Matthew Kirk

Partnership Manager
Orica Ltd

Bachelor of Science (Honours)

“My role has evolved over time to take on commercial responsibilities for customers, products and technologies”.

When people think of a Chemist, they picture some person in a white coat scurrying about a laboratory with test tubes in hand.  Well, the truth is it’s not all about the white coats.  After I had completed my Honours Year in Chemistry, I was successful in obtaining a job as a Quality Control Chemist.  While many Chemists enjoy a laboratory based career, I quickly learnt that this path was not for me. I applied for and was accepted into the ICI (now Orica) graduate program.  The program involved two annual rotations within the company.  My first position was with the ICI Watercare group as a Development Chemist.  I was part of a team responsible for the laboratory development and scale-up of a new ion-exchange resin technology which is now commercially available. 

My next position was a Project Chemist with the Orica Pulp and Paper group.  I was a support role for the team, which involved identifying technical projects at Pulp and Paper customers.  Projects varied in size, from analysis on water quality, to the implementation of a new bleaching technology into a customer’s pulp producing process.  On completion of the program, I accepted a full time position with the Pulp and Paper team.  Since then, my role has evolved over time to take on commercial responsibilities for customers, products and technologies.  My present day role is a Partnership Manager for a greenfield paper mill development project in Queensland, where we provide strategic support services for chemical installation design, chemical procurement and manage research and development activities.

If I had to name one thing I enjoyed the most about university was the social life.  Letting your hair down with your friends was an excellent way to refresh your mind.  At university you mix with a large spectrum of people, which helps you adapt to many team related situations later in your career.

When asked what was it you enjoyed about your studies at Monash, I simply say “the fact that I enjoyed them”, I have learnt during in my career, that you really have to enjoy what you are doing in order to get the most out of it.  I’ve seen some amazing achievements from people who are passionate about what they do.