Constantino Manias, B. Eng.(Chem)
Managing Director
Con Manias is a Chemical Engineer with tertiary business qualifications. He has been a Director of FCT since 1995, appointed General Manager of the Australian part of the company in 1995, and CEO of the FCT Group in 1998. In this time he has overseen the growth of the company into a significant international supplier of industrial combustion and mineral process control expertise and equipment. He has also played a major role in the establishment of FCT Flames as a world class provider of spectacular flame effects.

Con has played a hands on role in many of FCT Flames? projects, and has been directly involved in the marketing, contract negotiations, management and direction of major projects such as the Relay Torches for the Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the Main Stadium Cauldrons for Athens and Sydney, and the Olympic Rings of Fire of the Athens Opening Ceremony. Con is also assisting with the execution of the projects for the Doha 2006 Asian Games.

Con has previously held senior management positions within Adelaide Brighton Cement, and is an experienced manager and engineer. He has pursued a vision for the FCT group that includes a position as the leading supplier of flame effects for the world?s main events. To that end, he has established an extremely competent technical and engineering team within FCT, as well as a network of research partners, technical associates, competent contractors and business associates to provide the environment within which FCT Flames can operate.

In the cement industry, Con has world wide recognition for his technical knowledge and abilities, and is regularly asked to make presentations at prestigious international conferences, contribute technical papers to industry journals, and was one of the authors of the Book "Innovations in Portland Cement Manufacture" published by the Portland Cement Association of North America in 2004.

David Retallack, B. Eng, MBA
General Manager Projects and Engineering
David spent 15 years in the cement industry with the Adelaide Brighton Cement group in Australia, before joining FCT in 1997. David is a senior manager and director of the FCT Group.  His role encompasses technical and engineering matters, as well as marketing and business development. David played a leadership role in the design and supply of the combustion systems for the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games projects. He has directly led teams involved with several coal mill system projects, and managed a $9m R&D program developing new instrumentation for the cement industry.

David held many positions in the cement industry including Works Engineer and Manufacturing Manager on Adelaide Brighton Cement plants, and has an excellent understanding of cement plant operations and issues. He has experience with Preheater, Pre-calciner, long wet and Lepol kilns or cement manufacture, and also lime production in rotary kilns. David also worked in project management, maintenance management and capital works programs. David is familiar with the needs of a capital project, including specifications, tender document preparation, tender evaluation and contract documentation.

Russell Jackson B. Commerce (Hons), CPA
Commercial & Administration Manager
Russell has over 31 years experience in accounting, finance, tax, commerce and management in senior positions with CSR Ltd in the oil/gas and sugar industries, and with the Adelaide Brighton Cement, with whom he was Financial Controller/Treasurer.  He played a key role in managing the distribution of Relay Torches for the Olympic Games Athens 2004.