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Celebrating

Industry thoughts... 25

Years
Est.1994

Ian Murray Zealand. Being young and green I managed The best part of my involvement with
Paydirt has been… the warm social
to negotiate the wage of my first job up by a
25 years ago I… wasn’t in the mining space massive $5 a day. friendship with the Paydirt crew. The
but working for Price Waterhouse Coopers. The best part of my involvement with corporate culture at Paydirt is one of
I knew nothing about mining, except what I Paydirt has been… our long association “Inclusive Engagement” and the “Paydirt
had learnt from watching the South African through a group of companies. We’ve family members” are encouraged to be
mining- based soap opera “Villagers” which had journalists to a bunch of projects from friendly, constructive and professional.
was based on a fictitious gold mine. Gryphon in Burkina, to Alicanto Minerals Ltd
The best part of my involvement with in Guyana and even Bellevue in WA. Mark Connelly
Paydirt has been… whenever I appear on The biggest change in the industry since
the cover – twice in GMJ and twice in Paydirt 1994 is… higher wages, less discoveries 25 years ago I was… working for Inmet
with Stuart Mathews of Gold Fields Ltd. and better operating practises. Mining in Toronto as operations controller
The biggest change in the industry responsible for the financial and operations
since 1994 is… the way the mining industry Jake Klein reporting for its mine sites across Canada, the
conducts itself on all fronts; environmental US, Tunisia and Turkey.
responsibility and technological efficiencies Evolution Mining Ltd The best part of my involvement with
were low priorities then. Paydirt has been… the length of our
25 years ago I was… working in the Bullion
and Commodities Division at Macquarie association, going back to my time as chief
Rick Yeates Bank and had my first trip to China. It was executive of Adamus Resources in 2006.
I have always tried to support Paydirt as
Middle Island Resources Ltd a remarkable life-changing experience best I could and encouraged companies
– driving through the Gobi Desert, being
25 years ago I was… in Kalgoorlie running served camel’s foot and snake for dinner and I’m associated with to participate in Paydirt
conferences and events.
the exploration division of RSG. We were just realising these things seemed to taste a lot The biggest change in the industry since
in the process of expanding that business better the more Moutai I drank! 1994 is… that the industry has lost some of
internationally, which we did in 1996. The best part of my involvement with the characters and some of its entrepreneurial
The best part of my involvement with Paydirt has been… the coverage of spirit. It is, at times, overregulated and the fun
Paydirt has been… being involved with Africa the major events that have changed the has gone out of it. In saying that, it is still the
Down Under (ADU) from its inception. gold sector – a very significant one being best industry to work in and Australians have
The biggest change in the industry since the takeover of Normandy by Newmont proven their ability across the world.
1994 is… the immediacy of information and Goldcorp in 2002. The consistency with which
the way industry players have become nimbler these magazines cover and follow stories
in their response to accommodate that. and individuals I think is unique and getting Karl Simich
increasingly rare in a world filled with Twitter Sandfire Resources NL
Brian Rudd feeds. 25 years ago I was… working on the

Capital Drilling Mark Bennett Kimberley Diamond IPO as finance director

25 years ago I was… working as a drill S2 Resources Ltd and company secretary. We ultimately went
on to produce over 2.1 mct at Ellendale, to
supervisor for G&K, in and out of Kalgoorlie this day still the second largest diamond
and celebrating the birth of our daughter 25 years ago I was… prowling West Africa mine in Australia.
Emma. for WMC. In fact, I was actually drilling the The best part of my involvement with
The best part of my involvement with first holes at Banfora, a project Gryphon later Paydirt has been… working with industry
Paydirt has been… the articles and took on. stalwarts like Ross Louthean and Bill
industry-focused information along with great The biggest change in the industry since Repard. They know the mining industry
events such as ADU. 1994 is… that the industry has become much inside and out, but first and foremost they’re
The biggest change in the industry since better as social citizens, environmentally and great people.
1994 is… major improvements in safety on indigenous issues. It is not just the actions The biggest change in the industry
systems and equipment on drills and the but attitudes within the industry as well. since 1994 is… that the industry is more
mining industry in general, plus an increase progressive and innovative. It’s now
in the level of overall professionalism. Allan Mulligan about embracing innovation, ingenuity

Steve Parsons Walkabout Resources Ltd and ‘working smart’ and less about sheer
human toil. We’ve also seen a greater focus
Bellevue Gold Ltd 25 years ago I was… a divisional technical on corporate governance, on corporate
manager at the Lonmin Platinum Group in
25 years ago… almost to the day I landed South Africa. At that stage we were mining measures to ensure greater gender equality.
in Perth ready to find a job in exploration 8 mtpa of PGE ores from nine underground and social responsibility and, importantly, “
having finished my geology degree in New shafts supplying five mills, and base metal
and precious metal refineries.
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT NOVeMBeR 2019 Page 29