2008 L.W. Shemilt Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Dr. Kurst Strobele (Ph.D. Mechanical '73) (left) and Dr. Leslie W. Shemilt

Dr. Kurt Strobele (Ph.D. Mechanical '73)

Growing up in Namibia, where he got his early education, Dr. Kurt Strobele went on to do his undergraduate work in South Africa at the University of Witswatersrand, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree Cum Laude from the Engineering Faculty. He then traveled to Germany to pursue graduate work at Munich University, with a focus on operations research and production engineering.

After moving to Canada, Kurt came to Hamilton and enrolled at McMaster University. His studies here included modeling and optimization of mixed variable systems. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from McMaster in 1973.
 
In the same year Kurt joined Hatch Associates, a multidisciplined engineering firm that counted Stelco and Dofasco as principal clients. Kurt started his career in Hamilton, but was quickly appointed to a major engineering and construction project in South Africa, designing and building a mine and titanium-slag processing facility.

After several years as an executive and project manager at Hatch, Kurt was appointed Vice President, Computer Systems; then Vice President, Engineering; then Managing Director: first of Industrial Minerals, and then of Light Metals.

In 2004, after spending more than 30 years designing and building metallurgical plants all around the world, Hatch’s board of directors appointed Kurt President and Chief Executive Officer. Within two years he was also made Chairman.

As Chairman and CEO of Hatch, Kurt is responsible for approximately 8,000 employees located in 80 offices on six continents, with capital projects totaling more than $50 billion dollars.

In 2007 alone, Kurt led Hatch to nine industry awards, including an Award of Excellence from the Canadian Consulting Engineer and the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada, earned for Hatch’s work on the Shikwamkwa Replacement Dam, near Wawa, Ontario.

He is fluent in three languages, English, German and Afrikaans, and has a strong appreciation for the outdoors, which he developed while horseback riding as a young man in Namibia.

Kurt is described by his friends and co-workers as having a common-sense, hands on approach to his work, which has gone a long way in helping him earn his hardworking reputation.