Speakers:  ​Joanne Heyes, Head of Resource Engineering Excellence, BHP

                    Russell Seib, Principal Mine Planning Engineer, BHP

                    Blair Douglas, Practice Lead Water Management and Hydrology, BHP

                    Rigoberto Rimmelin, Practice Lead Geotechnical, BHP

Abstract: The BHP Resource Engineering Centre of Excellence is a small technical team of expert established to work with the Assets to reduce risk and improve productivity company-wide. The team cover the disciplines of mine planning and engineering, geotechnical engineering, water management, tailings design and management, metallurgy and processing and mine closure. These specialists have both governance and technical roles. As a part of their governance role, they are accountable to develop and maintain standards and to monitor their application across BHP. As a part of their technical role, they advise and support the assets, implement training programs, mentor technical staff, and work with Technology on the identification and research related to new technologies.  They also provide updates and support to the BHP Leadership Team and company functions, as required, and are involved in relevant external organizations. The overall goal of the RE CoE is to reduce risk and improve productivity company-wide, thus providing value to the operations. This is achieved by providing guidance and expertise, encouraging collaboration, knowledge sharing, providing training, participating in problem solving and risk assessment workshops and other activities as appropriate.

Strategic mine planning is essential to maximise the value of the mineral resource and consider the long-term sustainability of the environment and community where we operate. The presentation will focus on the working relationships and integration between the technical disciplines to manage a broad range of mining related risks. Through examples of strategic mine planning, the team will highlight the coordination and deliberate connection between multiple technical themes and disciplines. Focusing on the core technical activities and inputs, which align to essential business process and, incorporate external sustainability drivers.

Bios:   Joanne Heyes previously worked for BHP for over 20 years, with operational experience in Manganese and Iron Ore operations, as well as Minara Nickel. She is currentlly the Head of Resource engineering and manages the strategic diretion of global excellence in Resource Engineering disciplines of Mine Planning, Tailings. Geotechnical Engineering, Processing, Hydrology and Water Management and Closure. Jo is the past Chair of the AusIMM Community and Environments Society and the ICMM Closure Group.

 

Russell Seib previously worked in numerous roles within BHP (coal and copper), with Anglo American and Komatsu. He currently manages a small team of Principal Mine Planners to deliver mine planning related standards, global mine planning initiatives and improvement projects, develop mine planning tools, conduct assurance activities on mine planning (audits, investigations, ICAMs, IPRs and CECAs) and support mine planning activities as needed.

 

Blair Douglas has almost 30 years' experience working at BHP Group, Olympic Dam, Western Australia Iron Ore, SaHe currently holds a technical leadership role to identify and set company direction on water management, introduce minimum technical and water management standards for operations and Assets, represents BHP externally through the ICMM and other research organisations, and leads internal technical reviews and mentors water professionals.

 

Rigoberto Rimmelin has over 20 years' experience working at Codelco, HMC and BHP, mostly in copper mines in different mining methods of Block/Panel Caving, Rooms&Pillar, Post Pilar Cut&Fill and Open Pit. He has previously provided technical support to the assets in the Region of Minerals Americas, and in his current role provides technical support, standards, technical assurance and governance of Geotechnical Review Boards across the company.

 

About JKMRC Friday Seminars 2020

Welcome to the 2020 Series of the JKMRC Friday Seminars.  The list of presentations will aim to cover a range of topics related to the minerals sector from decision making in exploration, new mineral processing technologies, social licence to operate and mine closure.

Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, all JKMRC Friday Seminars will be presented as webinars only.

If you wish to watch past webinars you can access the videos on the SMI website https://smi.uq.edu.au/webinars

Previous seminars have been uploaded to YouTube via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/user/smiuq