Barry Bester
Albany Creek,QLD
Summary
Professional with strong expertise in business development, prepared to lead strategic growth initiatives. Skilled in market analysis, client relationship management, and driving revenue through innovative solutions. Focused on team collaboration and adaptable to changing needs, ensuring reliable and consistent results. Known for problem-solving abilities and effective communication, fostering productive work environment.
Experienced with project lifecycle management, including initiation, planning, execution, and closure. Utilizes effective communication and leadership skills to guide teams and stakeholders. Track record of applying strategic thinking and risk assessment to achieve project goals efficiently.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Business Development Manager - Australia
FTC Solar
07.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: Industry: Renewable Energy
- Overall responsibility for Business Development, Sales. (Projects awarded to date Australia and New Zealand, 14 +/- 5MW, 1 x +125MW, 1 x +300MW in contract phase)
- Project management and logistics – (Projects undertaken - 8 x +/-5MW – Australia, 3 x +/-5MW – New Zealand and large scale 125MW Australia)
- Ensuring internal project is created into financial system
- Ensuring all supplier purchase orders are placed with relevant suppliers
- Follow up with logistics teams to ensure delivery dates and quality are met
- Liaising with customer on delivery dates
- Ensuring customer invoices are created and sent based on agreed milestone payment dates.
- Field support- (Projects undertaken - 4 x +/-5MW – Australia, 3 x +/-5MW – New Zealand and large scale 125MW Australia (quality audits)
- Work with internal teams to ensure site documentation and manuals are received by the customer
- Attend site and train the customer installation team on best construction methods, sign off “Golden row” training records.
- Attend site during construction for surveillances audits during construction.
- On construction mechanical completion, attend site, conduct quality audit, cold commissioning of the tracker systems, communications network and Scada integration with Customer.
- Conduct hot commissioning with Customer.
- Ongoing site maintenance and support
- Countries visited: Botswana, Australia, New Zealand.
- Heads reporting in: 0
Senior Sales Manager / FTC Solar South Africa Director
FTC Solar
01.2021 - Current
- Company Overview: Industry: Renewable Energy
- Overall responsibility for Business Development, Sales, Technical Sales, company reporting for Africa. (Projects awarded 3 x 3MW, Kenya, Botswana, Nigeria)
- Project management and logistics – (Projects undertaken – Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria)
- Ensuring internal project is created into financial system
- Ensuring all supplier purchase orders are placed with relevant suppliers
- Follow up with logistics teams to ensure delivery dates and quality are met
- Liaising with customer on delivery dates
- Ensuring customer invoices are created and sent based on agreed milestone payment dates.
- Field support- (Projects undertaken – Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria)
- Work with internal teams to ensure site documentation and manuals are received by the customer
- Attend site and train the customer installation team on best construction methods, sign off “Golden row” training records.
- Attend site during construction for surveillances audits during construction.
- On construction mechanical completion, attend site, conduct quality audit, cold commissioning of the tracker systems, communications network and Scada integration with Customer.
- Conduct hot commissioning with Customer.
- Countries visited: Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya, UAE, Germany, Australia.
- Heads reporting in: 1
Head of Sales
PiA Solar
09.2020 - 12.2020
- Company Overview: Industry: Renewable Energy
- Overall responsibility for Business Development, Sales, Technical Sales, Product Development and Design. (Projects awarded and operating: 45MW, 3 x 86MW, 90MW, 89MW, 6 x 5MW)
- Project Management and logistics for all projects.
- Countries visited: Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Swaziland, Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya, Mauritius, UAE, Germany, Australia, China.
- Heads reporting in: 9
Business Development Manager – Sub Saharan Africa, Australia and Asia
PiA Solar
07.2017 - 09.2020
- Company Overview: Industry: Renewable Energy
- Responsible for locating and proposing potential business deals by contacting potential Clients; discovering and exploring opportunities in Australia, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Identifying trendsetter ideas by researching industry and related events, publications, and announcements with the potential to grow the market share of PiA Solar SA.
- Develop negotiating strategies and positions by studying integration of new ventures and operations; examining risks and potentials; estimating Clients' needs and goals. Liaise with Governments, IPP’s, EPC’s Suppliers and Partners for potential business.
- Close new business deals by developing and negotiating contracts and integrating contract requirements with business operations.
- Develop new supplier opportunities for local content within the African countries.
- Obtaining requests for business, identifying technology, costing, quoting, contracting and project implementation.
- Responsible for the Commercial Industrial sector within PiA including manpower and warehouse.
- All project costing activities. This includes costing compilation, obtaining prices of purchased components and calculation of labour, overheads.
- Quotation and negotiation of contracts.
- Reviewing and finalizing Client & Supplier contracts.
- Identifying new product technologies.
- Strong ability to work from remote locations.
- Countries visited: Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Swaziland, Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya, Mauritius, UAE, Germany, Australia, China.
Technical Sales Manager
PiA Solar
05.2015 - 06.2017
- Company Overview: Industry: Renewable Energy
- All project costing activities (components, suppliers, logistics, operational, design etc).
- Compile PiA Solar’s offer documentation to clients.
- Design and development of the rooftop bracketry for the C & I rooftops division.
- Assist with reviewing and finalizing Client & Supplier contracts.
- Financial analysis (budget vs actual) during & after projects are completed.
- Customer & Supplier interface.
- Assist with company marketing activities.
Consulting on various projects (Exactocraft, Benteler)
06.2013 - 04.2015
- Company Overview: Industry: Injection Moulding, Automotive pressing
- Customer Management
- Contract Management
- Labour Management
- Price control and pricing movements
- Marketing and Sales
- Countries visited: Germany, USA, China.
General Manager
Studio Plastics
07.2011 - 03.2013
- Company Overview: Industry: Injection Moulding
- Management of +/-50 staff
- Overall running and financial security of the company
- Contract Management, Marketing and Sales
- Design and Development
- Labour Management
- Customer Management
- Increased Turnover +100% and Increased Profit +600%
- Countries visited: China, Zimbabwe, Malta.
Cost Engineer/New Business Analyst/Key Account Analyst
Tenneco
11.2001 - 06.2011
- Company Overview: Industry: Automotive Component Manufacturing
- Customer Relationship Management
- Quotation preparation
- Standard Costing Processes and Procedures
- Quarterly Price Adjustments
- Project Cost Control
- Advanced Purchasing
- TVM’s: Total Value Management
- Documentation Control
- Countries visited: USA, Germany, Australia, China.
Cost Accountant
Guestro Wheels (PE) works (a division of Dorbyl Automotive Technologies)
03.1999 - 10.2001
- Company Overview: Industry: Automotive Component Manufacturing
- Supervision and Control of; Costing, Debtors, Purchasing, Payroll, Exports including rebate claims and Raw Material Creditors.
- Ensuring all legislation was adhered to and the various departments complied to specified guidelines.
- Management of 6 staff.
Purchasing Manager
Aberdare Telecommunications
06.1993 - 02.1999
- Company Overview: Industry: Telecommunications
- Supervision and controls the Purchasing, Stores Departments and Site Services.
- Negotiated the purchase and delivery of raw materials and engineering stores items and ensured that the various stores were properly maintained, ensuring the efficient receipt and issue of materials and engineering items or services to the Manufacturing and Engineering Departments.
Costing Clerk
Welfit Oddy (Pty)Ltd
05.1992 - 05.1993
- Company Overview: Industry: Tank Container Manufacturing
Education
National Higher Diploma - Cost and Management Accounting
Port Elizabeth Technikon
12.1995
National Diploma - Cost and Management Accounting
Port Elizabeth Technikon
12.1992
National Diploma - Purchasing
Damelin Management School
01.1996
Matric - Grade 12
Grenville High School
01.1988
Skills
- Territory management
- Customer engagement
- Key account management
- Project planning
- Client relationship management
- Project plan development
- Project scheduling
- Cross-functional communication
- Schedule coordination
- Cost control
- Client liaison
- Project management
Personal Information
English
Timeline
Senior Business Development Manager - Australia
FTC Solar
07.2023 - Current
Senior Sales Manager / FTC Solar South Africa Director
FTC Solar
01.2021 - Current
Head of Sales
PiA Solar
09.2020 - 12.2020
Business Development Manager – Sub Saharan Africa, Australia and Asia
PiA Solar
07.2017 - 09.2020
Technical Sales Manager
PiA Solar
05.2015 - 06.2017
Consulting on various projects (Exactocraft, Benteler)
06.2013 - 04.2015
General Manager
Studio Plastics
07.2011 - 03.2013
Cost Engineer/New Business Analyst/Key Account Analyst
Tenneco
11.2001 - 06.2011
Cost Accountant
Guestro Wheels (PE) works (a division of Dorbyl Automotive Technologies)
03.1999 - 10.2001
Purchasing Manager
Aberdare Telecommunications
06.1993 - 02.1999
Costing Clerk
Welfit Oddy (Pty)Ltd
05.1992 - 05.1993
National Diploma - Cost and Management Accounting
Port Elizabeth Technikon
National Diploma - Purchasing
Damelin Management School
Matric - Grade 12
Grenville High School
National Higher Diploma - Cost and Management Accounting
Port Elizabeth Technikon
Similar Profiles
David PorterDavid Porter
Senior Sales Engineer at FTC SolarSenior Sales Engineer at FTC Solar
Ryan LauerRyan Lauer
Global Product Support/Field Engineer at FTC SolarGlobal Product Support/Field Engineer at FTC Solar
JESTIN JENIFERJESTIN JENIFER
DESIGN ENGINEER at FTC SOLAR INCDESIGN ENGINEER at FTC SOLAR INC
Emily GrassoEmily Grasso
Administrative Assistant at NetvaultAdministrative Assistant at Netvault
Quinnlan JohnsonQuinnlan Johnson
Early Childhood Day Home Provider at Business OwnerEarly Childhood Day Home Provider at Business Owner