Directors and Principals (L to R)
Mark Warren, Director
Mark is an engineer with over 30 years experience in the global mining industry. His experience includes technical, consulting and managerial roles across most commodities and geographies. Mark spent 15 years in the management of consulting services to the mining sector, most recently as CEO of a global mining consulting practice. He also has experience in mining equipment supply and manufacturing as well as working as an engineer in mining operations. Mark is also a Director and the Vice Chairman of Austmine, representing the mining technology and services industry of Australia. Mark has general knowledge across the mining industry and experience in a number of mergers and acquisitions.
Ian Glacken, Director
Ian is a geologist with postgraduate qualifications in geostatistics, mining geology and computing who has over 30 years worldwide experience in the mining industry. For over 10 years Ian managed and grew the resource evaluation function of a major mining consultancy. He also assumed responsibility for a training business that is among the most successful in the industry and initiated a Risk Services division. Ian’s skills are in resource evaluation, quantitative risk assessment, strategic advice, geostatistics, reconciliation, project management, statutory and competent person reporting and mining geology studies.
Andrew Law, Director
Andrew has over 28 years’ experience in the mining industry in Australia, Africa and South America. His extensive technical and management experience ranges from deep level underground mining environments (bulk and narrow vein); to large open pit environments (across multi commodities); and to large mineral sands dredging environments. Executive Management experience has been gained at both the senior operations level and corporate level with a range of Mining, Contracting and Consulting companies. Andrew’s specialist skills are in corporate strategic business planning and due diligence; management of feasibility studies; operational optimization, mentoring and performance reviews.
Paul Blackney, Principal
Paul is a geologist with over 30 years technical and operational experience, 19 years being in the development and expansion of a major mining consultancy before joining Optiro. Paul’s skills include resource evaluation, technical audits and reviews, geostatistics, reconciliation, grade control, competent persons reporting and project management. His experience includes extensive experience in many types of gold deposits from narrow vein extreme nugget variations through to porphyry copper gold styles, substantial Iron Ore experience and significant exposure to PGE, base metal, mineral sands and other commodities.
Alex Atkins, Principal
Alex is a mining engineer, geotechnical engineer & geologist with over 20 years experience in Australia & PNG with underground & open pit, multi commodity experience. Alex is a continuous improvement change agent with specialist skills in project management, mine optimisation, reserves, mine planning, geotechnical engineering, mine seismicity, hydraulic and paste fill, safety management systems, auditing and risk management. Alex holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) Degree from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor of Engineering (Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology) 2A Honours Degree from the WA School of Mines.
Russell Mcbeath, Principal
Russell has over 22 years experience in the mining industry in Australia. His extensive technical and management experience ranges from Narrow Vein mining systems through to Block Cave Development in underground mines. Experience has also been gained in the planning, development and operations of small open pits. Recent Executive Management experience has been preceded by extensive senior operational management experience at various underground and open pit operations across Western Australia. Russell’s specialist skills are in project management; feasibility studies; operational performance optimisation; mentoring of senior operational management and personnel; mining study compilation; project peer reviews; as well as mine design and scheduling of underground and open pit operations.
Christine Standing, Principal
Christine is a geologist with over 29 years worldwide experience in the exploration and mining industry. She has six years experience as an exploration geologist in gold and base metal exploration in Western Australia and over 23 years experience as a consultant. Christine has acted as a Competent Person for many commodities, including gold, silver, copper, mineral sands, nickel, chromium and kaolin. Her skills include geostatistical resource estimation, reconciliation and audits and she has experience in preparing independent competent person’s reports, due diligence reviews and mineral asset valuations.
Oscar Rondon, Principal
Oscar is a skilled geostatistician and researcher with over 16 years of combined experience in the Oil & Gas and Mining & Metals industries. Oscar’s experience in the Mining & Metals industry comprises resource estimation and applications of conditional simulation, uniform conditioning, change of support and non linear techniques within a range of different commodities and mineralisation styles. Oscar has a strong theoretical background which combined with his vast working experience has also made him sought after for the customisation, development and presentation of geostatistical training courses worldwide.
Mark Drabble, Principal
Mark is a geologist with nearly 20 years experience in underground and open-pit production, resource development, resource estimation, consulting and geological management at operational and corporate levels. To date, Mark has commodity experience in gold, nickel, manganese, chromite, copper, lead and zinc, and is proficient in the use of Surpac software for resource modelling and estimation. Mark’s skills are based on the application of practical geology, risk assessment, communication and team development.
David Gray, Principal
David is a geologist with more than 20 years experience predominantly gained in the Witwatersrand Gold, Copper Belt and Bushveld Complex Platinum deposits. In additional to his consulting experience David has worked with Anvil Mining and Anglo Platinum in senior roles. His experience includes exploration project management, data acquisition, production geology, resource evaluation, developing geological models and database systems. David has further depth of experience in geostatistical resource estimation, classification, reviews, audits and reporting across the precious and base metals commodities.
Michael Andrew, Principal
Michael is a geologist who has over 27 years technical and operational experience in the mining industry working in roles in exploration and mining throughout Australia and overseas. Prior to joining Optiro, he spent 8 years with a major mining consultancy. Before entering consultancy Michael spent 10 years with Newmont Australia and 5 years with BHP Steel. Michael has specific experience in geostatistical resource estimation, optimisation of resources, grade control and risk assessment, technical audits, due diligence studies and mine valuation studies, technical training and mentoring. Michael has had substantial and varied exposure to iron ore, gold and precious metals, base metals, copper, uranium and industrial mineral resources both within Australia and around the world.