Richard worked his way through the Broken Hill and associated mining operations with practical experience and part time study in mining engineering. During 1982 to 1986 he was involved in the establishment of the Elura Mine in Cobar before moving to BHP Minerals to be part of BHP Gold Mines. With the development of BHP Gold Mines until the takeover in 1990, he was involved in a number of development projects, commissioning, acquisitions, feasibility studies and management. Richard gained significant exposure to the formulation and drafting of mining legislation and regulations, completing his time at BHP with the legal section assisting the Victorian Chamber of Mines and Government Departments in the development of the Victorian Minerals Resources Development Act.
Richard holds a Mine Managers Certificate of Competency for Below Ground Mines in New South Wales and a First Class Mine Managers Certificate of Competency in Western Australia. He has managed both underground and surface mines and developed a number of emergency and disaster response plans at both corporate and site levels.
Richard commenced consulting in 1991, continuing to work on feasibility studies, valuations, planning, due diligence and mine management. Further company experience was gained through placements at Porgera PNG and at Bounty Mine WA. He has in excess of 30 years of mining experience spanning an involvement in both underground and surface mines throughout all Australian States and Territories, PNG and Myanma, in a wide range of technical, management, negotiations and occupational health and safety aspects.