An Interview with Dane Latham

Meet Dane, the Office Manager at Latham Australia. In this post, Dane talks about the heritage of Latham, his experience growing up in a family business manufacturing world class architectural products, and what his favourite Sydney building is.

Q1. So, what is it you do at Latham, Dane?

My official title is Office Manager, but working in a small business everyone gets in and does what needs to be done. I spend most of my time looking after financial and staff related issues, whilst also handling our IT and Marketing. It’s a pretty varied role and even after 20 plus years there is always a surprise around the corner to keep things interesting.
 

Q2. How did you get started in the business?

Latham is a 3rd generation Australian owned and run family company. While there were some permutations before, what we now know as Latham Australia P/L was originally W Latham and Co., and was founded by my grandfather William Latham in partnership with my father David Latham in 1960.

Growing up around a manufacturing and fabrication business such as ours gave me wonderful opportunities to learn about things that many kids would never have had the opportunity to experience. From a very young age I would spend time “at work” with my father — whenever mum needed a break I guess. I would very often spend weekends and most of my school holidays serving what I’ve now come to realise was an odd kind of family apprenticeship.

My brother Adam recently detailed his experiences growing into the business, and my journey was much the same. By the time I was a young teenager, I was certainly able to hold my own in any of the production teams throughout the factory and complete just about any task that required doing.

It was a great way to learn about our business, even though throughout most of my early years, to my father’s great concern, I was always going to do something else with my life. I have been working full time at Lathams since completing a degree in business management in the mid 90’s. Whilst it came through a lot of hard work, I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to continue delivering world class products to the building and construction industries through our family business.

Here at Lathams we are always working on staying at the forefront of our field through innovation, new ideas and new products. I hope that we can continue to stay fresh and successful for the next generation of Latham’s who are already service their “apprenticeships” as their fathers did before them.

Q3. Do you have a favourite building in Sydney?

The World Heritage Listed Sydney Opera House is one of my favourite buildings, and is surely one of the most impressive and unique buildings in the world. It is Sydney icon and a world class building that is instantly recognisable to people from all over the world.

I’m impressed that such a grand project was undertaken and I think it showed great foresight to place that particular style of building in such a location.

The building still looks as magnificent today as it did on its opening day back in 1973. Needless to say, so do the Latham Asbrabronz Solid Brass Stair Tread Nosings that are installed throughout, some of which have been in place the entire 43 years without replacement. Lathams are proud to have been, and continue to be, a fixture in such a prestigious location.
 

Q4. What's your favourite Australian made product (other than Latham's obviously)?

Lathams are proud to be a 3rd generation Australian Owned and Operated company, manufacturing and fabricating all of our products right here in our Gladesville plant.

I’m not sure that it’s fair to pick out a single product that is “Australian Owned and Made”. Manufacturing in Australia is becoming less and less common and any company who manages to maintain a competitive edge, be it through production methods, impeccable design or simply good Aussie know-how, & keep their plants open in Australia should be applauded. Head on over the www.australianmade.com.au for a more detailed look at how to support Aussie companies who in turn support Aussie communities and families.

Q5. What do you think that the founders of the Lathams would be most proud of?

I think they would be proud of a number of things actually.

Firstly, our continuing of the philosophy of only ever providing the very highest quality and premium products into the market place. Competition is increasing all the time and it’s sometimes a struggle to ensure that contractors maintain the right balance of quality against cost. The best will often cost a little more, but it will nearly always outperform and outlast the competition.

Secondly, I think they would be proud of our continuing & ongoing heritage based on those ideals and partnerships that were set up in the very early days. We are very pleased to still be working with a number of companies who have been around in various forms right back to our early days and beyond. De Martin and Gasperini, Pebblecrete Insitu, TAM / Terrazzo Australia Marble, Crosby Concrete Products and more recently, Arden Architectural Staircases to name just a few. These are all proud Australian Owned and run companies and we continue to support each other moving forward through the generations.

Lathams are very proud to have been exporting our quality Australian Made products to over 40 countries around the world and have very long standing relationships, some over 30 years, with companies such as Nikko Industrial & Services in Singapore, Kervin Ltd in Hong Kong, Peninsula International in Dubai, & Sun Synergy in Malaysia amongst many others.

To find out more about Latham products, please visit www.latham-australia.com. To talk to a Latham product expert, call 1300 LATHAM (528 426) or email sales@latham-australia.com.