Ben Kele

Managing Director of Arris Pty Ltd

Bachelor of Applied Science (Biology) Masters of Applied Science Current Study: PhD in Use of Zeolites for addressing Salinity and Sodicity in Water Treatment

Ben has over 30 years experience in the water industry and has researched, built and operated a wide range of water treatment facilities. He has extensive experience in on-site & decentralised installations and addressing the concerns of salinity and sodicity in recycled water. He is recognised as a leader in the management, treatment, and beneficial use of wastewater streams that have ‘difficult’ chemistry, organic loads and/or environmental license conditions. He has developed and presented a wide variety of educational courses on water and wastewater treatment. Ben has experience in using a wide range of treatment solutions and can find regulatory compliant solutions for challenging sites. He has also successfully trouble-shooted existing treatment system and enabled them to meet the required performance of both the client and the regulators. He is a board-member of two international water-based charities.

• Water treatment: drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, mining & gas & industrial effluents
• Salinity and Sodicity in water treatment
• Different aeration techniques for water treatment
• Ozone treatment technologies
• Management of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)
• Trouble-shooting and repairing water treatment chains
• On-site & decentralised water treatment research projects
• Lecturing the Engineered Water Cycle at Central Queensland University
• Managing research projects and patenting/commercialising outcomes
• Design, Build, Operate and Maintain of water infrastructure
• Coordinating staff and contractors to achieve the best results for projects
• Technical writing, reports, manuals, information bulletins and communication tools

Memberships:

• Australian Water Association
• NOWRA
• Wastewater Education
• Operators Without Borders
• International Ozone Assocation
• Water Research Australia

Tony Kodel

Water Treatment Plant Operator, Field Technician & Construction

Tony has over 20 years experience in the water industry. He is a scientific practitioner & educator with a diverse range of industry skills and experiences. His attention to detail makes him an excellent commissioning & trouble-shooting water treatment technican. His education background means that he writes easy to comprehend & informative standard operating procedures for water and wastewater treatment plants. Tony has attended training courses in ozone & oxygen concentrating technologies in both Europe and North America. Equally at home in the Lab or in the Field, Tony’s skill set is a rare combination in the on-site & decentralised water industry.

David Taylor

Water Treatment Plant Operator, Field Technician & Construction

David has more than 10 years’ experience with Water Treatment Operations (oil and gas related) based treating water produced from Coal Seam Gas with treatment methods including Flocculation & Coagulation, Geo Tubes,  Ozone Injection, Aeration, Hydro-Cyclones, Disc Filters, Sand and Bag Filters, Ion Exchange and Reverse Osmosis Units. David started working with Ben Kele back in 1991 making septic tanks at the Kele’s pre-cast concrete business. David has wide experience in the practical construction of on-site and decentralised water treatment technologies.

Ted Gardner

Consultant

B Agri. Sci. (University of Queensland 1969) M Agri. Sci. (University of Queensland 1978) Adjunct Professor (School of Urban Development, Faculty of Built Environment & Engineering Queensland University of Technology 2006) Adjunct Professor/Senior Research Fellow: part-time (Institute for Resource Industries Sustainability; Central Queensland University 2010-current)

Specialist Fields

• Systems thinking as applied to the Urban Water Cycle
• Metabolism of ecologically sensitive subdivisions (water, energy and nutrient balances)
• Microbiology and quantitative microbial risk assessment of alternative urban water supplies
• Energy and greenhouse gas footprint of alternative water and wastewater systems
• Nutrient recovery and reuse from source separated waste streams (urine separating toilets at The Ecovillage at Currumbin)
• Effectiveness of water sensitive design and erosion control in reducing contaminant export from urban subdivisions
• Hydrology, geochemistry, sociology and energy aspects of urban rainwater systems
• Effect of urbanisation and stormwater harvesting on the ecosystem health of urban creeks
• Life Cycle Assessment of alternative urban water systems
• Treatment and reuse of waste water for non-potable and potable uses
• Performance and sustainability of decentralised wastewater treatment systems

Publications

• 59 Journal papers
• 149 Refereed conference papers
• 56 Conference papers
• 59 Workshop presentations
• 129 Technical presentations to various special interest groups
• 3 Book Chapters
• 2 Monograph Chapters
• 1 Editor of a Monograph on Purified Recycled Water – the Technical Issues

Memberships

• Membership of Professional Association
• Australian Water Association (AWA)
• Australian Society of Soil Science (Served as treasurer, committee member and course convener, Queensland Branch)
• International Water Association (IWA)

 

Andrew Kele

Construction Manager & Fitter

Andrew has 40 years’ experience in construction and the operation of facilities. Andrew can fabricate, repair and modify many different types of equipment and/or materials and is experienced in sourcing goods and equipment for jobs in regional and remote locations, including islands. Andrew is a skilled site manager and has decades worth of experience in managing crews & projects.

Andrew has a wide range of sub-contractors available to assist with specialised construction jobs. Andrew has 15 years’ experience in the operation of water and wastewater treatment plants and over 10 years’ experience in the Australian Coal Mining & Gas Resource industries.

Key skills include:

• Construction & Fabrication
• Workplace health & safety: JSA’s, SWMS, ITR’s, ITP’s, Risk Assessments, Take 5’s
• Water treatment: drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, mining & industrial water
• Pipeline and pumping requirements
• Heavy diesel mechanic
• Confined spaces
• Working at Heights
• Coal Board Certificate
• Heavy Vehicle Licence
• Crane & Rigger qualifications
• Machinery Operator (skid steer, fork lift, excavator, loader, etc.)

Natalie Wolfe

Environmental Scientist (Water)

Natalie has varied experience in the mining industry, as well as conducting environmental surveys in freshwater systems.

Key skills include:

• Knowledge of freshwater systems and Drinking Water Guidelines.
• Environmental and biological sample collection and analysis
• Research planning, technical writing and reporting
• Interpretation and understanding of legislation
• OH&S Compliance
• Risk analysis

Memberships:

• Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Dami Chandrasekera

Senior Engineer

Key Skills include:

• Planning and design of water infrastructure projects, including network hydraulic and water quality modelling.
• Operation and maintenance of water and wastewater.
• Planning, design and delivery of integrated water management projects.
• Regional, Rural and Remote Specialist Committee member of the Australian Water Association.
• Promoting sustainable water management by safeguarding the environment and ensuring fit-for-purpose water and sanitation facilities for everyone.

Memberships:

• Australian Water Association,
• International Water Association
• Engineers Australia – MIEAust (Civil & Environmental)

Richard Williamson

Business Development

Accomplished sales management and business development professional with over 12 years working experience in the wastewater industry.

Richard actively works with our residential and commercial clients across Australia to understand their needs and ensure they obtain the best advice and treatment solution which best suits their needs regarding treated water quality, budget, installation footprint and operational requirements.

Passionate about providing customer service excellence and delivering practical and reliable solutions, Richard has an honest, open and easy-going communication style which makes him very easy to work and do business with.

Key skills include:

• Knowledgeable about wastewater treatment and available technologies.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experienced B2B and B2C sales.
• Solutions focused. Well developed problem solving skills.
• End to end project management.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.

Peter Crane

Construction & WTP Operator

Peter has 40 years experience in soil classification environmental testing, including managing a soil lab for 20 years with a staff of 20. He also has 30 years experience using drilling rigs in different applications.

Key skills include:

• Contaminated sites management
• Domestic waste water design and investigation classification
• Building design – footings inspections and classification

Current Statements of Attainment and Licences include:

• Certificate 2 in Management and Micro Time management
• Multi-combination truck license
• Licences for excavator loader skid, including bobcat to bulldozers & crane
• Ticket for a Frana lifter
• Confined Spaces
• Forklift Truck
• First Aid with CPR

Ben Muller

Civil Engineer

Ben has over 25 years of experience in managing contracts and projects across both civil and water industries. With roles ranging from Site Engineer through to Project Director and Regional Manager, he is able to work with and understand all levels of organisations.

He has a proven track record of leading and delivering cross functional teams and disciplines, in local, interstate and overseas locations.

His key skills include:

• Project Management of large, complex, turnkey water treatment systems.
• Project and Operational delivery in the civil sector
• Strong customer and stakeholder management with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships.
• Sales, Estimating and Contract administration roles
• Strong OH&S and QA leadership

Travis Stone

Trade Assistant

Travis is an Army veteran of 9 years, having specialised for 2 years as a geological technician in uranium exploration. Travis brings his all-round practical strengths and strong interpersonal skills to the team.

With 10 + years experience in construction landscaping, Travis assists the team with the installation of domestic & commercial packaged treatment plants and irrigation, water tanks and other general construction and labouring duties.

Key skills include:

• Small machine operator
• General construction labourer
• Domestic & commercial rainwater/sewerage treatment plant installation

Kristi Lamond

Administration/Accounts

More than 25 years experience in administration and public relations

• Formally trained in office management & administration
• Finance management
• Event management
• Extensive editing experience – technical and otherwise
• Document layout and proofing

Kate Edwards

Office Administration

20 years experience in Office Administration.

• Experience as Personal Assistant to Managing Directors
• Office Administration
• Event Management