Kenny from Zambia to Australia
Where did Kenny’s journey with Skilled Migration Group begin?
We first met Kenny in person in Lusaka the capital and largest city of Zambia.
Skilled Migration Group had been tasked to source a large number of highly skilled workers for an Australian Company.
To that end, we had been working with Kenny to help him gather all his required documents that he would need to apply for an Australian Employer Sponsored Work Visa.
Brent Diflo and the rest of the technical recuitment team sat down with Kenny and had a great chat. Mostly they just listened as Kenny explained his background, his experience, and told them his story and what his hopes and dreams were.
It was clear that Kenny was pure class, not only in terms of his knowledge and experience, but also his loyalty to his friends, co-workers and to his boss Vincent at BIA Zambia who Kenny holds in very high regard.
Brent talked with Kenny about technical aspects of the trade, but as expected, Kenny breezed through with his high level Komatsu Dealership training and experience. And arrangements were quickly made for the Australian Company to meet with Kenny for their selection interviews.
A Job Offer For Australia
Kenny met with the Australian Company in person in Lusaka, along with Dennis, Brent Diflo and the rest of the technical recruitment team.
Once again it was an excellent discussion, the Australian Employer actually said to Dennis and Brent at the end of the chat that they wanted to bring their recruitment team to our next round of “interviews” so that they could see how it well it can be done using a different format – chatting, open discussion, not the standard interview that people might expect.
Of course Kenny was offered a role by the Australian employer, and Kenny has been working in Australia for that employer for over two years.
Kenny has been a great ambassador for the Australian Company with the way he carries out his work on Komatsu and other OEM large surface mining equipment.
Kenny as his family were recently asked by the Australian employer if they would like to apply for Australia Permanent Residency.
Kenny and his family were overjoyed at this fantastic chance and Kenny has since been nominated, and Kenny and his Family have applied for Subclass 186TRT Stream PR visas.
Kenny has said his ultimate goal is for his whole family and him, to become Australian Citizens and as soon as they satisfy the criteria they are going to apply to become Aussies.
Kenny’s work for BIA Zambia
When Skilled Migration Group talked with Kenny about what he wanted us to write about in his worker’s journey article.
Kenny wanted to demonstrate that he felt loyalty to his employer, he felt he owed loyalty to his Australian Employer, but he was also adamant that we should highlight how he earned his Komatsu experience.
Kenny was one of the very first employees at BIA Zambia the Komatsu Dealer in Zambia, when if first opened.
Kenny explained that he was one of the First Two Technicians that BIA Zambia hired on the 23rd of July 2013.
He told us that Vincent Bia at a get together, shared his vision for what he wanted to create in Zambia, and how he wanted BIA to grow and what he wanted BIA to become in Zambia.
Kenny explained that he was one of the First Two Technicians that BIA Zambia hired on the 23rd of July 2013.
Kenny told us that Vincent Bia at a get together, shared his vision for what Vincent Bia wanted to create in Zambia, and how Vincent wanted BIA to grow and what Vincent wanted BIA to become in Zambia.
Kenny was one of two technicians that were sent to South Africa, where Komatsu had a training facility and that Komatsu had flown in high level technical trainers from Chile, specifically to train Kenny and his co- worker as the first technical workers for BIA Zambia.
Kenny went on to say that he believed in Vincent BIA, and he supported Vincent’s vision 100%.
Vincent Bia apparently referred to the Kenny and his co-worker as “the dream team”.
BIA Zambia - The First Ever Komatsu Crate Delivered to BIA Zambia
The photos that Kenny sent us for his workers journey article included Kenny and his co-worker in South Africa at the start of the Komatsu OEM training.
The photo of Kenny next to the crate, is actually the Very First Komatsu Parts Crate Delivered to BIA Zambia!
It was as Kenny put’s it “Where BIA Zambia Really Began”.
BIA Zambia promoted Kenny in February 2014.
Kenny was promoted to Foreman of BIA Zambia in July 2016.
Kenny was promoted to BIA Workshop Supervisor in February 2018, where he stayed, mentoring, training, supervising and encouraging others until he resigned in 2023 to take up his current role in Australia.
Kenny and Timothy - The first two technicans that started the BIA Kitwe Workshop in Zambia
Whilst Kenny was happy at BIA Zambia and the day he resigned was a sad day. Kenny explained that he felt he had been a long term, loyal employee of BIA Zambia.
But after ten years’ service to BIA he felt it was time to make a move to Australia for his family’s future.
What’s It Like Living And Working In Australia?
Kenny is very happy living and working in Australia.
He said his Australia Employer was excellent, he has been well treated by the employer and he owes a debt of loyalty to his Australian Employer for taking a chance on him, and for investing in Kenny.
Kenny said he would not be letting his Australian Employer down. Kenny’s made some good friends both at work and socially in Australia and really enjoys the work.
Feedback from Kenny
Kenny had this this to say:-
Dennis, like you, I believe in honouring my words.
Your selection should encourage your clients as I will not disappoint you, instead to prove what I promised during the interview.
If you remember what you asked me during the interview Dennis, you said “Kenny you have been a supervisor for a long time” “Are you able to go back and hold a spanner?”
My answer was yes even where I was at BIA Zambia, I made sure we produced quality work, and I helped out wherever it was needed. For example, if one of my colleagues fails, we fail as a group.
In my capacity, I can work with anyone, and I will work wherever I am needed to work.
In regards to Skilled Migration Group Limited, Kenny had this to say:
I believe skilled migration group it’s a team which really believes in skilled people.
The interviews I had with you Dennis and the team was technical and you really wanted to select best candidates. I believe you did.”
In regards to Australia:-
Australia is not bad though one needs to be focused and be determined to prove he / she can work.
We meet good people and bad based on one’s personality.
It was a tough start, being introduced to some guys who judged us by the blue hard hats we were putting on. It is a mixture of characters, but one needs to be focused and overcome the challenges.
Dialogue is key and respecting everyone’s feelings.
In regards to Skilled Migration Group Limited, Kenny had this to say:
I believe skilled migration group it’s a team which really believes in skilled people.
The interviews I had with you Dennis and the team was technical and you really wanted to select best candidates. I believe you did.
I did not pay any fee or charges for any aspect of my recruitment, I did not pay any recruitment agency registration fee (which I know Recruitment Agenices in Zambia usually charge) I did not pay for my employment or visa medical costs, I did not pay for visa charges or nomination charges, I did not pay for my flight to Australia – Everything was paid for me.
I will demonstrate my loyalty to my Australian Employer and I will demonstrate my loyalty to you Dennis and the team at Skilled Migration Group, I want to keep the door open for many more Zambians to come to Australia.
Kenny you are pure class – And we are still trying to convince your brother to come and work with Skilled Migration Group, one day he will agree, and the two of you working together, now that’s the dream team..
That was Kenny from Zambia and his Workers Journey.
We are Skilled Migration Group – Quality Never Goes Out Of Style
“Kenny said;
Dennis, like you, I believe in honouring my words.
Your selection should encourage your clients as I will not disappoint you, instead to prove what I promised during the interview.
If you remember what you asked me during the interview Dennis, you said “Kenny you have been a supervisor for a long time” “Are you able to go back and hold a spanner?”
My answer was yes even where I was at BIA Zambia, I made sure we produced quality work, and I helped out wherever it was needed. For example, if one of my colleagues fails, we fail as a group.
In my capacity, I can work with anyone, and I will work wherever I am needed to work.
In regards to Skilled Migration Group Limited, Kenny had this to say:
I believe skilled migration group it’s a team which really believes in skilled people.
The interviews I had with you Dennis and the team was technical and you really wanted to select best candidates. I believe you did.”