing. This episode is packed with personal anecdotes, career advice, and industry insights that will inspire and inform listeners interested in engineering and manufacturing. Don't miss this enlightening conversation with Sonia James!
4 Dec 2024
James Coventry: Site manager at AGL's Liddell Power Station
James Coventry, site manager at AGL's Liddell Power Station, shares insights into the complex process of decommissioning a power station and the skills required for a sustainable energy future.
30 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Kari Armitage: Managing Director at Quarry Mining
Kari Armitage, Managing Director of Quarry Mining, shares her remarkable journey from civil engineering to leading a thriving manufacturing business in the mining industry. She discusses taking over the family business, growing it from just a few employees to over 100, and expanding into international markets. Kari provides a glimpse into Quarry Mining's innovative technologies, including 3D metal printing and lights-out machining. She reflects on the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry and offers advice for those looking to enter the field. Kari also touches on work-life balance, sharing her passion for long-distance triathlons. This conversation offers valuable insights into leadership, resilience, and the evolving landscape of manufacturing and mining in the Newcastle region.
17 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
James Thorning: General Manager at Nepean Power
Join us for an insightful conversation with James Thorning, General Manager of Nepean Power, as he shares his journey from a small-town upbringing to leading a major engineering company. James discusses his career path, the challenges of rapid business growth, and the importance of fostering a strong company culture. He offers valuable advice for aspiring engineers and leaders, emphasizing the significance of being useful in one's role and continuously improving. James also provides an inside look at Nepean Power's operations, their innovative approach to manufacturing, and their vision for the future of the power industry in the Hunter region. This episode is packed with wisdom on leadership, career development, and the exciting opportunities in the engineering and renewable energy sectors. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, you'll find inspiration and practical insights in this engaging discussion.
22 Aug 2024TRANSCRIPT
Luke Dawson: Managing Director at Safe Gauge
In this episode, Mel Sietsma sits down with Luke Dawson, Managing Director of Safe Guage. Luke shares his journey from plant mechanic to successful entrepreneur, detailing how he founded Safeguage in 2019 to create innovative safety solutions for the mining industry.
Luke discusses the company's rapid growth, expanding from Australia to the United States, and their mission to eliminate live work and improve technician safety. He offers insights into fostering a culture of innovation, the advantages of starting a business in Newcastle, and the exciting new projects Safeguage is working on, including imaging technology for remote inspections.
The conversation also touches on industry trends, the challenges of maintaining work-life balance as a business owner, and Luke's personal experiences of relocating to Arizona. This episode provides valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and a fascinating look into the world of mining technology and safety innovations.
7 Aug 2024
Engineering Success with James Mansell from Downer
In this episode, we chat with James Mansell, Engineering Manager for Downer's Rail and Transit Systems team in Cardiff, NSW. James shares his career journey from intern to manager at Downer, and provides insights into the rich history and current operations of Downer's Cardiff facility. He discusses recent innovations like their new Electronic Test and Repair Centre, as well as ongoing projects like the bogey overhaul program. James offers his perspective on the advantages of working in rail manufacturing in Newcastle, market changes in the industry, and advice for those looking to enter the field. He also shares his thoughts on the future of rail, including trends towards local manufacturing, decarbonization, and improved use of data. This episode provides a fascinating look into the rail industry in Australia and the opportunities it presents for engineers and manufacturers.
2 Aug 2024TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to Engineering Success, a NTP Podcast
We're excited to be launching Engineering Success, NTP's latest podcast series. Hosted by Melinda Sietsma, this podcast is a collaboration between NewyTechPeople and Hunter Manufacturing Awards. In this series, Mel will talk to key individuals across the Hunter region, sharing their career stories and the exciting projects and achievements of our local manufacturing businesses.
Inside a recent episode
Patrick Buchan: Australia's first new steel mill in 30 years
Published 30 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I know there's been talk of a phase two or ongoing plans. I imagine there are bigger, longer term plans for green steel in the Hunter. What does that look like? What can you share at the moment? Yeah. What does it mean for the greater region? The first thing I'd say is it's not just a big deal for the Hunter, although it is, but it's actually for our country. This is the first steel plant announced in this country in 30 years. That's significant and it goes to show the way that The world is moving again once back to ensuring your own manufacturing for your critical capabilities that a country and an economy needs. […]
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