Consulting and Clients in the Future World – Navigating the Changing Landscape

Phoebe Whattoff is the Country Director at Minviro Australia and brings a wealth of expertise in life cycle and environmental impact analysis, particularly in the realm of mining and metal projects.

Phoebe is known for her contributions to academia and research, with publications exploring the environmental implications of battery manufacturing and raw material supply chains. Of notable significance is Phoebe's invaluable insights into Li-ion battery cell and pack manufacturing and recycling processes. Her expertise offers invaluable guidance in navigating the complexities of sustainable practices within these critical industries.

Paul has worked as a geoscientist in the mining industry for 35 years across a range of commodities and mineral systems, in exploration, resource development, mining operations, technology development, research, consulting and senior management, with Anglo American, BHP, SRK Consulting, Newmont and Freeport McMoRan.

He completed BSc and MSc degrees in geology and structural geology in the US and a PhD in economic geology at the University of Western Australia. Paul is currently an independent consultant, advisor and mentor based in Perth.

John is a process engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the mining and minerals industry. He has a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) in Industrial Chemistry from UNSW, and has worked as a Company Director since 2006. He is the founder and Managing Director of three prominent industry organisations: Metallurgical Systems, Industrial Sustainability Solutions and Elemental Engineering (founded 2006)—a consulting firm that provides world-leading process simulation and design services to the minerals processing industry.

John is a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and has also served as an Alternate Director of Austmine (October 2019 – Dec 2023). He supports and contributes to a range of industry events and publications. This has included presenting as keynote speaker for Metplant 2023, on global best practice metallurgical plant design and operating strategies, as well as AusIMM’s 2021 thought-leadership series and 2022 series on technology and decarbonisation.

John’s key areas of expertise include:
- Metallurgical accounting, production reporting and process optimisation: John is a subject matter expert and has consulted globally to some of the world’s most complex mining and minerals processes. He has built and tested hundreds of steady-state and dynamic process simulation models using his extensive knowledge across Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Au, U, PGM’s, Li, Va to name a few.

- Digital transformation: he has practical and in-depth understanding of the technology challenges faced by the sector and what is required to ensure continued growth and profitability.

- Sustainability/ESG objectives: he has implemented ESG measurement and optimisation solutions for several of the world’s most successful mining and metals organisations and is actively working to fast-tracking the sector’s overall evolution in this area.

- Mining’s skills shortage: he believes strongly in the need to make mining more attractive to the next generation of talented workers, and currently facilitates a range of graduate/mentoring opportunities to support this.

A Mining Engineering (Hons) graduate from the University of Leeds, UK, Jo has worked in the mining industry for over 25 years.

Jo has operational expertise in manganese, nickel and iron ore, as well as technical leadership, strategic and studies roles. A considerable portion of Jo’s career has been in mine closure, developing BHP’s global governance processes and standards. This also included a period as the Chair of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Closure working group. Jo’s most recent role was the BHP Global Practice Lead Technical Capability, working on securing a robust talent pipeline of interns through to technical experts in core geoscience and resource engineering disciplines.

Jo is currently a Director of the CoRE Learning Foundation, an organisation focused on the improvement of STEM education engagement and industry pathways, for primary and secondary students she is also a member of the Grant Assessment Panel of the Minerals Research Institute of WA.

She has been actively involved with AusIMM for over 10 years holding various leadership and committee roles including for the Social and Environment Society, Life of Mine conference and the Awards Committee.

Bruce has 45 years of worldwide field experience in the resources sector as an exploration geologist and for the past 25 years as a Social Performance professional. He was Global Practice Leader Social Performance at a global minerals company for eight years before early retirement in 2014. Since then, he has provided extensive advice to many resource extractive companies, with a preference for helping secure ESG-related financing and insurance conditionality at projects and operating assets.

He is an Adjunct Professor at the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland and an independent company director. For six years he delivered a course called ‘Leading Sustainable Enterprises’ at the MBA School of the University of Otago in NZ.

Bruce is an active member of the AusIMM. He facilitated the development of the Institute’s Social Responsibility Framework and the Environment and Social Performance competency development tool. He developed and leads delivery of the AusIMM ESG and Social Responsibility Professional Certificate course and the Operationalising ESG course in the Mine Operations course series. He contributed to the Permitting, Environment and Social chapter of the AusIMM Study Processes Handbook.

Geoff has two decades of hands-on experience, having lived and operated within complex environments to spearhead the assessment, exploration, development, operations and execution of greenfield mining developments, brownfield expansions and large-scale linear infrastructure projects. As an expert in multi-factor risk, he holds a proven record of mitigating project uncertainties and enhancing total project outcomes.

Previously serving as Project Director for the Carrapateena Block Cave Expansion and Growth, as well as holding the role of Principal Advisor for Land Access and the inaugural Group Manager Social Performance at a prominent global minerals corporation, Geoff embarked on his entrepreneurial journey by founding Modifying Factors in 2023. His career is marked by a meticulous approach to evaluating and mitigating the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of modifying factors on projects and their stakeholders.

Geoff is a member of the AusIMM, actively contributing to the field by developing and delivering content for the AusIMM ESG and Social Responsibility Professional Certificate program, as well as the Operationalising ESG course within the Mine Operations course series.

Alex is the Founder and Managing Partner of a boutique executive search practice, Goldrick. He is also a technology investor and advisor to varying technology start-up and scale up ventures.

As an executive search consultant with over 20 years of experience servicing clients within heavy industrial market sectors, Alex has extensive experience advising engineering, technical and technology consulting clients around organisational development and leadership talent acquisition.