Meet Mathew Clarke
Third Party Manufacturing Lead
Cohort: 2019
Bachelor of Chemical & Process Engineering
Tell us about your Current role and a key project you have led or involved with that you're proud about.
I’m a ‘Third Party Manufacturing Lead’, which basically means I’m a project manager working to outsource various parts of our manufacturing. We have over 140 Third Party Manufacturers globally! Making it a great opportunity to expand my network, collaborate with other companies and learn new skills around negotiation and business I never thought I’d learn when studying engineering
How did the Graduate programme set you up for success in your career?
Because of the Masters component to the programme, it was the perfect onboarding from being a student to a professional – where I could hone my professionalism and understand work expectations in a safe, familiar, study based environment. It also gave me a great overview of the many different facets of the company and an incredible network of fellow graduates which to this day still gives me a competitive edge in my day-to-day work.
"It was the perfect onboarding from being a student to a professional – where I could hone my professionalism and understand work expectations in a safe, familiar, study based environment."
What surprised you about working at Fonterra?
How massive Fonterra is, and how in NZ we see only a tiny fraction of the products produced. Also how much you can do with milk and the variety of products we make from milk! Plus how positive the culture is across the co-op and their genuine care for sustainability, dairy has inherent greenhouse gas problems but Fonterra are global leaders making the most sustainable dairy in the world and putting more and more effort into making our dairy even greener.
Where do you see yourself going from here at Fonterra?
Having started technical on sites, moved to people management and now project management with a strong business focus – I hope to get overseas into the markets and perhaps try some type of sales role so that I’ve really touched on several of the major skillsets of the business.