HBK CHAT VOL 22 ISS 2 NEWSLETTER

HBK People

You took over several job roles in SANSA, what personality traits did you have to adopt or discardas youmoved through different responsibilities? A technician is a doer, a manager focuses on input, projects, uptime and quality and a leader worries about the strategy, where the money will come from, how to take the organisation to the next level and finding new opportunities. I have passed through all these stages and in each one realised i must gain knowledge, very fast. Most of your adult life happened while in “SANSA”, share those personal milestones that forms part of your “SANSA” memories. I married my wife, Rene, two years after joining SANSA, in June 1989. Together we have two children, a son born in 1991 and daughter born in 1993. They’re all grown up now. My son studied civil engineering and daughter is a paramedic and recently got married.

I’ve had to balance my career with other personal ambitions. Though I sacrificed time for my career, I also had to ensure that I am present for my kids to teach them the values of life. The reality is that your kidswill not excel if you just sit on the couch. Kids learn by example. My responsibility as a parent was to teach them a value system, and work as well as being a present parent, is part of that value system. You are left with about 5 years to retirement, what is your biggest hope for SANSA in the next five years? I would like to see SANSA achieve its goals. I would love to see Matjiesfontien and the tracking of the NASA probes to the Moon and Mars again and a South African commercial EO satellite in orbit.

Engine built between 1986 and 1987. R Hodges was part of the commissioning team.

R Hodges attending leadership training in 1997.

Visit from Boeing in 1999 represented by Norm Beard and Pierre Pichard.

Inauguration of KU Band built in 1998.

R Hodges and colleagues at the Tech of the Year Award Ceremony in 1999.

R Hodges with C Eloff in parliament in 2007.

Repair of LSX antenna in 2003.

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