Welekazi Cele

The opportunity to engage with some of the best global minds and endless opportunities for development are what drove Welekazi to join the Hatch team. Over the course of Welekazi’s career with Hatch, she has held a variety of roles from pure process engineering discipline-focused roles spanning various commodities, to project management focused on demonstrating the value the engineering profession can add to solve real-world problems. Today, Welekazi is the regional director of Iron Ore in the Africa, Europe, Middle East (AEM) region and a key account manager for one of our top clients at Hatch, acting as a key contact for clients, listening and understanding their needs, and partnering with them to successfully deliver the most innovative solutions to tackle their toughest challenges.

When not in the office, Welekazi enjoys interior decorating and is always on the hunt for unique pieces to add to her home, often incorporating pieces from her travels. During a trip to Turkey she was amazed by the beautiful art and architectural design of different mosques and was sure to grab a piece of art!

What does positive change mean to you?

“Creating unprecedented outcomes for our clients by partnering with them to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that will positively impact future generations.”

How are you changing the world?

“I believe changing the world can only begin when we listen to each other—not just to our clients, but those in the communities in which we operate. Taking the time to listen to each other will help us to create outcomes that benefit every stakeholder and will contribute to the creation of safe, innovative, practical solutions that exceed clients' expectations without compromising sustainability.”

What do you think are the toughest challenges facing your clients?

“The World Economic Forum suggests seven trends will shape the future of the mining and metals industry including the transition to a low-carbon economy, depletion of high-grade resources in low-risk areas, and developing new ways to finance mining to limit risk, but we’re ready! With 9,000 employees across the world, we have exceptional, diverse teams of engineers and business professionals to collaborate and partner with clients to tackle these challenges.”

What are you most proud of?

“I’m extremely proud of the way we conduct business, approaching every project with integrity and unconditional honesty, making us a partner of choice. It’s a great feeling to be a part of an organization with such a strong reputation across the world both within and outside of the industry—we have long-term relationships and an extensive portfolio to prove it.”

What do you like most about working at Hatch? How do you think the Hatch culture is different from other companies?

“What sets Hatch apart from others in the industry is that the values listed in our Manifesto are at the heart of everything we do and are consistent across all places we operate.”