With a background in materials engineering and a love for learning, Josh has embraced every step of his career path—from metallurgist roles to technical leadership—and now leads initiatives that impact our entire business. Read on to hear more from Josh.
Quick facts about Josh:
Current Role: Global Quality Assurance Manager
Joined Bradken: 2009
Bradken location: Wodonga, NSW
Career Path: Graduate Metallurgist → Plant Metallurgist → Technical Manager/Lead → Technical Lead/Manager in Product Sourcing → Global QA Manager
Hometown: Merimbula, NSW
Hobbies: Bush walks, wine tours, spending time with family and friends
Fun Fact: Once dreamed of being a lawyer because they wore suits and lived in the city!
Three Words to Describe Bradken: Solutions orientated and receptive
When did you join Bradken, and what has your career journey looked like? I first connected with Bradken at the end of 2009 when I applied for a Materials Engineering scholarship through the University of Wollongong—Bradken found my application and reached out. Engineering studies in high school had already sparked my interest in materials engineering, and I liked the idea of working on a diverse range of problems, so it felt like the perfect fit - and the rest is history!
Since then, my journey has taken me across the country, giving me the chance to experience different sites, teams, and challenges along the way. After completing the Bradken Scholarship Program, I started as a Graduate Metallurgist at the Bradken foundry in Wodonga (Victoria), then moved on to Plant Metallurgist in Launceston (Tasmania).
From there, I transitioned back to Wodonga as Technical Manager, later becoming Technical Lead for Bradken’s Product Sourcing team, and eventually stepping into my current role as Global Quality Assurance Manager where I get to collaborate with Bradken teams across the globe.
I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today without Bradken’s investment in my development over the years and the incredible mentorship I’ve received along the way. The time and guidance people have given me have truly shaped my career - It’s a privilege to have had these opportunities.
Tell us about your role at Bradken and what you enjoy most about it. In my current role as Global Quality Assurance Manager, I lead Bradken’s Quality Assurance team, maintain our certifications, and most importantly, work closely with teams across the business to sustain and continuously improve the health of our Quality Management Systems. What I enjoy most is collaborating with people across Bradken—we have incredibly talented individuals and a strong willingness to acknowledge gaps and improve, which makes the work rewarding.
Right now, I’m excited about delivering the new Document Management System aligned to Project Guardian – a multi-year program aimed at uplifting Bradken’s overall risk maturity. It might sound dry, but it’s going to make responsibilities clearer and support our people to work with confidence, which is a big win for the business.
What does “quality” mean to you beyond compliance and certifications? I believe quality is about more than ticking boxes - it’s about consistently meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectations. Every effort in the quality space should be focused on delivering that outcome. This means tailoring our processes to create the right value proposition and ensuring we can reliably and repeatably deliver what matters most to our customers.