Passionate Professional Profile

Industry guru and Sassda Market Intelligence Specialist Lesley Squires is a true example of a passionate professional in our industry whose wealth of knowledge and insight into the local and global stainless steel markets has made her a vital part of the evolution of the local sector over the last 30+ years. Here we talk to her about her origins in the industry and what she sees as the future hotspots that will take it onward and upward…

Q. What was your path to forging a career in the South African stainless steel sector?

A. Living in the Netherlands and working for Fluor for three years, I decided to return to South Africa. I sent my CV out to various companies in South Africa and the first response I received was from Barlow Rand (who at that time owned Middelburg Steel and Alloys (MS&A). I returned to South Africa and took up the position offered by MS&A as PA to the HR Director.
I already had a Bachelor of Business Science degree from the University of Cape Town but was offered the opportunity to do an MBA through WITS Business School, paid for by MS&A. Upon completion of my MBA, I was offered a position in Market Intelligence within the company and a couple of years later that of Market Research Manager.

I worked for MS&A for eleven years, until the company was sold to the then Columbus Joint Venture, and most of the staff based in Sandton were retrenched. I then started my own research company, Strategic Business Planning Associates, and consulted to various companies, including Sassda.

In 2002 there was an opening at Sassda for a Director for the Stainless Steel Cooperative Development Initiative (SSCDI), funded by the dtic and the IDC.

Q. How did the first years of your career build on what you learnt at university but in a more practical setting? What were the key lessons you learnt during this time?

A. Honestly, I don’t think that what you learn at university helps you practically in the work environment. University teaches you discipline, perseverance, thought process, a thirst for knowledge etc., all of which enable you in the work environment, but in my case, it was all theory compared to the work environment I was in (stainless steel was completely new to me).

After HR, I started working for the financial manager at MS&A and he handled the programming for certain things at the mill. He taught me to be his backup on the system and that is how I learnt so much about stainless steel in such a short space of a time frame.

Once I finished my MBA, I joined the market research team and start visiting members on research projects, touring their factories and learnt about their businesses, this eventually became my passion. You don’t know a company unless you visit it personally.

Q. What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career and how have you overcome those?

A. First and foremost, being a woman in a male-dominated industry. It is a tough ride but you have to, in your own way, earn the respect of the men in the industry. I worked hard, learnt a lot and developed some fantastic relationships with colleagues and clients. Secondly, international travel. I have always enjoyed travelling but one is often on one’s own. Always take a book with you.

Q. Why do you feel that stainless steel has such an important role to play in growing South Africa’s economy and where are the most exciting ‘pockets of potential’ for the local industry/key areas for growth?

A. Anyone who has been in our industry for any length of time becomes passionate about stainless steel, a walk around my own home will show you that.

The manufacturing sector is one of the biggest job creators in the market, and there are so many stainless steel products which we are importing, that could very easily be made in South Africa, creating jobs and boosting the economy. These products can be things as basic as pots and pans and cutlery or more complicated such as brewing equipment.

If South Africa focused on buying local this would be a huge boost to the economy, and this should include provincial and government institutions.

Q. What do you consider as the most exciting innovations/product developments happening in stainless steel right now and what sectors hold the greatest potential for the use of stainless steel in the future e.g., infrastructure, aerospace, etc.?

A. During the latter part of 2022, we were promised some movement in the nuclear space, this bodes well for the stainless steel sector.
Infrastructure is also a possibility, particularly if we can develop a local supply of long products for the reinforcing of bridges, etc. Specifications for structural applications have been developed in the USA and can be applied in the local market.

Other future developments will be around applications in gas and green hydrogen, which are becoming a key focus, particularly in Africa.