Mark Essien
Konongo (Ashanti)
Summary
Experienced forester with solid background in Forest and Natural Resources management. Committed to ensuring sustainable use of forest lands. Dedicated and driven to Companies and organization that have Economy, Environment and Social balance at heart . Team player able to effectively collaborate with coworkers to devise and implement creative solutions. Goal-driven professional who strives to maintain standards and exceed expectations.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Silviculture Manager
EcoPlanet Bamboo Western Africa
12.2022 - Current
- Plan and oversee forestry operations such as plantation layout, road design, soil depth analysis, Tree or Bamboo species per compartment.
- Drove operational efficiency through proper data checks, quality control and providing all necessary materials and tools for achievements of 1650hectares Bamboo establishment and 200hectares Indigenous species establishment last year.
- Trained and monitored progress of six (6) Foresters towards achievement of Company goals and yearly target.
- Developed strategies in securing Labour for all operations such as maintenance of over 1500hectares Bamboo plantation and establishing 1650hectares of Bamboo and 200hectares of Indigenous species.
- Manage three (3) different Silviculture Contractors on sight making sure they follow all management systems.
- Cultivated partnerships with external stakeholders such as Forestry Services Division, Municipal Assembly, Chiefs and Communities ensuring smooth relationship between Company and various stakeholder
- Implemented innovative Health and Safety campaigns that boosted awareness and generated significant reduction in injuries, ill health and absenteeism.
Project Field Officer (Sustainability)
West African Primates Conservation Action (WAPCA)
02.2020 - 12.2022
- Developed and implemented certification programs based on Ecocert certification requirements and National labour law regulation.
- Supervised training, internal audit and putting systems in place for achievement of Ecocert Organic Certification and Fair-Trade Certification for 2020 and 2022 respectively.
- Developed and implemented Ankasa Tano CREMA agroforestry program which restored about 500hectares community forest with Indigenous species.
- Supervised seven tree nursery sites with capacity of 15000 seedlings per site.
- Periodic Conduct of trend analysis from incidents, near misses, safe behavior observations and deep compliance audits.
- Facilitate comprehensive and timely feedback shared with various stakeholders (Ankasa-Tano CREMA, Savanna Fruit Company, Yayra Glover, Jomoro Municipal Assembly, Wildlife Division, Environmental Protection Agency) and partners.
- Active coordination of community entry processes while leading Conservation team to educate about 24 CREMA communities on environmental issues, deforestation, Child labour and sustainable land use management through door to door, group durbars, local information centres and FM stations.
Silviculture Supervisor & Health and Safety Representative
Miro Forestry Ghana Ltd, Asante Akyim Agogo
05.2016 - 01.2020
- Designed and implemented road construction and maintenance activities in accordance with Safe work procedures, ensured all machine operators and general labour understood and followed.
- Supervised planting and silviculture maintenance team of 35 towards the achievements of a yearly planting target of 1500hectares.
- Conducted thorough health, safety, and environment compliance inspection, identifying, and resolving discrepancies as needed infield towards the achievement of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification in 2017
- Positioned the forest road maintenance team to serve as a model for other teams to achieve
- The team completed 95% of their task, had nearly perfect on-time attendance
- Proactively supervised the construction of the Boumfum Bridge in 2017 within allocated time and budget with a minimal loss time injury on site
- Supervised all road construction activities in a good safe working environment
- Organized regular daily safety talk (toolbox talk) with Road maintenance team
- Led the groundwork preparation and road construction to the Drobonso Veneer and Plywood Processing factory
- Supervised land preparation during peak times
- Coordinated major forest fire prevention operation during fire season (November to March) through fire belt creation, pre-fire boundary burn, workers mobilization for standby and fire patrol.
Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Coach
Safety World Engineering
11.2015 - 04.2016
- Measured performance against agreed standards to reveal when and where improvement is needed.
- Developed and maintained Company's Occupational Health and Safety Management System in accordance with its operations and size.
- Ensured hazard identification, risk assessment, and integration of reasonable controls were addressed prior to and during organization's operations.
- Enhanced HSE awareness among workers, forming HSE committee and training an HSE representative for the company.
- Helped create a safe working environment through proper housekeeping, monitoring, review and improving of Health and safety system.
Plantation Manager
Mr. & Mrs. Essandoh Farms - Beposo-Shama
09.2014 - 04.2016
- Developed, plan and implemented short term projects that ensured effective establishment of plantation in 2015 within budgets
- Designed, measured, and prepared land area for planting
- Prepared financial and operational reports on each purchase and activities respectively
- Maintained proper records of all inputs, workers' attendance, and training on how best to handle crop plants and certain farm inputs
- Contracted farmers and Ghana Rubber Estate Ltd (GREL) for planting stocks, chemicals, and management support.
Education
MSc Sustainability Management - Energy And Sustainable Management
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
Kumasi10.2023
BSc Forest Resources Technology - Forestry
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
Sunyani Campus08.2012
Skills
- Excellent monitoring skills that allow to effectively oversee Silviculture operations and natural resource management, and potential issues that enable proper action
- Outstanding organizational abilities that allow effective planning, task delegation and prioritize work activities and complete tasks in orderly manner
- Strong speaking and listening abilities that allow achievement of results out of all subordinates, communicate well to all stakeholders
- Familiarity with certifications requirement and implementation (FSC, Fair-for Life, Ecocert)
Websites
Professional Association Membership
Graduate Member, Ghana Health, Safety and Environment Professional (GHISEP)
Professional Qualifications Certifications
- Initial Attack Fire Boss Training, CMO, 30/11/2023
- COSHH Manager Certification, 05/2020, International Association for Chemical Safety
- NEBOSH, International General Certificate (1,2&3), 09/2018
- Advance Fire Safety (American Certification Services-Global Program), 05/2018
- IOSH, Fire Safety Certificate, 05/2018
- IOSH, Environment for Business Certificate, 05/2018
- Basic First Aid, Ghana Red Cross Society, 02/2018
- IOSH, Managing Safely Certificate, 11/2017
- Health & Safety Management Systems Development Certificate, 06/2015, University of Queensland Australia
Timeline
Silviculture Manager
EcoPlanet Bamboo Western Africa
12.2022 - Current
Project Field Officer (Sustainability)
West African Primates Conservation Action (WAPCA)
02.2020 - 12.2022
Silviculture Supervisor & Health and Safety Representative
Miro Forestry Ghana Ltd, Asante Akyim Agogo
05.2016 - 01.2020
Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Coach
Safety World Engineering
11.2015 - 04.2016
Plantation Manager
Mr. & Mrs. Essandoh Farms - Beposo-Shama
09.2014 - 04.2016
MSc Sustainability Management - Energy And Sustainable Management
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
BSc Forest Resources Technology - Forestry
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
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