What does the future hold for you
and Sandfire?
My biggest fear in life is wasting opportunity. We are trying
to be true to our belief in creating and maintaining value,
and searching for more value with a good strategy and a
good group of people who are like-minded and like working
together. The sensation you get from something really
working in harmony is extraordinary.
We regard ourselves as being in an incredibly fortunate
position because of the quality of what we found. What we’ve
done is put very good, solid building blocks in place through
integrity, morals, policies and procedures and networking.
The company is not built on a rickety frame, and we also have
some excellent relationships and partnerships with some of
the world’s biggest companies in the raw materials space.
I think the future is bright. Exactly what it will be, I don’t
quite know. We want to build on the wonderful position we’re
in at the moment. It’s not about scale for the sake of being
bigger. It’s about being efficient and productive. The ultimate
measure will be adding value, which will in turn translate
into the share price.
How do you achieve a work/life balance,
and what’s important outside work?
It’s difficult. It’s challenging. It’s something that you’re
constantly working at. You have to be disciplined.
Technology gives you the ability and the flexibility to
maintain that balance which, as you grow a bit older, you
realise is very important. I try not to have heavy commitments
in school holiday periods. And I have allotted times that I
spend with my family. But I’m always contactable and I’m
always available. I want to be in touch with what’s going on
at all times.
Family is important. The best thing that’s ever happened
to me was having children. I love, love, love family time. We
recently went away to Hawaii in the school holidays. My family
couldn’t escape me! If we had stayed in Perth, or somewhere
else domestically, they’d probably be catching up with all their
friends and I wouldn’t see them.
Recently, my father covered all of the costs from his savings
for his entire family, and their husbands, wives, children and
grandchildren to go back to Croatia for his 70th birthday. It
was fantastic. We loved it. We rented a house on the island of
Hvar. We had the most amazing fun time all together, eating,
drinking, talking. It was a special time.
I love the water and water sports. I’ve just got back from
a surfing trip, which was fantastic. It was really challenging
for me, and it was the first time I’ve done something just for
myself in over 20 years. We spent seven days in a remote
place in the Telo islands off Indonesia – four aeroplanes and a
boat trip to get there. It’s important to take time for yourself.
Re-charging physically and mentally; clearing out the clutter.
Please give our readers a little insight
into Karl Simich, the person?
From my perspective I think I’m a really simple bloke.
Honest and straightforward. I call a spade a spade. I’m no
different from anyone else. You have all the same trials and
tribulations, and the excitements and disappointments as
anyone else, whether it’s married life or kids, the highs and
lows of work and the enjoyment of simple things.
I’ve become a bit more philosophical as I’ve grown older,
and I think I now have a far greater appreciation of the
importance of teamwork – a good team is far more powerful
than a group of individuals pushing in different directions.
Imagine a car with the wheels slightly out of alignment;
it will struggle to race well. On the other hand, a finely tuned
car, with a professional driver and pit crew, will have the best
chance of winning the race.
The same can be said of a management team. If you have
a group of people pulling in opposite directions or fighting
at management level, you won’t achieve much. If you have a
group of people all pulling in the same direction, you have a
recipe for success.
The sensation
you get from
something
really working
in harmony is
extraordinary.
MINESITE 2012
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