OBITUARY

Ron Hardwick died on 04/02/2020.

Ronald Thomas Hardwick FTSE was an expert at identifying, assessing and implementing cutting-edge technologies to make companies more profitable.

Born in 1932, he studied Engineering at the University of Sydney and went on to advance a number of Australian industries, including in the paper and mineral sectors.

Mr Hardwick was a leading thinker in gas production and distribution, as well as cylinder manufacture and design. He held leadership roles at Commonwealth Industrial Gases (now BOC) and Associated Minerals.

Over his varied career, Mr Hardwick founded and directed AVT Services – a scientific vacuum and cryogenics provider – and was a Director of an automated home security company, Netra Holdings.

In 1985 he began working for Visy Paper and Pulp, where he oversaw the development of paper mills in Australia, Europe and the US, including the Tumut Paper Mill in NSW. He introduced a number of measures to improve energy efficiency and waste recovery in paper manufacturing processes.

Elected a Fellow in 2005, he was a keen member of the Energy Forum and NSW Division.

Ron Hardwick died on 2 April 2020, aged 87. He is survived by his wife Margaret, four children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.