David Hakes

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Cemex UK

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

Working in mining in South America for 3 years followed by mine exploration and development in Africa and Norway before moving back to the UK and taking a job with a large quarrying and cement company, currently managing capital projects, new quarries, rail heads, wharves etc.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

The variety and the mixture of office and academic with healthy quantities of ‘real world’ problems and site time. 

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

CSMSSC, CSM Hockey 

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

The location, great for climbing and the outdoors. The nature of a small campus in a small town meant the friendship group cover all of CSM and largely the whole Combined Universities in Cornwall student population .

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

The location, the reputation 

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

The breadth of knowledge and the problem solving skills. 

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Get out into operations type role army in your career to quickly build your experience, it’s harder and harder to get back into as you get older and consultants without time in the field are never as useful.

What are your plans for the future?

No immediate plans other than to continue in the role and enjoy the quality of life that comes with it.