Back then he was like most apprentices keen on completing this trade and enjoying time with mates and family.

But he obviously had the drive and commitment to make the most of his opportunities in the industry and, as he told The Argus, it’s not at what level you enter the industry that determines your career path but rather your contribution and ability to make a difference.

“If you are prepared to take on the opportunities available and overcome the challenges then this industry offers people a wonderful and fulfilling career,” he said.

Ian is proof of his own belief having worked his way up from a young apprentice to mechanical engineer in charge through to general manager and now head of a management team that oversees 18 mines as well as a Queensland export port and Hunter rail operations.

And, to top off his career, he has just won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Mining at the 2014 Mining Industry and Supplier Awards.

He was nominated for the award by his peers and Ian described the win as a very humbling experience.

He was quick to comment that people at all levels of the industry have contributed to his workplace education.

Ian started his working life as an apprentice fitter and turner with Elcom Collieries and, while gaining his trade qualifications, started the long process of attaining his engineering certificates.

In 1984 he gained the position of mechanical engineering in charge at Liddell State mine before moving onto engineer manager at Ulan Coal and then maintenance manager at Cumnock Coal, which was then 25 per cent owned by Glencore.

Once he joined Glencore in 1999 he progressed through the company ranks until he gained his current position in 2013.

“I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time and through industry consolidation take up the opportunities made available to me to advance my career,” he said.

“And there is no doubt this is great industry to work in – it’s unique in the fact that you can work your way up if you are prepared to put in the effort.

“As I tell our new graduates and apprentices on a regular basis it’s not where you start – that determines where your career can take you. The Glencore Coal management team is an example of this.”

Ian remains very upbeat about the future of the coal industry, saying Glencore’s market analysis shows medium to long term demand will outstrip production.

“Certainly in Singleton it’s been a tough couple of years for the industry; you only have to look at the number of homes for sale,” he said.

“But Glencore remains very confident about the industry’s future.”

This week the company announced a joint venture with Peabody Energy to develop a new open cut mine on leases held by both companies near Warkworth.

Commenting on all the issues surrounding planning laws, Ian said the region needed all the existing industries – not just mining or just agriculture or tourism.

“We need all the local industries firing for the economy to be strong,” he said.

“And all the industries can co-exist – they have in the past and will in the future.

“Adjoining our mines, such as Bulga, we have vineyards, olive groves and cattle grazing enterprises – all operating successfully.

“It’s simply a matter of give and take on both sides to achieve a sustainable future for all the industries.”

Glencore through its Colinta Holdings runs 48,000 cattle in Australia – making it a substantial player in the agriculture business.

Asked about the future of the Bulga Optimisation Project, which is still awaiting the final tick from the Planning and Assessment Commission, Ian said the project deserved to be approved.

“We have listened to the community through the entire planning process and changed our plans based on that feedback,” he said.

“We are not relocating Charlton Road, we have incorporated a visual and noise bund and agreed to Singleton Council’s voluntary planning agreement [which will see $3.1 million invested in local community improvement projects].

“Plus back in 2009 we started a program that cost $173 million to noise attenuate all our trucks at the mine to minimise noise impacts on our neighbours.”

When not thinking about the coal industry and how to improve its productivity, Ian is thinking about the state of the beef industry on his farm near Tamworth.

But then again, both industries are affected by the dollar, overseas demand and international trade agreements so one suspects he never quite stops thinking about coal.