Meet the People Behind Australian Made Steel: Darren Warner

Australian Made Week is a time to recognise the products we manufacture locally and, more importantly, the people who make it happen.

At InfraBuild’s Contistretch site in Newcastle, Darren Warner has spent the past 16 years helping shape Australian made steel. Known for his steady leadership, reliability and focus on safety and performance, Darren has progressed from operator to operations leader, supporting his team every step of the way.

After two decades in sales, Darren made a career change to support his young family. He joined InfraBuild as a casual operator and quickly found a sense of belonging.

“As soon as I walked in, I loved it,” Darren says. “I loved the camaraderie. I come from a sporting background so being part of a team felt like home.”

That team mindset soon translated into real-world improvements. Darren became known for his practical problem solving and innovation. One standout example is a production adjustment he made to improve the way Contistretch bar is wound onto payoffs. These are the spools that feed product to customers. The team had been dealing with bar twisting and knotting, which caused handling issues and slowed down production. Darren suggested changes to the stretch settings that improved the consistency of the bar, increased output and made handling much safer. The solution impressed visitors from overseas, who were surprised by the clean, untwisted bar.

“We each brought ideas to the table and there was a bit of healthy competition between crews,” Darren says. “I had a light bulb moment and it worked. But more importantly, it reduced the amount of physical handling. That meant fewer injuries. That’s what I’m proud of.”

Darren’s approach to leadership is built on respect and care. He credits his team and managers, including current superintendent Kieran, for building a culture of support and shared responsibility.

“It’s not us and them. It’s all of us, together. I still feel like I’m part of the operators because I’ve been where they are.”

Darren’s brother and nephew now also work at the site. For him, the sense of connection is real, and it shapes the way the team works.

“When you see our steel in bridges and buildings, you know it came from here. That’s pretty special.”

This Australian Made Week, we are proud to share Darren’s story and celebrate the people who make locally produced steel possible.