Key Personnel

Warwick Smyth

Principal Consultant

B.Sc.(Geol), Grad Dip App Fin & Invest – (Mining), CP(Geol)AusIMM, AIG.

Warwick Smyth has been active in the Industry for over thirty years. His main expertise and experience lies in Underground Coal Mining operations and mine feasibility studies; with valuable experience gained in the Bowen Basin with Anglo Coal (Shell) at their Capcoal Collieries, and Moranbah North Coal Project. Proposed BMA (BHPAC) Goonyella Riverside Underground, and other proposed underground sites; Wards Well and Red Hill. XStrata (MIM) Newlands Southern and Northern Undergrounds, Collinsville BOCUM Underground, Oaky Creek No.1 & No. 2 Colliery’s and proposed underground sites, North Goonyella Underground Mine. He has recent experience in open cut and underground pre-feasibility studies in New Zealand and Indonesia.

He also has vast experience in conventional open cut and highwall mining exploration and project management at Collinsville Coal Project and Oaky Creek Coal, BHPAC mines, and Shell Capcoal and Callide Mine Sites and Blair Athol and Rio Tinto mine sites. He has been responsible for project management required by clients with a particular interest in geological and geotechnical site investigations having completed projects for Anglo Coal Australia: MNCP, Capcoal Collieries, & Callide, Thiess Contractors, BHPAC, ISCOR Australia and Xstrata (MIM): Oaky Creek Coal, Newlands & Collinsville, Pacific Coal, Blair Athol Mine. Warwick has also completed civil geotechnical and groundwater site investigation for Brisbane City Council (BCC), with projects including the Inner City Bus Tunnel and S1 Sewer Tunnel Project.

He has experience in coal seam gas testing for underground longwall mines and coalbed methane projects in both the data acquisition phase and the technical evaluation stage for BMA (BHPAC), MGC Resources, Anglo Coal and Xstrata (MIM) Coal sites. He also has an extensive background in green fields and wild cat exploration.

Warwick also retains a broad knowledge of geological database management systems and geological modelling packages, with practical experience gained on numerous coal mining projects; Xstrata (MIM) Oaky Creek Coal, Xstrata NCA Project, BMA (BHPAC) Goonyella Riverside, and BHP Manganese – Groote Eylandt, Solid Energy NZ, and Indonesia. He has also been extensively involved with resource and reserve JORC compliant statements for various clients.

Lynne Banwell

Associate Principal Computer/Resource Consultant

B.Sc. (Geol with Hons), AusIMM, GSA

Lynne has worked as a consultant to the mining industry, for the last thirty+ years, firstly as Senior Geologist with Maptek Pty Limited for over ten years, and recently as a Consulting Geologist with Collective Experience. Her special area of expertise is in using computer applications for resource analysis and modelling, particularly the Vulcan software package.

 

Prior to becoming involved in the computer applications field, she worked as a metals exploration geologist and a seismic data processor. While in her years with Maptek, she was involved in many diverse projects including:

  • Geological Consulting – preparation of geological models, reserves / resource estimation, feasibility
    studies, preliminary mine plans, database design and setup, assessment of computing requirements.
  • Sales and Marketing of the VULCAN software package and Silicon Graphics hardware,
    preparation of software and hardware quotations, detailed demonstrations.
  • Software Installation – involved in installing hardware and software at mine sites.
  • Training – preparation and presentation of courses covering basic courses to discipline
    specific courses such as geological modelling, stratigraphic modelling, mine design.

Since joining Collective Experience in February 1997, she has been providing geological and computer consulting services to many different organisations, on a range of projects, including:

  • Preparation of geological models
  • Derivation of ROM model
  • Reserves estimation
  • Database design and implementation
  • Data analysis
  • Computer system setup, network configuration
  • Programming
  • Computer training

    Previous projects include:

    • Rio Tinto Coal NSW, Hunter Valley Mine, Brisbane – Baranj Project, Technical Services Melbourne.
    • Coal Operations Australia, Wyong Areas Coal Joint Venture & Catherine Hill Bay
    • Coal & Allied, Hunter Valley Mine
    • Mining & Exploration Geological Services
    • Thiess Contractors, Collinsville Coal Mine, Burton Coal Project
    • Groundsearch Australia
    • Solid Energy, NZ
    • MIM, Oaky Creek and NCA Project
    • Xstrata NCA Project

    Michael Riley

    Principal Consultant – Engineering Geologist

    B.Sc. (Geol with Hons). MAusIMM

    Michael has over 25 years experience working as an engineering geologist, geologist and environmental scientist. Michael has worked for Dames & Moore, private consulting and currently with GeoConsult.

     

    Michael has spent the last 10 years consulting to GeoConsult on a wide range of projects within the Queensland coal industry and civil engineering industry. Major clients have included Shell, Anglo American, Rio Tinto, Santos, MIM and Brisbane Department of Geomechanics. Recent projects include highwall stability evaluation and hazard mapping at Callide Coalfields; management at GeoConsults’ acoustic scanner interpretation division for various sites, a review of geotechnical systems and procedures used at Capricorn Coal; and incorporation of the Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR) into general practice at Capricorn Coal and Anglo Qld.
    Previous to this Michael worked as an engineering geologist/coal geologist. Major projects included exploration for the BHP Ramp Zero project and geotechnical assessment of Rio Tinto’s Wolfang Deposit.
    Initially he worked as an engineering geologist/environmental scientist for the international consultancy company Dames & Moore on a wide range of projects in both civil engineering and the mining industry.
    Areas of expertise include:
    • Geotechnical site investigation fieldwork and coal exploration geology.
    • Slope stability assessment and analysis in both rock and soil.
    • Rock mass characterisation and the assessment of roof and floor conditions for underground exposures.
    • Training in the practical methods of geotechnical site investigation and coal exploration field work.