CV - H M ver Loren van Themaat
P O Box 72038
Lynnwood Ridge
0040 RSA
Tel: +27 (12) 996 0070
Fax: +27 866 425 484
CURRICULUM VITAE
SUMMARY:
I am a Professional Engineer with extensive experience as a senior manager and in project management, situational evaluations, system design and professional engineering consultation. I have been managing partner of "VTR Consulting Engineers" since its inception in 1984. This consulting engineering group is experienced in the fields of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, including power distribution and reticulation systems as well as electronic security systems (access control, CCTV, biometrics, alarming, surveillance and control), communication systems and also handled major civil and mechanical projects. In parallel with the above I have also managed the supporting research laboratory, "Software and Electronics Laboratories (Pty) Ltd", as chief executive and principal system designer since its inception in 1981.
I have continually made an in depth study of the different technologies, companies and products involved in physical security and in the process visited the USA and Europe several times in the last years. The resulting knowledge was used, over and above the normal consulting activities, to help launch integrated physical security products. I have invented many innovative products, have registered more than 30 patents and am known for my talents in finding solutions and solving problems in project management. In a consulting or management environment I have always been known to set and ensure that clear targets be met within a clearly defined time limit and budget.
I recently updated my software knowledge by enrolling in UNISA�s School of Computing where I did graduate courses in Object Oriented Programming, Visual Programming, Numerical Analysis and Networking.
My technical speciality fields are the fields of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and my experience also include management, marketing and project control. I am an expert in the design of hardware and software of electronic systems as well as power distribution and reticulation systems. These include security systems (access control, CCTV, biometrics, alarming, surveillance and control), communication systems and project management taking these designs from inception to commercialisation.
My management experience and abilities are also proven by the fact that I was Chairman of SECURICOR (Pty) Ltd in South Africa since its creation in 1984 until I sold the interests I had in SECURICOR in 2002.
PROFILE
1. SURNAME ver Loren van Themaat
2. FULL NAMES Hendrik Mortimer
3. PERSONAL DETAILS
3.1 Date and Place of birth 24 February 1946, Pretoria, South Africa
3.2 Marital Status Married to Ria (Nee Malan),12th December 1972
4 Children (Boy 1975, Boy 1977, Girl 1979, Boy 1982)
3.3 Education
3.3.1 Secondary Schools:
Afrikaans Ho?font>r Seunskool in Pretoria
Matriculated at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch
3.3.2 Graduate Studies:
University of Pretoria, South Africa
UNISA, South Africa
3.3.3 Post graduate Studies:
University of Birmingham, UK
University of Pretoria, South Africa
3.4 Hobbies / Sports / Interests:
3.4.1 Flying (PPL since 1970;
More than 1 500 hrs flying experience mostly on twins with night rating)
3.4.2 Mountaineering:
Member of the Mountain Club of SA since 1964, Founding and Committee Member of the Northern Transvaal (later Magaliesberg) section
3.4.3 Golf
3.4.4 Squash
3.4.5 Windsurfing
3.4.6 Tennis
3.4.7 Computers and Programming
3.4.8 Mathematics, Signal Processing and Statistical Analysis
3.4.9 Electronic system design
3.4.10 Farming (Have a maize farm in North West and grows export table grapes near Pretoria)
3.4.11 History
3.5 Leadership / Community Experience/Activities
3.5.1 Chairman of the board of trustees of the local airport.
3.5.2 School Board�s and Economic Committees of Children�s Schools
3.5.2 Church Council of local Church
3.5.3 Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Local Airport.
3.5.4 Chairman Local and Regional Community Development Forums and Committees (Eastern Gauteng Services Council)
3.5.5 Committee member MCSA
3.5.3 At University: (1960's):
Students Representative Council - Treasurer
Students Representative Council Central Committee � Treasurer
Chairman of the SRC "Reklame" commitee
Chairman (since first year) of the Rock Climbing section of Exploratio
Chairman (since first year) University of Pretoria Radio Club
Engineering Students Council
Editor of university�s introductory magazine: "Wie, Wat, Waar"
Editor of Engineers Students Magazine "Vector".
Many more committees etc.
3.6 Health:
During my recent flight medical (September 2006) my lung capacity and ability was tested as equivalent to 36 years of age and I was again proven fit and healthy in all respects. My family has no heart failure record and my heart pressure tested 120/70. I have never been a smoker and use alcohol only socially.
3.7 Church affiliation:
NG Church - Tygerpoort
4. Areas of Specialisation and Experience:
Corporate Management and Marketing
Financial and Trend analysis.
Bookeeping � brought the financial statements of several companies up to balance sheet level. Auditors ready
Project Management
Electrical Power System design
Electrical Reticulation design
Electronic System design
Security system designs and overview.
CCTV systems designs and overview.
Communication systems designs and overview.
Risk Assessment Analysis.
Signal processing and statistics.
Manufacturing Control in Windows environment.
Interactive control using RS 485 (harsh environments) and Ethernet communication protocols.
Computer assisted manufacturing.
Electronic Equipment designs and overview.
Lighting design and installation overview.
Project management.
Installation management and supervision.
Writing of technical handbooks.
Drawing up of Tenders.
Drawing up of patent drafts and drawings.
Drawing up of contract drafts.
4.1 Brief exposition of previous responsibilities:
Consulting Engineer (Managing Partner of VTR) responsible for design and project management of major projects.
Managing Director and principal innovator of Software and Electronic Laboratories (Pty) Ltd (Product development)
Chairman of Securicor (Pty) Ltd (Multi-million Rand Electrical and Electronic Installations with supporting infrastructure).
Senior partner responsible for the Electrical and Electronic Divisions of BKS Consulting Engineers until I Started an independent Consulting Engineering Company in 1984.
Responsible for the full second year course of UNISA's "Advanced Course in Security Management" from 1987 until its termination in the 1990's.
Set up and ran a test site [Security and Electronics Laboratories (Pty) Ltd] used extensively by Armscor, SA Defence Force and the Council for National Key Points for evaluation of physical security systems for use at National Key Points.
Developed the risk assessment theory and computer programs as used by the SADF, Armscor and the National Key Points for evaluating their risk and protection situations.
Conceptualised and program managed the first VHF frequency hopping systems in 1980.
5. QUALIFICATIONS:
(Originals available for inspection or Copies of originals, certified by a commissioner of oaths available under separate cover)
5.1 Qualifications, Year obtained and Name of institution / institute
a) Professional Engineer 1973 South African Council for Engineering
b) M.Sc. (Elec Systems) 1978 University of Birmingham (UK)
c) B.Sc (Eng) (Elec) 1970 University of Pretoria
d) PMD 1980 University of Cape Town
e) FIEE 1972, 1982, 2001 Institute of Electrical Engineers
f) Diploma in Data Metrics in process University of South Africa (configured to give BSc Computer Science equivalent background)
5.2 LANGUAGES AND PROFICIENCY
English Speak 10 Read 10 Write 10
Afrikaans Speak 10 Read 10 Write 10
French Speak 5 Read 7 Write 2
German Speak 7 Read 8 Write 4
Dutch Speak 8 Read 10 Write 4
6 PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE and COMPLEXITY
1970�to current Electrical reticulations in buildings and townships.
1970�s Project managed the development of radios and communication systems. Up to R100 000 000-00
1970�s Designed the retrofit communication systems for the Navy�s vessels
1970�s Part of the management team for the building of new strike craft in Israel � Designed the electronic system and fitment
1970�s Part of the management team for the building of new corvettes craft in France � Designed the electronic system and fitment
1978 Conceptualised and developed Vehicle recognition Radar (Consultant EMI - UK)
1978 Conceptualised and developed Digital Remote control for HF Radios (Consultant Marconi-UK)
1979 Conceptualised and developed Frequency hopping VHF Radios for military
1979 to 1981 Headed the developed and manufacture of various types of Ore Sorters as General Manager � Ore Sorters (Pty) Ltd
1981 to 1984 Group Director in charge of the Electrical and Electronic Disciplines- BKS Consulting Engineers
1985 to 1989 Conceptualised and developed security evaluation and design expert systems and evaluated all Air Force facilities and most National Key points
1980�s and 1990�s Designed, specified and installation of multidisciplinary Security Systems at various National Key Points Up to R33_000_000 (1986 Rands)
1988 Conceptualised and oversaw Digital Video Motion Detection development
1991 Conceptualised and developed first commercial Digital Video recording system using a compression technique similar to J-PEG
1997 Conceptualised and developed first VIDEX Integrated Digital Security system
1999 Conceptualised and developed integration of Biometric recognition into VIDEX
1998 to Current Add enhancements to VIDEX
1984 to Current Executed many large, multimillion rand projects. Examples:
Island View chemical terminal- Durban,
Louis Trichardt, Waterkloof, Swartkops, Pietersburg Air Force Bases;
Lohatla, Kroonstad Bloemfontein Army Bases;
Douglas Collieries,
Vaal Reefs etc mines;
Systems at Universities, Provinces, City councils, Businesses etc.
Current Electronic development and programming, web site design as well as part time farming (export table grapes and grain) at my home office.
Current Property Development � Arranged rights, permissions and aprovals as well as project managed 45 hangars at local airport.
OTHER
Wrote technical handbooks for products (available on the web www.videx-systems.com or www.cctv-surveillance.org, if active)
Designed websites (www.videx-systems.com )
7. VOCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
7.1 C.A. du Toit & Partners Consulting Engineer 1969 to 1971
Design, contract management, supervision and project management of Electrical Building installations and manufacturing facilities.
Reason for leaving
Did the Computer Science course part time at University of Pretoria . Wished to move into computers and control systems.
7.2 Armscor Senior Project Engineer 1971 to early 1979
Project Management of projects of up to R100 million overseas and locally.
Design of electronic systems. Supervision. Two years in Israel, France and UK on management team and doing specialist design work and project supervision.
Reason for leaving
Was offered a post as General Manager of an International group in control of international production, including development of sophisticated multi-million rand machines at a major international corporation.
7.3 Rio Tinto Zinc Ore Sorters (Pty) Ltd; General Manager (International Production)1979 to 1981
Establish facilities
Manage research and development teams (RSA and Australia)
Manage Factory and Production (RSA)
Project Manage Installations (Internationally)
Reason for leaving
First development then production in the RSA was closed down for political reasons, only 3 years after facilities have been established and a new facility had to be erected in Canada. I did not wish to repeat all the efforts of the previous years overseas.
7.4 Bruinette, Kruger, Stoffberg Inc.; Consulting Engineering Partner / Director; 1981 to 1984
Responsible for establishing the Electrical and Electronic departments.
Manage departments
Design Electrical, Security and Automation Systems.
Evaluate and design electrical building and township reticulation systems
Draw up specifications and other requirements
Manage tender process: send out tenders and specification, evaluate tenders, apoint contractors.
Site and project supervision
Reason for leaving
The group was mostly in the traditional consulting areas and building industries while automation, control and electronics required a separate entity.
7.5 VTR (ver Loren van Themaat Consulting / Research); 1984 to Current
Security and Electronic Laboratories (Pty) Ltd; 1984 to Current
Securicor (Pty) Ltd; 1984 to 2002
Chairman / Chief Executive / Managing Partner / Manager / Engineer / Consultant / Lecturer
Research at the VTR / SEL test site (Over 100 different physical security systems evaluated and tested over extensive periods).
Project Management.
Risk assessment at all Air Force Bases and other SADF facilities and many National Key Points.
Design and Installation of reticulation and power distribution systems
Design and Installation of lighting systems
Design and Installation of Security Systems.
Design and Installation of control and automation at major factories.
See also the Company CV for patents and work done.
8. TEACHING EXPERIENCE
8.1 Armscor 1972 - 1979
Lectured on Project Management as well as "Planning in a Development Environment" at most of the radio communication development and manufacturing firms.
8.2 University of South Africa
Lectures on contract for UNISA 1987 - 1990
Advanced course in Security Management
(The full second year - control of lectures and material and practicals and examination of all the subjects).
8.3 South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)
Wrote the specifications for security systems and products 1987 to 1992
Member of evaluation committees Since then
9. MEMBERSHIPS OF ASSOCIATIONS / SOCIETIES
9.1 South African Society for Consulting Engineers 1987
Member / Chairman Electronic Fees Committee
9.2 South African Institute of Electrical Engineer 1970 - Graduate; 1982 � Member; 2001 - Fellow
9.3 South African Council of Professional Engineers ; Registration number 730525 1973
10. RESEARCH PARTICIPATION
10.1 Project Herder: Evaluation Methodology for evaluating Risks and
Report to Armscor / SAAF 1981.
10.2 Project Herder: Security Evaluation and Solutions.
Regular reports to Armscor, SADF and National Key Points regarding different large sites. 1981 to 1988
10.3 Test results of CCTV System Tests and Video Motion Detection.
Systems Tests Conducted at Elandsfontein.
Report to Armscor 1983.
10.4 Quantification of test results of Security Measures tested on the SEL test site.
Report to Armscor each year 1984 to 1987.
10.5 A microprocessor based controller for the H2540MF/HF receiver.
Report to Marconi, Chelmsford, England. 1978
10.6 Vehicle Recognition Radar 1978
Report to EMI, Hayes, London under the auspices of the University of Birmingham.
11. PUBLICATIONS
11.1 Perimeter Protection Security Focus Cover Story March 1993
11.2 ID Systems Security Focus Cover Story October 1993
11.3 The latest CCTV technology in Loss Control Security Focus March 1994
11.4 Loss Control Elektron March 1994
12. OTHER PUBLICATIONS
12.1 Safeguarding your Farm. Series of articles in Farmers Weekly - 1993
12.3 Regular contributions in Tech News, Security Focus etc
13. PAPERS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES
13.1 Using a Test Site to obtain Engineering Tables for the Design of Security Systems and Resultant New Technologies.
International Carnahan Conference on Security Technology.
Zurich, Switzerland 1989
13.2 Synthetic Aperture Antennas.
SAIEE - Conference on Antennas and Propagation. - Pretoria 1987
13.3 The latest Electronic Innovations for Process Monitoring and Theft Prevention.
13.4 Safeguarding gold ores � From mine to gold plant - Gold plant security and perimeter protection.
Metallurgical Mining Managers Association.
Vaalreefs, Stilfontein, Transvaal 1992
13.5 Alternatives to Privatisation of Security Services.
International Aviation and Airport Managers Conference. - Johannesburg 1994.
13.6 Security Electronics and Evaluation of Systems.
South African Institute for Electrical Engineers. - Pretoria 1987
13.7 Physical Security System Design. - Engineering Association of South Africa. - Johannesburg 1988
CONCLUSION
I have had many years of experience in large and small project management, senior management, as well as system design and integration. I am well known to be an outstanding innovator.
My career started at a consulting engineering group as consulting electrical engineer where I did electrical designs, site supervision and also developed software to analyse electrical reticulations. The job required visits to remote sites and I obtained a flying licence, which is still valid. I qualified myself in software and electronics and also entered the University of Pretoria MBA program where I did courses in management, finance and economics.
My interest in electronics and software caused me to accept a post where I was responsible for the design and development of all mobile radio communication systems of the defence force (man-pack, air-born, tank and infantry vehicles as well as ship-born radios).
I managed projects in Israel, Italy, France and the United States and was then seconded to France to manage the electronic systems design and installation on the then being built Corvettes (AVISO class). I learnt to speak French and conducted technical meetings in French.
When the project was cancelled I did a Masters degree in Electronic Systems in the UK (Birmingham University � Bosworth Course).
Back in South Africa I first conceptualised the possibility of Frequency Hopping and then designed and supervised the conversion of existing man-pack radios to implement frequency hopping. This was the first effective use of this concept and it worked very well and was widely applied.
I was then was appointed as general manager of a high technology subsidiary of a large Mining Group (Ore Sorters of the Rio Tinto Group) and enhanced my qualifications through management courses including that of the University of Cape Town business school. The technology utilised at this company was leading edge and allowed me to further use my innovative abilities in management as well as software and electronic design.
When this company pulled out of South Africa I joined the consulting firm BKS as one of thirteen senior partners (the company employed approximately 700 engineers at that stage and was the largest consulting engineering firm in Southern Africa). I was responsible for the Electrical division and also built up an Electronic division.
The Electronic division became more and more involved in security design and evaluations which did not fit in well with the traditional consulting activities of the group and after a time the division was split off as an independent consulting firm VTR (Ver Loren van Themaat Raadgewing/Research).
The consultancy developed an "Expert System" to evaluate and design security systems for the SADF and National Key points. The firm was then tasked to design and implement the largest integrated security systems in Southern Africa (Island View in Durban). The firm was also tasked to evaluate the security environment at Waterkloof AFB and most other air force bases as well as security systems at the South African Mint, Refineries, mines etc). Due to the complexity of the integration of all the security aspects, a project management entity was required to manage the overall project and to take project responsibility. SECURICOR (Pty) Ltd was formed to fulfil this role. An independent evaluation and quality control entity was also formed (SEL - Security and Electronics Laboratories). I have been respectively chairman and CEO of these companies ever since.
As new technologies appeared a large number of patents were registered and SEL became a development house and SECURICOR became a turnkey Project management company. VTR as consulting engineering partnership concentrated on teaching, surveys and drawing up specifications. VTR developed an expert system to quantify security situations, developed and conducted the full second year course for UNISA�s "Advanced Course in Security Management" while SEL developed (which was then) new technology � Video Motion Detection by 1988 and Digital Video Recording by 1991 and the VIDEX integrated security system expanded to include access control by 1997 and was designed to integrate technologies from all known technology suppliers and thereby became a truly integrated security backbone. These products were on the market many years before any similar products appeared from other developers.
In April 2002 the name and registration mark SECURICOR was sold and I was able to concentrate on consulting activities while updating myself with the latest programming techniques while creating sales channels for SEL�s products in the USA. My hobbies and interests remain � managing the airport, flying, managing my small export grape farm and the maize farm in north west province as well as trying out new innovations in my laboratory and offices at my smallholding east of Pretoria.
From August 2008 I started on a three year consultancy contract with Eskom in South Africa as a specialist in project management and security technology.