"The combination of making an impact and working together gives me great satisfaction!"

> You have been working at Aurubis Olen for almost 18 years. How did your career start, and how has it evolved?

I joined Aurubis Olen in December 2008 as a Prevention Advisor. Afterwards, I had the opportunity to work in HR Development, before moving into the role of Production Manager for Contirod & FOXROD. For the past five years, I have been working as Manager Management Systems & Technical Commercial.

Having worked in these different roles has given me a broad perspective on the company. Safety, people, production and customer expectations are all closely connected.

What I particularly appreciate about working at Aurubis Olen is the opportunity to grow. The focus is not only on your qualifications or previous experience, but also on your skills, commitment and potential.

> As Manager Management Systems & Technical Commercial, what does your role involve?

On the one hand, I am responsible for the technical and commercial aspects of our business. Together with my colleagues, we ensure that our products fully meet our customers' expectations.

On the other hand, I work on our management systems, covering quality, safety, environmental management, energy and sustainability. My main focus is on connecting and streamlining these systems, enabling us to work in one integrated way across the organisation. This helps our teams work more safely, consistently and efficiently.

I also serve as AOS Manager. AOS (Aurubis Operating System) is the Aurubis Group's continuous improvement programme. It supports our teams in working smarter, embedding improvements in a sustainable way and continuously optimising our processes.

> You are also involved in sustainability and certifications such as The Copper Mark. What does that mean in practice?

Sustainability is deeply embedded in the way we operate at Aurubis. The Copper Mark is an important international certification that recognises responsible copper production. It reflects our commitment to operating safely, protecting the environment and respecting people and local communities.

We first achieved this certification in September 2023, and we will undergo reassessment again this year.

The standard consists of 33 criteria covering areas such as environmental performance, health and safety, human rights, business ethics and legal compliance. Its purpose is to demonstrate transparently that we produce responsibly and have structurally embedded these principles in our daily operations.

> What gives you energy in your job?

For me, it is the combination of making an impact and working together. It is very rewarding to see an improvement on the shop floor make a real difference or help different departments collaborate more effectively.

I also enjoy working with many different people, including customers and colleagues both at our own site and at other Aurubis locations such as Hamburg, Emmerich and Avellino. Those international collaborations broaden my perspective and create valuable opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience.

And I continue to be fascinated by copper itself. It is fully and infinitely recyclable and plays a crucial role in the energy transition. You can find it in countless applications we use every day, from smartphones and medical technology to space exploration.

> How would you describe our company culture?

I would describe our culture as open, straightforward and highly collaborative. What I appreciate most is that people feel comfortable speaking up. That openness and transparency help us move forward together.

There is also a strong willingness to share knowledge and support one another. To me, continuous improvement is never something you achieve alone—it is something you accomplish together as a team and as a company.

> What does your team look like?

We are a small team of four colleagues, bringing together experienced professionals and young talent. Each of us contributes different strengths, which makes us stronger as a team.

Our focus is broad: helping colleagues work more clearly, more safely and continuously improve. That is why we stay closely connected to day-to-day operations and listen carefully to our colleagues' needs.

> Well-being is an important topic at Aurubis Olen. How do you contribute to it?

Well-being is closely integrated into the way we work and into our management systems. We strongly encourage open communication and employee involvement on the shop floor.

A good example is a pilot project in our Bars & Profiles production department, where operators can submit improvement ideas using suggestion cards. These ideas are discussed with the supervisor during regular team meetings, ensuring that improvements remain closely connected to daily practice and that solutions are developed together.

> Finally, who is Stijn outside of work?

I enjoy adventure and spending time in nature. I regularly participate in marathons and trail runs, with my longest trail race being 80 kilometres. I also enjoy mountaineering, hiking and via ferrata.

Music is another important part of my life. I have been playing the clarinet for more than 40 years, and together with my wife I perform in two concert bands and a brass band.

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