Experience

Danakali

• Australia
• Mining
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Operating Officer

  • Dec 2020 - Present

  Responsible for design and operational readiness for the SOP plant at Colluli, Eritrea. Working for safe and sustainable mining and process operations for the Colluli Mining Share Company (CMSC). Responsible for design and operational readiness for the SOP plant at Colluli, Eritrea. Working for safe and sustainable mining and process operations for the Colluli Mining Share Company (CMSC).



Nutrien

• Canada
• Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Process & Product Innovation

  • Mar 2018 - Dec 2020

  Responsible for application of new and innovative technology in the potash industry including: - Advanced Process Control - Process engineering improvements in plant operations. - New product development - Environmental stewardship, with respect to Tailings management, air emissions, energy conservation. - Development of a Tailings Management Governance Standard for Nutrien Potash Responsible for application of new and innovative technology in the potash industry including: - Advanced Process Control - Process engineering improvements in plant operations. - New product development - Environmental stewardship, with respect to Tailings management, air emissions, energy conservation. - Development of a Tailings Management Governance Standard for Nutrien Potash



PotashCorp

• Canada
• Mining
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Sr. Director, Innovation & Technology

  • Dec 2016 - Mar 2018

  Responsible for the development of an Innovation program within the Potash operations, including mining, mill processing, environmental stewardship and automation. Some of the key areas included the development of a program to collect innovative ideas, evaluate, implement and to communicate the results within the potash organization. Participated in initiatives for improved mining automation and the digital transformation of potash operations.

• General Manager, Allan Division

  • Sep 2015 - Dec 2016

  General Manager for an underground potash mine, employing over 700 people, and with production of 2.7 million TPY of potash product. My responsibilities included Production (surface and underground), Safety, Maintenance, Industrial Relations and Financial for the Allan Division. Improvements to the site Safety program included the development of a program for the reduction of Serious Injuries and Fatal (SIF) accidents. This program was very successful, and was applied to all the other potash production facilities within PotashCorp. Other initiatives included improved equipment reliability, better production planning and coordination, as well as engineering and construction of a new facility for disposal of Fine Tailings. Show less



Arab Potash Company

• Jordan
• Mining
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Vice President Operations

  • Jun 2011 - Aug 2015

  Seconded to this position from PotashCorp. Responsible for the safe production of 2.3 Million TPY of potash by an industrial complex located near the Dead Sea in Jordan. My responsibilities included dredging in the solar evaporation pans, production and maintenance of three processing plants, power generation, haulage operations (to transport finished product to Aqaba), as well as warehousing and ship loading at the port in Aqaba. My job was to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the industrial complex and all related activities. Total workforce was approximately 2,000 people. Some of the important safety initiatives during this time included: - improved electrical safety (training, accountability) - supervision of contractors - traffic safety of the haulage operations (speed reduction, seat-belt usage, truck maintenance) - improved lockout/tagout - compliance with PPE regulations Other important initiatives at this time included the negotiation of a long-term contract for the import of natural gas, commissioning of a new potash production plant, improved quality of finished product, increased plant reliability and productivity through Short Interval Control (SIC) and increased accountability of the senior management team. Show less



PotashCorp

• Canada
• Mining
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Director Of Technical Services

  • Oct 2003 - Jun 2011

  Responsible for managing a technical group that provided support to the potash operations in Process Engineering, Maintenance and Environmental technology. As part of the expansions at the potash sites, our group provided technical support for the development, testing and implementation of new processing options including: - mass and energy balances using MetSim - plant layout and process control - optimal crusher selection - use of Stacksizer screens for ore sizing - column flotation - coarse/fine separations using crossflow separators. - centrifuges and dryers - optimal compaction circuit configuration - dry screening - Advanced Process Control - pollution abatement equipment - tailings managementAll facets of process development were applied to seven expansion projects with a total value in excess of 8 Billion dollars. As the projects were completed, commissioning support was also provided to the potash plants. Show less

• Mill Operations Superintendent

  • Jul 1999 - Oct 2003

  Responsible for the Mill Operations group at PotashCorp Allan Division. Areas of responsibility included Safety, Surface Production, Maintenance, Loadout, Process Engineering and Environment. Labour relations responsibilities included union/management contract negotiations and grievance resolution. I was also the employer co-chair of the Surface Occupational Health and Safety committee. During my time in this position we also designed and installed a new compaction circuit for the production of a new product. Show less

• Senior Metallurgist

  • Feb 1998 - Jul 1999

  Responsible for providing metallurgical support to plant operations, including unit operation performance, plant recovery, environmental stewardship, and supervision of the QC laboratory. Key processes in the plant included flotation, crystallization, crushing and screening, drying, compaction and pollution abatement equipment. During this time a new system was developed to ensure compliance with all environmental regulations applicable to the potash operation.



AECL

• Canada
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Scientist

  • Jun 1992 - Feb 1998

  Research activities were performed in support of the safe disposal of used nuclear fuel. Areas of expertise included the kinetics of air oxidation of used nuclear fuel, behavior of noble metals in used fuel, and the development of a novel method of dry reprocessing used fuel by segregation of rare-earth elements. In this role, over 20 papers were published in the scientific literature, and one patent was awarded. Research activities were performed in support of the safe disposal of used nuclear fuel. Areas of expertise included the kinetics of air oxidation of used nuclear fuel, behavior of noble metals in used fuel, and the development of a novel method of dry reprocessing used fuel by segregation of rare-earth elements. In this role, over 20 papers were published in the scientific literature, and one patent was awarded.



University of Saskatchewan

• Canada
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Student

  • Sep 1990 - Jun 1992

  Full-time attendance at the University of Saskatchewan as a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry. My research was focused on examination of point-defects in doped crystalline quartz using magnetic resonance techniques. The results of this research were published in a series of papers in the scientific literature. Full-time attendance at the University of Saskatchewan as a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry. My research was focused on examination of point-defects in doped crystalline quartz using magnetic resonance techniques. The results of this research were published in a series of papers in the scientific literature.



Cameco Corporation

• Canada
• Mining
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Chemist

  • Jun 1988 - Sep 1990

  Responsible for supervision of the analytical laboratory, which provided quality control for the refinery operations, including ore analysis, process control, and finished product quality. The laboratory also provided extensive sample analysis to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Projects in the refinery included the resolution of stable emulsions from the solvent extraction plant, gypsum precipitation, and operation of a pilot-scale heap leach project. Responsible for supervision of the analytical laboratory, which provided quality control for the refinery operations, including ore analysis, process control, and finished product quality. The laboratory also provided extensive sample analysis to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Projects in the refinery included the resolution of stable emulsions from the solvent extraction plant, gypsum precipitation, and operation of a pilot-scale heap leach project.



PotashCorp

• Canada
• Mining
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Laboratory Supervisor

  • Oct 1984 - Jun 1988

  Responsible for supervision of the quality control laboratory in the potash mine at Allan Saskatchewan. The laboratory provided analysis of ore, process control samples, as well as the finished potash fertilizer. In addition, this position was responsible for ensuring the accuracy of sampling equipment and procedures in the plant. Extensive experience was gained in refinery projects which included: air pollution abatement equipment, crystallization, flotation reagents and product screening.

• Pilot Plant Technician

  • Feb 1980 - Oct 1984

  In this role I was responsible for operation of processing equipment in a pilot-scale facility which focused on the development and optimization of potash processing technology. Experience was gained in the production of potassium sulfate, thickeners, ion exchange technology and froth flotation. Analytical techniques which were used in this role included XRF, atomic absorption and a variety of wet methods.