Salt of the Earth: Solomon Patha

Somewhere in India this month, 63 widows will receive a full basket of groceries (good-quality food, right down to the toothpaste) from a man who lives on the other side of the world in Perth. That man is Solomon Patha, and by day he negotiates the contracts that keep one of Australia’s largest salt projects moving.

Solomon is BCI’s Procurement Manager, responsible for the long-lead packages and tender processes behind the Mardie Salt Operation. Nearly five years on from joining in 2021, and with first salt now in sight, we sat down with him.

What followed was a conversation about far more than purchase orders, from the biggest myth about procurement to a life quietly devoted to serving others.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about procurement?

The biggest misconception is that people think we’re a roadblock for the business. We’re not. Give us the correct scope and the timelines, and we’re the ones who negotiate with suppliers to get the best outcome for the company. We also look after our suppliers, because a supplier needs to come on the journey with us and be part of our vision. Wherever I am, whichever company I’m with, I try to bring our suppliers along as partners.

We are not roadblocks. We get the best value for the company.

You joined BCI in 2021. What’s changed the most in five years?

The vision of the company, and the leadership. Our leader, David, has a clear vision for the business and a strong focus on delivery. He doesn’t work in isolation, he brings people along, he understands how you work, and he understands the technical side. He even understands procurement, which is rare. A lot of chief executives don’t fully grasp what we do or how we do it, so having a leader who does makes a real difference.

What keeps you giving a company your all?

I don’t get too caught up in titles or tenure. Wherever I am, I give my 110% and make the most of it. But the one thing that truly keeps me somewhere is the company’s vision. If a company has a vision, it takes you to a new level. That’s what I look for, and it’s what I’ve found here.

How would you explain what BCI does to someone who’s never heard of Mardie?

I’d start with the salt itself, because most people have no idea how it’s made or where it comes from. Salt is in almost everything around you, your TV, your iPad. Your phone wouldn’t exist without salt. Once people understand how important it is, they start to see why what we’re building at Mardie matters.

What’s the trickiest part of managing long-lead-time packages on a project the size of Mardie?

The hardest part is getting suppliers to commit to the lead times we need, and then sticking to that commitment. They want the order, so at first it’s “yes, yes, yes,” and then the excuses come. The way we manage it at BCI is constant reminders and constant follow-ups. A lot of us, the engineers, the projects team, the delivery team, procurement have worked in other mining companies, so we know what tends to happen and what to do about it. BCI has recruited a lot of genuinely experienced people, and that’s our advantage.

You run a community supporting widows in India. How did that start?

When my wife and I were moving from the Middle East to Australia, we kept noticing friends who weren’t looking after their parents. We felt we had to do something, especially for widows, because so many of them had been pushed out of their own homes. In 16 years, we’ve supported more than 100 widows. Today we look after 63. We don’t have a building yet, so we negotiate with their children to keep their mothers at home, and each month we provide a full basket of good-quality groceries right down to the toothpaste.

You also serve with The Gideons International. Why does serving others matter so much to you?

For me, it comes back to giving to the community and serving others. My faith teaches that we’re called to put others first, and that conviction has always stayed with me. If each of us is willing to serve, imagine what that can do. I love to serve with a servant heart, not an authoritative one. Honestly, I’m more excited talking about this than about my career. That’s where the real joy is.

You and your wife renovated a house together. What did that teach you?

A lot of things. First, it brought us closer together. Second, I learned that I want everything done fast, and my wife is the realistic one. She told me I couldn’t finish in the time I wanted, and she was right; six weeks became eight. The big surprise was the asbestos. We pulled up the carpet and the whole floor was full of it, and it’s banned here for good reason. The quote to treat it came in at $30,000, which threw the timeline out completely. So I did what I do best, I went and found the right person, and $30,000 came down to $3,000. Procurement skills, even at home.

Coming to Australia was a childhood dream. What would you tell young Solomon?

Coming to Australia was my dream from the time I was a boy in India. If I could say one thing to that young Solomon, it would be simple: Dream big. 

“Salt of the Earth” is a new fortnightly series whereby we get to know our dedicated team members.

To see the current opportunities at BCI Minerals, please visit our careers page: https://www.bciminerals.com.au/careers.html