Dr Tom Benn

I commenced my academic journey with UniSA in March 2013, retired in July 2018 and completed my PhD in 2020. The title of my thesis is "The effect of limestone mineral additionin combination with cement kiln dust on chloride penetration of concrete"

My career in the concrete industry began in 1977 after obtaining my Higher National Diploma in Civil Engineering in South Africa. After 36 years in the commercial world I decided that I have plenty of experience, related to concrete and concrete materials, to offer to the younger generation that will assist their careers. My pervious experience with laboratories will assist with the expansion and improvement of the laboratories facilities, which will be of benefit to both students and industry. In addition it will allow me to carry out my own research on topics that interest me but that will be of value to the cement and concrete industy. At the start of my working career I was particularly interersted in soil mechanic and hydraulics but after a couple of years moved into the concrete industry.

My concrete career started in the "Readymix Concrete Industry" with a subsiduary of Pioneer Concrete (now Hanson Construction Materials) of Australia. My initial duties were as the laboratory techincian responsible for the testing and quality control of the concrete and the concrete materials. I actually carried out the slump test and made the concrete test specimens. I then spend 10 years in the construction chemical field where I obtained experience on the use and manufacture of concrete admixture. The admixtures were used both in normal and underground construction applications. The underground concrete was often either sprayed or pumped. in addition I was involved in the design of mixes for backfilling of stopes in deep level (up to 3000 m deep) mines. I was also responsible for the design of the concrete mix proportions for several mine shafts that required compressive strengths of 10 MPa at 8 hours. Some of these shafts were up to 2000 m deep with the concrete being drop down a pipe for the full depth. While in the construction chemical field I also gained experience with epoxy and cementitious grouts, concrete repair marerials, protective coating for concrete and joint sealants. During this period I completed my Bachelor of Commerce and went to the UK to complete the Advanced Concrete Technology Diploma offered by the Institute of Concrete Technology.

In 1992 I moved to the cement industry and joined an organisation, funded by the South African Cement Industry, known as The Cement and Concrete Institute (C & CI), now The Concrete Institute. Here I was initially responsible for the laboratory operations but later moved to the training department where I took my first steps at lecturing and organising practical training sessions. It was while at the C and CI that I completed my graduate diploma from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. In 2009 I was awared my MSc Engineering degree, also from Wits Uni. In 1999 the family made the move to Australia and have enjoyed every moment of our life here. From 2000 to 2013 I was the Technical Service Manager in the Sales and Marketing Department of Adelaide Brighton Cement here in Adelaide. During this time I have gained a through knowledge of the concrete and cement industry not only in South Australia and also across the country. I have served on the SA Branch of the Concrete Institute of Australia and have been a member of two Standards committes related to cement and fly ash. As part of the BD-10 Cement committeee I was part of the team that investigated and changed the limestone mineral addition level in the Australian cements from 5% to 7.5%. I have been involved with UniSA as a part time lecture and research project supervisor since 2003 and was involved with the construction of the concrete canoes from 2005 to 2009.

On a personal I met and married an English nurse, in 1981, who was working in Johannesburg. We are still happily married after 39 years, have three lovely childern who are now successful career women. While enjoying the fruits of a family life I was able to develop another passion, that of road running and when I ceased running in 2001, I had completed in excess of 80 standard and ultra marathons in 12 years. This includes completing five "Comrades Marathons" (90 km) in under 11 hours between 1994 and 1999. In my spare time I now cycle and walk, regularly participating in the Challenge Tour for amateur cyclists as well as walking the occasional 42 km marathon. We have also walked the Heysen trail with a number of good friends and now plan to tackle the "Walk the Yorke" trail. In addition my wife and I have developed a love of the outback and get out as often as we can with our camper trailer exploring outback Australia.

Fellow of Institute of Concrete Technology (UK),

Member of Concrete Society (UK),

Member of American Concrete Institute,

Member of Concrete Institute of Australia

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia

• Master of Science Engineering University of the Witwatersrand

• Civil Engineering University of the Witwatersrand

• Bachelor of Commerce University of South Africa