Lynn Calder

CEO INEOS Composites,

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
CEO INEOS Composites, on the board of INEOS Enterprises; I run the Composites business which was acquired by INEOS almost 3 years ago, and which manufactures general purpose and high performance grades of resin, gel coats and low profile additives, most of which are used in fiber-reinforced composite materials. We have 14 manufacturing sites globally: in the US, Europe, Brazil, India and China.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
Into my sport: running, cycling and weights in the gym to keep my strength up. I have done a quite a few endurance events in my time but my last big event was in 2017, and there is only so long I can live off past glories….. My training time for IN:NAM has been short (I was a late stand-in) so I will be limping around the back of the course, but I’m looking forward to getting back into it and reminding myself that the body (and mind) is capable of way more than you think!

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
Landscape, away from civilisation, the night sky and hopefully seeing an animal or two….. But mainly looking forward to getting to know all my fellow participants, and enjoying the next level of camaraderie an experience like this brings.

What are you most apprehensive about?
The aforementioned short training time. I would prefer to have been in tip-top shape! Oh, and falling off my bike in sand…… a lot (inevitable).

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Finish, survive, hope my body hangs together for the duration….. put the pain aside and really enjoy Namibia. Savour those outstanding moments!

Anything else you'd like to share?
Nerves are kicking in but I’m raring to go – 1 week and I’ll be on the plane.

Keisha Benjamin

PP business manager for INEOS O&P USA at the Marina View office,

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Responsible for the strategy and bottom line for the PP business for O&P USA. Day-to-day I’m supporting resources and providing direction to the PP team for development and growth of products on our gulf coast and assets at CBW, BMC and Carson.
The PP Product manager and Business analyst report to this position and I spend time looking at opportunities for their development.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
I am married with a teenager and spend quite a bit of time on the soccer field. I run and am now training for a triathlon, Galveston 70.3. I also try to round it off with weight lifting. I used to be an avid dancer (ballet and modern) and now I just enjoy watching.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
Finishing with all the Graduates and celebrating our awesome accomplishment.

What are you most apprehensive about?
Ensuring that I am physically prepared so that I can focus on motivating the Graduates and sharing my knowledge of the business and experiences.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Personal fulfilment that I have done something epic.

Anything else you'd like to share?
I will be starting from a similar place as some of the graduates. So it will be awesome when we finish together!