Experience

Valentis

• Singapore
• Mining
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Consultant Geologist

  • Jan 2022 - Present

  Essentially a Chief Geologist role.

• Consultant Geologist - Valentis Asia

  • Jan 2022 - Present



GeoDynamix

• Southeast Asia & Western Pacific

• Managing Director & Chief Geologist

  • Jan 2004 - Present

  I have operated under the banner of my Laos-based consultancy business sporadically (between other longer-term appointments) since 2004. GeoDynamix is a niche business that specialises in short term & task-specific geological, geotechnical, OHS, environmental, investment, and community support consultancy services to local mining, mineral exploration and construction companies, government agencies, NGOs and investment houses within Australia, SE Asia and Pacific islands. Unlike the majority of our local and regional counterparts we have no full time staff and maintain only a basic office. We draw upon a "pool" of technical & professional personnel with a variety of strengths and experience to suit the specific job and we encourage our people to focus on field work with minimal field administration. Naturally, this means we have zero overheads to pass onto our clients and our personnel are entirely field-oriented, which culminates in a high quality service to our clients at a minimal cost. This approach has served us well, especially in the current downturn when budgets are minimal and value for the exploration dollar is paramount. Recent work has included the provision of detailed technical & HSE advice for local operations by Lao, Vientnamese and Chinese clients. This advice has varied from geological and geotechnical evaluations, database management and QA/QC for small scale exploration and mining projects, to establishing, monitoring and auditing HSE systems for construction projects, manufacturing operations and even specialist businesses within the tourism & catering sectors. Having a solid background in SE Asian operations, we have been approached on occasion to provide assistance and mediation to local companies seeking foreign investment in exploration, mining and construction projects, in addition to being engaged to contribute toward planning of government funded, self-sustainable community level projects in the construction and tourism sectors. Show less



Paksong Summit Company Laos

• Paksong, Laos

• Principal

  • Jan 2011 - Present

  My wife and I established our family company in early 2011, focussing on organic Arabica coffee & avocado plantations on the fertile Bolaven Plateau area in southern Laos. Like all startup agri-businesses, it has been a process of trial and error but persistence for longer term growth has been our primary goal. We are currently trialling hybrids of Arabica coffee and researching soil chemistry and growth parameters for macadamia, cocoa and other potential crops suited to the area such as Indonesian salak. Show less



G-Resources

• Financial Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Regional Exploration Manager

  • Jan 2012 - Sep 2013

  Based at the Martabe gold mine in a largely autonomous role managing all mineral exploration activity within the company’s 1,600km² Contract of Work (CoW) surrounding the Martabe gold project & straddling the Sumatra Fault zone. A challenging role in more ways than just the usual cultural, religious and environmental factors: the company provided no role induction, training or a position description and I thus entered the role “cold”, having to find my feet, establish my own protocols and establish an equitable balance between professional integrity and what I perceived to be the company’s expectations of both myself and my team in a demanding work environment. My team progressively evaluated a series of prospects including epithermal low and high sulphidation targets, deep porphyry targets, skarn, sediment hosted and structural gold targets. The team steadily improved its confidence and competence and grew from a small group of only 4 geologists to 12 geologists and 30+ technical and support staff. Under the 20 months of my tenure as Manager, my team was the only LTI free section within the entire company. Given the huge range of additional and unusual risks facing the regional exploration team in the Sumatran wilderness, this was not an insignificant achievement. The position terminated in late 2013 following a company-wide reduction in the number of expatriate employees in accordance with Indonesian government regulations. In the short time that I occupied the role, I met the statutory expectation of the position by nurturing and growing the dedication & professionalism of the team to the point where I could leave it as a highly motivated unit to operate independently. Show less



Aurum Laos

• Vientiane Province, Laos

• Chief Geologist

  • Apr 2011 - Dec 2011

  A semi-autonomous role supervising exploration being conducted on the company’s ‘flagship’ Century Project in northern Laos. The position also involved generative conceptual work and assessing regional target areas throughout Laos. Being a relatively new company still finding its feet in SE Asia, target styles sought by Aurum were not necessarily defined. Large tonnage gold and copper-gold targets were preferred but other commodities were also of interest. Aurum’s Century Project itself had potential for (and evidence of) epithermal, porphyry, VHMS and structural targets. My role involved responsibility for day to day administration and management of the company’s field exploration team, comprising 6 geologists, 14 geotechnicians, a Community Relations officer and a team of up to 40 Hmong labourers. The team comprised entirely Lao National staff with the exception of one junior expatriate geologist. As such, the role required careful appreciation and respect toward the cultural expectations and requirements of the workers and local communities, yet the ability to merge traditional Asian and modern/Western work ideals to achieve an end result of a high standard. On commencing my role, I quickly became aware that if the company’s objectives were to be achieved within the time frame given, then an intensive training and mentoring program would be required to overcome the inherent problems arising from the relatively low level of training available to aspiring geological professionals in Laos. Achieving this was a delicate challenge in itself but I remain proud of my achievements; by the time I left the company, I had successfully transformed a band of unconfident “data collectors” into a team that was beginning to think clearly and professionally about the geological, geochemical and structural implications of their mapping and sampling work. Show less



Goldminex Resources Limited

• Owen Stanley Ranges, PNG

• Chief Geologist / Exploration Manager

  • Apr 2009 - Dec 2010

  My appointment commenced as Senior Exploration Geologist, operating “back to back” with the company’s Chief Geologist and assuming his role when he was off site. Subsequent changes in the company management structure left me in a stand-alone position of Chief Geologist, but also filling the role of Acting Exploration Manager during a lengthy period when the latter position was unfilled. As such, I had a largely autonomous responsibility for administering and managing the company’s professional, technical and logistical requirements within the 8,500km² of exploration tenure covering the eastern end of the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. Target styles sought were dominantly porphyry (intrusive related), epithermal and structural gold and copper-gold, although nickel and platinum/palladium targets were generated and investigated. The wide variation of the geological and tectonic framework within the project area also offered opportunities for other targets such as skarn and volcanogenic mineralisation. Day to day management of an exploration project within PNG can probably be best summed up as “never a dull moment”. The treacherous terrain, unpredictable weather, challenging geology and variety of cultural variances within a small geographical area require a unique and specialised approach to management; one that requires the ability and flexibility to rapidly adapt to changing conditions, consider the variables and make sound and clear judgments quickly that result in a successful and productive outcome. I have always enjoyed this style and pace of work and my ability to meet these challenges head-on with little or no difficulty has always won praise from management and my colleagues. During my time with the company, I was heavily involved with assembling, training and mentoring a loyal and capable team of employees and my understanding and compassion to each person’s temperament and ability fostered a cohesive, harmonious and reliable team. Show less



Rox Resources Limited (ASX:RXL)

• Australia
• Mining
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Country Manager

  • Apr 2005 - Apr 2009

  In this role, I had responsibility for administering and managing all of the company’s geological operations within SE Asia. Activity focused on the Pha Luang Zn+Pb+Ag MVT deposit near Vang Vieng (northern Laos) but also encompassed regional precious and base metal targets. Commencing the project as a “one man band” with nil resources, I developed the company, its projects, the resource base & the exploration team to a highly proficient & project-focused unit that successfully defined a previously unrecognised MVT province in SE Asia. The exploration team ultimately comprised up to 70 people & the logistical resources included a staffed corporate office in Vientiane & efficient, practical and well-equipped field camps on the various projects. My role was strongly hands-on and autonomous, managing all activity from basic supply chain & program logistics to personnel, reporting, safety, environment. Personal & corporate interaction with JV partners, military officials & Government representatives at the local, provincial and national level was also an important part of the role. A portion of my work was focused on project generation, negotiations with potential JV partners & all appropriate statutory requirements regarding access, reporting, etc. My role also extended to the company’s Reward project in Australia, including exploration & evaluation of dominantly SEDEX style Zn+Pb targets in an area stratigraphically identical to the nearby world class McArthur River deposit. Management of this project once again included a strong emphasis of hands-on involvement with field programs, including drilling, soil geochemistry, mapping & logistical requirements of the project, in addition to reinterpretation of regional geology, resource calculation and statutory reporting. The project is now under JV with Teck. Show less



PanAust

• Australia
• Mining
• 700 & Above Employee

• Principal Geologist

  • Feb 2004 - Apr 2005

  I commenced as Senior Project Geologist on the Phu Kham Cu+Au project in northern Laos but was rapidly promoted to Principal Geologist. In this role, I was directly responsible for managing all geological operations within the region, including several advanced Au ± Cu projects. I assembled and coordinated a team comprising geological staff of 15 expatriates, 20+ Lao geotechnical and administrative staff and a support team of up to 100 local Lao employees. Tasks included all aspects of geological evaluation, from “greenfields” exploration to advanced project & resource evaluation. After successfully completed the resource development for the company’s Phu Bia Gold Project (production commencing April 2005), focus shifted to managing all geological operations relating to the Bankable Feasibility Study for the Phu Kham porphyry Cu-Au project, in addition to evaluation of peripheral porphyry and hydrothermal Cu+Au and Au projects. These operations were all conducted in a highly challenging environment, being mostly located in rugged, mountainous country within the Xaisomboun Special Zone (military controlled excluded zone due to Hmong rebel activity). Successful and efficient completion of this work relied heavily upon delicate, yet persistent liaison with Lao officials, from upper levels of Government and Military down to the local village chiefs in operational areas. I was successful in establishing and maintaining solid, harmonious working relationships with community, business & Government leaders by recognition of the cultural and environmental expectations of the Lao people and by incorporating those ideals into the operational procedures of the western world to ensure that all company activities were completed punctually, efficiently and within the cultural framework of the Lao community. Show less



Gnomic Exploration Services PL

• Australia
• Mining
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Geological roles as required by clients

  • 1985 - 2004

  During the formative years of my career, I relocated from Brisbane to Townsville (Qld, Australia) & was employed by Gnomic Exploration Services. During this period, I found continuous contract employment throughout Australia and PNG, mostly within long term contracts. Clients included Esso Minerals Australia, Austamax Resources, Freeport Australian Minerals, Tropic Gold, City Resources, A.R.I., Numtara, Pancontinental Mining, ACM Gold, Normandy Poseidon Group, Queensland Metals, Valdora Mining, William Resources, Arimco, BHP, MIM, Xstrata and InterOil. My preference for contract work (as opposed to staff appointments) provided me with an excellent and variable level of experience through a very wide range of geological terrains, mineralisation targets, company structures and workforces. Whilst most contracts focussed on a variety of gold and base metals exploration targets, I also acquired experience in diamond exploration within South Australia, hydrocarbon exploration in the Bowen Basin (Queensland) and PNG, in addition to experience in both open pit and underground mining operations. My professional skills, geological knowledge and understanding of corporate expectations were honed during this period, with my work being primarily field-oriented, though I gradually moved toward more managerial roles as my career progressed. I eventually found myself undertaking planning, management, preparation and coordination of annual work programs, participation and coordination of field activities from grass-roots prospecting to major drilling programs and project evaluation, management of field logistics, regular internal progress reporting and statutory reporting, literature reviews, project generation, budgetary management, landholder liaison, geophysical interpretation and geological modeling. I attribute my successful, active and diverse career to this period of excellent (and largely "old school") background training and development. Show less