David Handel - Reynolds Soil Technologies (RST)

Publication: The Mining Chronicle
Date: August 2011

David Handel is the technical and development director for Reynolds Soil Technologies.

Born in Sydney, Mr Handel started dabbling in chemical soil stablisation for construction and roads, which lead him into dust control chemistry.

Following three years of working on his won, Mr Handel co-founded RST in 1994 and has developed all of RST's products over a 20-year period.

Mr Handel is now also a shareholder in RST Brazil and RST Colombia. Mr Handel possesses a Clerk of Works and Building Certificate, Associate Diploma of Applied Science, University of Colombia Air Quality Certificate and a QLD Builders Licence.  He is a professional member of the Mining and Energy Services Council of Australia (MESCA), Civil Contractors Federation and Australian Latin American Business Council.

MC: What time does your day start?
4.4am. Its not as easy in winter, but I like to be in the office around 8am.

MC: What is the first thing you do in the mornings?
I exercise six days a week. Starting the day getting the oxygen flowing has always been part of my life. I like to run but have started road cycling as well. I normally reply to overseas emails before hitting the office.

MC: What is the best part of your daily routine?
Being creative. I love coming up with an idea, turning it into something real and then commercialising them.

MC: What piece of technology could you not do without?
Anything that has an 'i' in front of it.

MC: How do you spend your lunch break? What do you normally eat?
When I'm in the office at my desk and when travelling on the run. I have a weakness for Subway.

MC: Who would you most like to share a working lunch with?
One of the big mining house's CEOs so I can explain why a strategic alliance with RST will lift their share price significantly.

MC: What is your management style?
I like to lead by example. I'm a bit too hands on so everyone has to hang on for the ride.

MC: How would your colleagues describe you?
A very different mind with lots of energy.

MC: What time does your day end?
Office around 6pm and home when the batteries shut down.

MC: What's the best way of finishing the day at work?
I love hearing positive results that have been achieved for a happy client.

MC: What is your most significant professional achievement to date?
Turning something that I believe in into a multimillion dollar business that has real legs. I never gave up no matter how hard it got.

MC: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
We are employing a lot of university graduates and developing some amazing leading edge technology so maybe helping more kids with more ideas to carve futures for themselves.