Get to know Alexandra Patton, Halma Catalyst
Describe your professional journey in a few words
In university, I studied Biomedical Engineering while researching human-derived models for tissue engineering. That experience helped me build analytical, experimental, and cross-disciplinary skills that translate well beyond the lab.
After graduating, I was looking forward to a new challenge, so I joined the Halma Catalyst Programme to apply engineering thinking to real-world applications.
Tell us more about the Halma Catalyst Programme
The Halma Catalyst Programme is a graduate career development initiative designed to fast-track participants into leadership roles within Halma’s global group of life-saving technology companies.
The programme offers participants three project placements across different business functions at different Halma operating companies.
Why did you choose Ampac for one of your rotations?
In my first rotation, I focused on the commercial side in marketing and sales, building and executing market strategies and adapting to a cross-cultural landscape. When it was time for a new rotation, I wanted something different. Ampac offered exactly what I was looking for: a cross-functional role in operations where I could drive continuous improvement at a company focused on protecting human life. I was excited by the chance to deliver tangible results and to learn from people with years of experience and proven track records.
You’ve been with us for 3 months, how’s it going?
One of the greatest opportunities of this programme is experiencing very different companies in a short time, but that means getting up to speed fast. My preferred method is full immersion by sitting in on meetings, asking endless questions, learning the “why” behind our processes, and spending time with the people who run them day to day. The Ampac team brought me into the fold quickly, and I now work within the supply chain team alongside manufacturing and warehousing to find the best solutions for the business and our customers
Tell us more about the project you are working on.
My primary project is implementing a new inventory optimization platform. Manual purchasing and limited data visibility has made planning cumbersome. The new platform’s inventory insights and planning capabilities will help ensure the right parts are available, excess is trimmed, and manual effort drops across purchasing and production. This translates to more reliable availability for customers.
As the team continues rollout, I’m turning my attention to our customer service offices (CSOs). Ampac has six regional CSOs that hold inventory to support customers across Australia. The platform will enable centralized inventory management, allowing CSO teams to focus on customer service. Each office runs a bit differently to meet local needs, so getting this right means close collaboration across offices, purchasing, and production. Once the system is fully in place, our goal is to reduce stock value at the offices, while improving availability for our customers.
What challenges or learnings have you encountered?
With a project of this nature, I need to learn and adapt quickly. A six-month timeline creates healthy urgency, which has pushed me to try, learn, and iterate. For me, the best way to learn is by doing, and knowing it won’t always be perfect, but it will be progress. I have leaned into testing ideas early, taking feedback quickly, and maintaining momentum.
I have also seen how connected every function is. From warehouse to production to sales, every link matters when we want to deliver consistently for customers. On the practical side, I am honing data, project, and people management by leading the implementation and coordinating a small team. I am also building operational skills around improving metrics like stock turns and inventory value.
What has the team culture at Ampac been like?
The team at Ampac has been incredibly supportive. I’ve been working closely with the supply chain team who are invested in not only my project’s success but also turning me a bit Aussie. I’m far from my home in the US, so being welcomed into the Ampac family has really helped me settle right in. Everyone is endlessly welcoming and excited for me to experience their country, from bringing in local snacks to bringing me to my first AFL game!
Out of work, what else are you up to?
Outside of work, I have loved exploring Perth. I’ve spent nights and weekends exploring Perth’s beautiful coastal suburbs, hiking in the hills, and enjoying as many Indian Ocean sunsets as possible. With the weather warming up, I’m excited for more diving and snorkelling trips.
