
By Jeff Bell.
What are the energy challenges facing mining companies in remote WA?
What has been the company’s transition over the past decade?
What has been Daniel’s leadership journey through the resources sector?
These were some of the questions put to Daniel Kennedy, CEO of UON Pty Ltd, when he led a conversation for Band of Leaders Australia (BOLA) members and guests entitled Leadership with Energy at the group’s monthly meeting on Thursday 12 December at Casa Nostra in Osborne Park.
Image L-R:. Clayton Hitchcock, Craig Cornish, Daniel Kennedy, Paul Claxton, Paul Manning.
BOLA is a peer membership group for business owners and chief executives. We seek to take our members beyond achievement to success—the essence of leadership. Inviting Guest Conversations is a key activity in our day-long group meeting.
Daniel joined UON as COO in February 2023 and was appointed CEO in January this year. He previously held leadership roles at Civmec, Cycliq, AusGroup and Monadelphous.
Based in Malaga and Kalgoorlie, UON began as a two-person operation in 1998 and has grown to be an industry leader in the design, manufacturing, supply, construction and maintenance of remote off-grid power and water infrastructure.
With around 300 employees, they provide turnkey solutions to the WA resources sector with backing by investment partners Macquarie Bank and Itochu Corporation. They strive to reduce fossil fuel usage without impacting energy or water security for ongoing operations.
Daniel told the meeting that UON has 3 divisions: Energy, Production and Projects. Their niche is designing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining power and water management systems built for remote and harsh conditions within Australia and soon internationally.
The transition from diesel to renewable power is a big challenge UON is helping their client base with. Recharging batteries in extremely hot conditions is difficult, and the company is developing solutions to reduce charging times significantly to keep its clients’ vehicles and plant operational. As clients transition to electrified operations, there is opportunity for significant reduction in diesel usage and carbon production. “We find that to get started, it’s helpful to have a champion within every client.” Daniel said. The company also provides off grid and hybrid water supply and management systems.
Daniel said that the company has transitioned from a small founder led business to one with three shareholders, including the founder and now two very large multinational shareholders, two very experienced independent directors and an executive team in place. This provides a balance between long term industry knowledge and access to funding and renewable supply chains.
Over this period, technical know-how had served them well, and now renewables are showing a lot of promise and the company’s foundations are strengthening.
Daniel’s leadership journey through the resources sector commenced with roles at Monadelphous for almost 25 years. “I have great respect for the original leadership and I learned a lot from them,” he said. “We were encouraged to critically analyse risk, plan extensively, ask tough questions, be humble, that risk was opportunity, and to always find a way to deliver what we promised”. After nearly 25 years, Daniel felt a need to spread his wings within the sector in search of higher roles.
“I worked for a couple of other companies with very large staff numbers, but I felt like it was time for a change, deciding to work for a smaller scale business focused on a renewables transition, and where I could be in touch with more people from the shop floor to the Board. UON have a diverse and experienced board and two multinational shareholders which attracted me. Now we have a solid foundation, a good leadership team and a growing pipeline, we have the potential to significantly scale up the business rapidly.”
At a personal level, Daniel said that he had learned to pace himself better by keeping business and home life more separate than in the past, focusing on being present when spending time with his wife, exercising early in the morning, creating buffer time for reflection and innovation and always maintaining a sense of humour!
BOLA members will next meet on Thursday 6 February, again at Casa Nostra in Osborne Park. We will also be inviting members’ partners to the Guest Conversation and lunch.
Typically, our agenda also includes the processing of strategic opportunities raised within the group, wide ranging business issues, as well as leadership development tools and activities.
Prospective members and referrers are invited on request as Paul Manning is continuing to build his BOLA Growth group.
In the meantime, each BOLA Prime member will have a monthly coaching session with their BOLA Chair, Jeff.