BWB Consulting Services Inc.

President

BWB Consulting Services Inc.

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

 

In this private business endeavour, I manage stand-alone assignments on a contract basis directly for mining companies or indirectly through sub-contract arrangements with major engineering firms.  My direct assignments have been for Primero Mining, and Orvana Minerals.  Indirect work assignments have been through SNC Lavalin, SRK, Cementation, Deswik, Nordmin Engineering, and Kovit Engineering (now Autotec). I provide expert senior review of mine plans, project development concepts, cut-off grades, mining methods, operational improvement projects, and overall mine economic evaluations.  I am particularly passionate about strategic economic evaluation projects that provide my clients with the quality of early stage information they require for decision making.  A complete listing of the projects I have completed since initiating my consulting business will be provided on request.  I have worked with clients with offices and projects located around the globe.  I am very comfortable in diverse cultures. Team and relationship building, as well as direct and honest communication with my clients, have been critical factors in achieving the results my clients expect.

 

Vice President, Project Development

Lake Shore Gold

Timmins, Ontario, Canada

 

Reporting directly to the CEO, I was hired into this position to manage the entire portfolio of major strategic projects for this emerging gold producer.  The portfolio consisted of environmental assessments, permitting, economic evaluations, and execution of all major capital projects at Lake Shore Gold.  Building a department from scratch, I acquired and assigned specialists in mining, civil, environmental, cost accounting, and construction.  Projects under study included tailings and water management system expansions, 3 underground mine development projects, and one open pit project.  I managed a large brownfield mill expansion project through its construction and commissioning ($120M).  People, systems development, and stakeholder engagement were key accountabilities in this role.  In this role, I was regularly expected to engage with internal and external stakeholders including various government agencies, securities regulators, NGO’s, the senior management team, the board of directors, investment industry analysts, financiers and shareholders.  I was directly responsible as the Qualified Person for several 43-101 reports on behalf of the company and participated in several due diligence assessments in support of M&A opportunities.

 

General Manager, Strategic Mining Projects

Vale

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

 

As head of this department my key accountabilities included the delivery of all major mining studies and projects in the North Atlantic Region.  Studies in this portfolio covered all stages from scoping through feasibility. Work included all technical, geological, metallurgical, and financial evaluation work, as well as environmental and social engagement.  Projects ranged through a wide spectrum from open pit mining opportunities, to remnant ore extraction investigations, to infrastructure rationalization, and new mining opportunities in both Brownfields and Greenfields environments.  The portfolio of projects in execution included a $64M ventilation shaft, a $132M internal mine expansion, and a $500M mine rehabilitation and re-opening project.  I managed 4 major studies on mining opportunities in Manitoba (Thompson 1D), Ontario (Creighton Deep and Copper Cliff mine) and Voisey’s Bay Newfoundland (Post Ovoid u/g).  Project scopes ranged from small high grade deposits using selective mining methods to large low grade bulk mining operations.  Access alternatives being evaluated range from near surface ramps to ultra-deep shafts.  Annual study portfolio spending ranged to $20M.  In this role I had direct accountability for up to 300 staff and contractors.

 

Superintendent of Projects – Project Evaluation Group (PEG)

CVRD Inco Ltd.

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

 

As one of the founding members of this new group formed to evaluate the economic benefits of mining projects identified in the Life of Mine Plan, I oversaw the planning and development of the PEG’s five year plan for some $20 M of annual spending over 12 studies.  I was personally accountable for the overall organization of the PEG with respect to safety, budgets, manpower, contracts, cost controls, and ongoing human resource development.  My area had 8 individual study teams in action on studies in process from scoping to bankable feasibility.  I managed a dynamic group of some 100 professionals made up of a mix of full time CVRD Inco employees and contract employees.  I managed representatives in all fields of technical expertise including geology, rock mechanics, mine planning, mine simulation, electrical and mechanical engineering, accounting, cost controls, safety, and environment.  My key accomplishments in this role included: obtaining and developing appropriate staff levels to resource the studies and administration/cost controls for the PEG, completion of a $1.2M capital project to support the office space required for the group, completion of 2 major studies and overseeing the ongoing progress of 8 active studies.  This included environmental work and consultation with public and governmental agencies and aboriginal groups.

 

Chief Mine Engineer – Garson Mine

INCO Ltd.

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

 

In this role, I was responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of the mines’ 5 year and Life of Mine production plan including production schedules, operating budgets, Annual Capital Development, Stoping and Development (S&D) Equipment, and asset integrity budgets.  I oversaw the efforts of a team of 14 technical staff on a daily basis.  My key accomplishments in this role included: owners rep on a major capital project team, establishment of a high quality life of mine plan for the current reserves, and preparation of the technical report for the Reserves and resource reporting for the mine under the new NI 43-101 process.  I created the first Project Management Office at Garson to handle the significant number of asset integrity projects being undertaken at the mine.  I developed my skills and understanding in the areas of project management and execution, mine finance, while developing and maintaining strong interpersonal relationships with customers, and support service groups.  This included dealing with members of the public living adjacent to the mine property to address their concerns.

 

Mine Engineering Supervisor – Copper Cliff South Mine

INCO Ltd.

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

 

In my assignment in this role at South Mine, I gained specific exposure to the Capital Planning Process (mine development, capital equipment, and infrastructure projects).  I gained proficiency in all aspects of contract management (scope development, bid evaluation, progress monitoring, invoicing) by overseeing several major development and construction projects.  I was Project Manager for roughly one half of the Mines’ Capital plan ($8 million/year).  My key accomplishments during my stay at South Mine were the implementation of mining under fill, and the development of a new 4 Mt mining block (856 Orebody).

 

 

Mine Engineering Supervisor – Coleman/McCreedy East Mine

INCO Ltd.

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

 

In this capacity I supervised an engineering staff of 10 at INCO’s Coleman Mine (3,000 tons/day Blasthole/Cut & Fill - Cu/Ni sulphides).  Supervisory duties included: prioritizing and reviewing the layout, design and report work of all staff, administering payroll, performance reviews, and training.  I was directly responsible for the mid and long term production planning and scheduling.  Troubleshooting operating department problems using the concepts of Total Quality Management and team building was a priority in this position.  Major projects under my direction have included 3 dimensional surveying, production drilling optimization, mine water supply and dewatering, backfill/pastefill system design and process optimization, blast fragmentation and office automation.

 

During my stay here, I was temporarily assigned to manage two specific projects: the implementation of paste backfill and the roll out of Organizational Effectiveness, and organizational effectiveness system.  As Engineering Supervisor of the McCreedy East and 153 Orebodies (Mechanized C&F and Narrow vein C&F), I was closely involved with the Phase 2a expansion at McCreedy East and managed the ongoing sustaining capital and production program for both areas once the project was completed.

 

Ground Control Engineer

INCO Ltd.

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

 

As Ground Control Engineer I was initially assigned to cover 3 operating mines where I was directly responsible for all ground control/rock mechanics work (Nov. ‘89 to Sept. ‘92).  My major duties included all day to day workplace inspections and trouble shooting of localized ground control problems, development of standard procedures, quality control of ground support systems, and installation and routine monitoring of instrumentation projects.  Longer term projects included design of major underground excavations (crusher stations, ore bins etc.), surface crown pillar design and mine sequencing analysis.  I made use of both numerical modelling and empirical design techniques.  During this period I was also exposed to the technical aspects of backfill design and rockbursting phenomenon.

 

During the period October ‘92 to June ‘94 I was responsible for all ground control and rock mechanics duties at Creighton Mine.  This high grade Cu/Ni mine (5,000 ton/day VRM Stoping) is one of the deepest and most seismically active mines in North America with blasthole stoping operations being carried out as deep as 7,800 feet below surface.  In addition to the duties mentioned previously, I was challenged with the responsibility of implementing programs and procedures to ameliorate the effects of rockbursting.  This involved on site damage assessment coupled with statistical evaluation of micro-seismic monitoring data in relation to the mining activity being carried out at the time.  While working at Creighton I was involved with innovative ground support applications of shotcrete, cablebolting, and yielding tendons with mesh.

 

 

Rock Mechanics Officer

Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Co.

Randfontein, RSA.

 

In this role I carried out routine underground inspections, quality and inventory control checks and basic rock mechanics studies at Randfontein Estates Gold Mine (flat dipping narrow ‘reef’ conglomerate beds) located just west of Johannesburg.  Here I obtained the Chamber of Mines Rock Mechanics Certificate.

 

                

Shift Boss

Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Co.

Randfontein, Transvaal, RSA.

 

Supervised tramming, development, and mechanized room and pillar mining areas (jumbo, LHD & truck).  Directly responsible for the safety and performance of a development and production crew of 30 men as well as 4,500 tons/day of ore.