Richard is an all-round experienced professional in the timber industry with over 20 years of expertise. He launched his career in Cape Town with Interwil South Africa at the age of 21, where he immersed himself in the world of timber products. During his two decades at the company, Richard held various roles, developing comprehensive product knowledge and technical skills while building valuable relationships with suppliers and leading manufacturers through Interwil’s extensive global network.
In 2020, Richard relocated with his family from South Africa and rejoined the INTERWIL Group in 2023 to lead Interwil Australia Pty Ltd. With his rich experience and global perspective, he is well-equipped to drive growth and innovation in the Australian & New Zealand timber markets.
Drew started in the Hardboard Industry at the grass roots in 1976 with Australian Hardboards Ltd at their Ipswich plant in Queensland, he worked his way up through the ranks to management level, until the closure of the company in 2010.
During Drews hardboard career, he worked in areas such as Hardboard production, Feature Panel production, Curtain Coating paint line, Spray Booth paint line, secondary processing, logistics and customer service where he gained extensive technical knowledge of Hardboard and Feature Panel production, Secondary processing and finishing, imports, export and linehaul transport and customer service sides of the business.
After the closure of Australian Hardboards in 2010, Drew built solid business relationships with International producers of quality Hardboard and started his own business supplying a large range of Hardboard product to the Australian and New Zealand markets as imports.
In 2012 Drew partnered with Interwil, specializing in and developing their presence in the hardboard markets of Australia and New Zealand which he continues doing today.
In total, Drew has over 48 years of hardboard experience ranging from the production, quality and installation aspects of the product. His expertise and business ethics has ensured that he continues within the industry supplying distributors, resellers and the specialty industries such as the Glass Manufacturing, Door Manufacturing and Flooring Industries.
