Tony Leske

Experience

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  Sappi

  May 1989 - May 1993

  Environmental Research Engineer

  • Pilot-scale research on aerobic, anaerobic and biological filtration treatment of pulp and paper mill effluents.• Pilot-scale research on ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis of pulp and paper effluents.• Pilot-scale research on evaporation, crystallization and incineration of pulp and paper effluents.• Development of mathematical models to simulate the proposed Sappi Bleach Chemicals Recovery process.• Six months experiential training in various sections of the Sappi Ngodwana pulp and paper mills.• Discussions and site visits with various engineering companies in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Germany regarding the technical details of the proposed Sappi Bleach Chemicals Recovery process.• Co-ordination and execution of full-scale bleach effluent incineration trials. Show less

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  Wates, Meiring and Barnard Consulting Engineers

  May 1993 - Dec 1995

  Process Engineer

  • Feasibility study, preliminary and detailed process design and preparation of mechanical equipment tender documents for a 10 Ml/day sewage treatment plant (including anaerobic digestion) – including operations and training manuals.• Feasibility study, preliminary and detailed process design and preparation of mechanical equipment tender documents for the upgrade of a 15 Ml/day sewage treatment plant. This included the preparation of operating and training manuals.• Detailed process design, preparation of mechanical equipment tender documents and contract administration of an Acid Mine Drainage plant. This includes the preparation of operating manuals and the training of operating personnel.• Refinement of an expert system software program for the design of potable water treatment plants (including site visits to various water authorities in the United Kingdom and France). Served on a Water Research Commission steering committee for the further development of the expert system.• Process design and mechanical equipment tender document preparation for a wastewater treatment works at a Board Mill in Zimbabwe.• Environmental audit and water quality study of a mining operation in Ghana.• Detailed process design and Hazop study of a wastewater treatment works at a pulp and paper mill.• Several environmental situation analyses.• Several feasibility studies relating to water and wastewater quality management.• Quantitative environmental risk assessment of a vanadium processing industry.• Several environmental impact assessments.• Several environmental risk assessments. Show less

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  Sappi

  Feb 1996 - May 2001

  Environmental Manager

  • Design, implementation and maintenance (including auditing) of an environmental management system (based on the ISO14001 Environmental Management Standard).• Develop environmental strategies and the formulation and implementation of environmental management programmes. This includes formulation and project management of integrated water management plans, waste management plans and emissions compliance plans.• Spokesperson for the mill regarding environmental issues.• Liaison with and environmental performance reporting to environmental authorities.• Negotiation of permits and licenses with environmental authorities.• Review and communication of environmental legislative requirements to the senior management team of the mill.• Manage the central document control (of all systems, including quality and risk management) function at the mill.• Co-ordinate and provide technical input into public participation programmes for new developments.• Manage the activities of external environmental consultants.• Provide environmental awareness training.• Provide line management with environmental management information.• Provide line management with technical environmental information.• Budget and manage the Environmental Department within fixed cost budget constraints.• Assistance with the implementation and auditing of environmental management systems at other Sappi operations.• Serve as mill environmental representative at various environmental forums (including; Crocodile River Catchment Management Forum, Elands Catchment Water Users Association, Air Pollution Liaison Committee, Forest Industry Water Liaison Committee and Elands Valley Conservancy).• Monitor environmental performance of the mill and advise management on appropriate actions to improve performance.• Responsible of all normal line management functions in respect of safety, environment, grievance and disciplinary issues, performance management, personnel development, etc. Show less

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  PAMSA

  Jun 2001 - Jun 2003

  Senior Research Fellow

  • Lecturing two elective courses (Pulping Technology and Paper Making Technology) to final year Chemical Engineering students:• Successful completion of a PhD degree in chemical engineering.• Liaison with industry representatives to build networks, determine research needs and match students to projects.• Tutoring and mentoring post graduate studentsAccomplishments• Developed course notes (for which I was awarded a Bronze EAA award by Sappi).• Successfully completed a PhD degree in record time.• Voted best lecturer in the School of Chemical Engineering in 2003.• Increased the number of students selecting pulp and paper courses from about 8 to about 50. Show less

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  Sappi

  Jul 2003 - Apr 2010

  Environmental Research Manager

  • The mandate of this position was to develop solutions to the environmental challenges facing the company. The work included; • Water and waste: • Optimization and trouble shooting of existing water/effluent and waste management/treatment technologies• Design, construct and conduct bench-, and pilot-scale water/effluent treatment technologies (physical, chemical and biological)• Concept design and preliminary process design and costing of water/effluent and solid waste treatment technologies.• Development of Integrated Water and Waste Management Plans for Sappi mills in South Africa• Conduct gate-to-gate Environmental Life Cycle Assessments of selected mills• Energy and emissions• Energy forensics, auditing, balancing and optimization• Energy Pinch analysis• Concept design and preliminary process engineering of energy optimization technologies.• Eleven direct reports; two Senior Research Engineers, three Research Engineers, three Senior Research Scientists, two Program Leaders and one Technical Specialist.Achievements• During the last two years I was appointed as the Regional (RSA) Sustainability Manager. In this capacity I was appointed as the Core Member for Sappi on the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) where I represented the company at bi-annual meetings in Switzerland. During this time I also developed a Regional Sustainability Strategy for South Africa.• Received Technical Innovation Award for the development of Integrated Water Management Plans for Sappi operations.• Development (and adoption by the Sappi board) of a Regional (RSA) Energy Management Strategy.• Development of a socio-economic-ecological model for the Sappi Ngodwana mill in order to demonstrate the sustainability of current environmental management practices to the environmental authorities. I was awarded a Technical Innovation Award for this project. Show less

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  Farmsecure Energy (Pty) Ltd

  May 2010 - May 2012

  Technical Director

  • • Developing, implementing and directing a Research and Development strategy for Farmsecure Carbon, and management of the Farmsecure Technology Centre.• Techno-economic evaluation of alternative (existing and emerging) waste-to-energy and water treatment technologies, including the development of comprehensive techno-economic feasibility models, and developing these to the point of commercialisation.• Directing the activities of engineering staff to ensure accurate engineering design of cost-effective waste-to-energy and water treatment facilities.• Forming strategic alliances with local and international technology partners to mutual benefit.• Providing technical support to Farmsecure Technologies.• Normal line management functions (performance management, personnel development, disciplinary procedures, mentoring and tutoring, etc).• Ensuring that all projects are implemented within the allotted time and budget.• Trouble-shooting and optimization of implemented projects to ensure consistent profitability. Show less

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  Himark BioGas

  May 2012 - now

  Director: Engineering and Technical Sales Support

  • Reporting to CEO, responsible for the entire engineering and technical sales support function of the company.• Scope of work includes; Pre- and detailed feasibility studies for biogas projects, development of process modelling software, preparation of Process Design Packages (that include detailed process engineering documentation), preparation of training material and training of operational staff, commissioning and start up of biogas facilities, provision of technical support to sales staff based in Canada, USA and Pakistan, technology development and optimization, after-sales technical/operational support.• Five direct reports; three chemical engineers and two mechanical engineers in Edmonton and Karachi.Achievements• Successful implementation and start up of $50 million biogas facility in Kansas, USA. • Personally developed feasibility modelling software enabling the company to perform feasibility studies in a fraction of the time.• Spearheaded the reduction in cost of the Himark technology by approximately 20%• Instrumental in changing the business model of the company, opening further sales opportunities. Show less