Home-grown Concept to Global Consep

2020 marks the 30th anniversary for Consep - an Australian-owned company providing innovative engineering solutions to the mining, construction, water, and wastewater industries.

Formed in a garage in Lane Cove NSW by Grant Steward (Syndicate 44) and his original business partner, Consep has grown to become a global enterprise operating in over 30 countries. 

In the early 90s, Consep became heavily involved with manufacturing a piece of equipment used in the gold industry known as the Knelson Concentrator - a gravity concentration apparatus used by alluvial miners at the time.

Realising that selling to dreamers trying to find alluvial gold wasn’t a great business strategy, Consep started concentrating on hard rock miners which were booming in the early 90s. Consep soon changed the way gold was extracted - from a pure chemical process, to a process where miners utilised the Knelson Concentrator for recovery of the gravity recoverable Gold (typically 20-80%) prior to chemical processing. This represented a big saving to the operation with the Knelson creating an environment of 60 times the force of gravity that enables gold, because of its high density, to be easily recovered. Consep quickly became the gravity gold experts in Australia moving on to convert most of the mines around the world using the process.

Consep’s decision to build technology such as the Knelson Concentrator initially as a licensee, enabled them to learn as much about the product as the original principal. Consep took the philosophy forward and approached owner-operator companies that were successful in North America but had yet to break into the Australian and South East Asian markets - many of which they are still in partnership with today.

While at international mine sites, Grant studied other technologies and equipment which led to the development of Consep Acacia - a process which is used to treat concentrates from the Knelson Concentrator. The Consep Acacia solution was commercialised worldwide by Consep and over 170 systems have since been sold. Consep Acacia was licensed back to first partner Knelson Concentrator where packages of equipment are now sold together. Anywhere that gold is being mined around the world, the Knelson Concentrator will be in use to test what recovery is possible - a product built by Consep in Australia and Canada.

Recent iron ore expansion saw Consep develop existing Canadian technology to become suitable for the Australian iron ore industry enabling samples to be effectively taken.

The importance of managing partnerships, key relationships and developing and protecting technologies has always been at the forefront of Consep’s mind which has enabled them to control their own destiny.

One of Grant’s proudest achievements is “when someone comes to work for Consep, they don’t leave”.  Some staff members have been with the company for over 20 years, many still in their first job after graduating from University. Looking after staff is important to the company. Grant’s philosophy “work for the person that’s working for you” helps create a fulfilling career and an enjoyable working environment for his 120 staff in Australia and 40 in Canada.

Some of Consep’s substantial projects include The World Trade Centre, Barangaroo Towers, wastewater treatment plants in Auckland and Cronulla, but their recent project with Fortescue is the largest and most exciting. In the last 6 months, Consep’s rapid boom has enabled them to employ more than 90 additional staff across Australia and Canada. The business is showing no signs of slowing down during the global pandemic.

Although openly embracing digital technology like Zoom, Grant can see potential challenges that lie ahead. Having recently sold equipment to Russia, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, international travel bans will make face-to-face training difficult. In countries with no common language, developed skill base, or exposure to new technologies, the process could be put at risk. Grant is hoping by January 2021, travel arrangements can be allowed for Consep staff to visit international locations.

Working in and on Consep for 25 years, Grant started realising it was often lonely by himself. It was at this time he started searching for a support network and found The CEO Institute, which he says has been “one of the best decisions I have ever made”.

It did take Grant a while to work out how he can best benefit from membership, but now Grant sees the monthly meetings with his peer group at The CEO Institute as ones he would never miss.

“You have to do the work, you have to put the time into the people in your group to get it back, but if you do, you will get it back in spades. You do not want to be passive; you want to be an interested and active member. It is important to develop friendships and relationships to enable open sharing. It is not about going into meetings thinking about yourself, rather it is about thinking how you can contribute to others”.

Grant finds the close bonds created with his peers and Chair, Warren Hart, invaluable. Warren has gone as far as mentoring Grant’s Australian staff when they relocated to Canada. When speaking about his Chair, Grant said “Warren is always about people. He is a great touchstone who reinforces what you are doing and directs you on the right path”.

It isn’t just about the insightful learnings and comradeship that he receives, Grant is also grateful for the opportunity to help others in his Syndicate when they have needed assistance.

This desire to help others shone through when Grant participated in this year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

Signing up to experience the great outdoors and bonding experience with his peers, Grant was initially disappointed when the event moved online due to COVID-19. Nevertheless, homelessness doesn’t change during a pandemic and these communities need assistance more than ever, so Grant was committed to do his best and took it upon himself to become one of the top 10 fund raisers - raising over $50,000 for the worthy Vinnies appeal!

“Homelessness is something everyone can relate to, and The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is a very worthy cause”. 

Grant also recently toured the Matthew Talbot Hostel for vulnerable men in Sydney to see the great work they are doing firsthand and donated a television for the residents.

Relationships, helping others and giving back is what Grant is all about. 
 

The CEO Institute, established over 25 years ago, helps business leaders like you connect with your peers to share skills, insight, and experience. The CEO Institute's leadership programs are available globally. Click here to read more member success stories.