Dr. Rob Hardeman has been named as the 2015 HRH Prince of Wales Ambassador for Corporate Responsibility in Northern Ireland by Business in the Community Northern Ireland (BITCNI).
Rob, who is Technologist (Senior Director) at Seagate and Chair of the MATRIX Advanced Manufacturing panel has personally championed the development of a number of projects over the years. These include small business development activity, employability engagements with the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), business education links through the School Employer Connections (SEC) programme and he leads on volunteering activity within Seagate.
Rob has provided leadership in the north west of Northern Ireland which has encouraged other businesses to engage in the area. He has also taken time to mentor and advise the Project Managers on a one-to-one basis and all these mentoring relationships have developed naturally, a true testament to Rob’s unassuming but effective leadership ability.
He has been integral in the expansion and development of the Seagate facility in Derry (1,300 staff), taking responsibility for identifying new processes and technologies – Seagate is a market leader in data storage. In Rob’s own words “CR activity is by no means additional, it is core to all that Seagate does”.
Rob is also Chair of the North West Business Leadership Team, Acting Chair of the North West Employers’ Forum and a Board Member of Business in the Community’s Environmental Steering Group, ARENA Network.
He has worked closely with the North West Business in the Community team helping them build and develop initiatives that will work for business to provide a social and economic impact in the area.
MATRIX Chairman Bryan Keating said “I am delighted that Rob’s dedication to corporate responsibility in Northern Ireland has been recognised by BITCNI. He is a not only extremely talented, energetic and generous of his time and intellect to many causes but also extremely modest. You would simply never know from Rob about receiving such a prestigious award. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate him on his award on behalf of myself and the whole Matrix Panel. Prince’s Ambassadors are chosen not only for their inspiring personal impact, but also for demonstrating leadership which has both transformed their own business and inspired other organisations to take action. Rob sets a tremendous example for the Northern Ireland business community and I hope others are inspired to do the same.”