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Bill Repard, publisher Dominic Piper, editor

As we celebrate the first 25 years of My first two interviews in my Paydirt
Paydirt and GMJ, and the events and career were with Karl Simich and
meetings that we have created in that John Lewins. I was worried I wouldn’t
time, a single word comes to mind; have enough questions to ask. Af-
people. ter two hours listening (not asking
During our first quarter century, Pay- questions) to each, I was worried I
dirt people have written, subedited, de- wouldn’t have enough notepads to
signed and delivered 274 editions of our cover the week.
flagship magazine Australia’s Paydirt, John and Karl are just two of the hun-
and more than 100 editions of sister pub- dreds of executives, industry experts
lication GMJ. This equates to more than and politicians I’ve interviewed over the
30,000 pages of content all about people, course of 14 years at Paydirt. Most
and their commitment to delivering the very best from their projects meetings have been tremendous fun, some have become heated,
for the benefit of their shareholders, customers and wider society. others outright hostile but I hope each of them has allowed read-
Our journalists have travelled extensively, within Australia and ers an insight into the people behind the quarterly report and cor-
across the world, in search of news stories about people and their porate presentation. I’ve been sold blue sky and been told about
projects, their adventures, challenges and successes. Stories have impending booms in obscure metals. This is not to suggest mining
come from northern Sweden, across the UK and into southern Eu- executives are, as my grandad would describe, “patter merchants”,
rope. From throughout Canada to the US and across the southern it’s just that most junior company executives require unbounded
border in Mexico. Through the remote wastelands of Mongolia and enthusiasm to get them through the challenge of running an ex-
the warmer parts of South East Asia to India and all that she has ploration company. Often, as with Lewins, Simich, John Borshoff,
to offer. Across Africa and its many countries, most welcoming but Mark Connelly or Mark Bristow, the ebullience is matched with the
some less so. From the southern tip of South America to the north- sharpest of business acumen and absolute conviction they are on
east corner leading to the Caribbean. the correct path.
Our key objective remains to champion Australian and Australi- People is one of the key ingredients of the Paydirt mix along
an-based people and companies as they ride the rough and tum- with integrity (a prerequisite for any genuine media organisation)
ble waves of the resources sector, one of the great contributors to and intrepidness.
the tapestry of the 21st Century. Paydirt has always been prepared to escape the confines of
Our magazines have provided the backbone of the conferences West Perth and investigate Australian companies operating in far-
and events that Paydirt people have launched and managed dur- flung jurisdictions.
ing our first 25 years. Our marketing people and support staff have I’ve travelled to every corner of Australia (from Tennant Creek to
worked tirelessly to create the environment and backdrop for min- Tibaboora; Port Hedland to Port Pirie) and across the globe. It is
ing and exploration companies to meet and do business. Whether a rare job which sends you to Mali, Peru or Laos and travelling to
to promote their projects, seek finance or find partners; work with unheralded destinations still gives me a buzz, not for the kudos of
service providers and advisers, as well as attract media coverage another stamp in the passport but for the chance to witness min-
across the world. ing’s development story in action. If I can have a game of football
From our inaugural Australian Nickel Conference, held in with some of the locals while there, all the better.
Kalgoorlie some 24 years ago, to our most recent edition of Africa Paydirt aims to demystify and deconstruct many of the miscon-
Down Under and the subsequent 10-day “Africa Week” in Perth, ceptions which often hold companies and African nations back. It
our people have worked tirelessly to deliver what our readers and is not the place of famine, disease and conflict so many assume.
supporters are looking for. By bringing together miners, explorers, investors, service provid-
As the saying goes, “It takes two to tango” and we would not ers, government and media at our conferences, we work to chal-
be here today without the support of our readers, advertisers and lenge preconceived ideas about jurisdictions and commodities.
sponsors who have backed us to get on with our job; whether it is We don’t shirk difficult subjects either, which comes back to the
the quarter page ad in our magazines, a booth at one of our confer- third ingredient; integrity. We remain an advocate for the industry
ences, or a subscription to our magazines. All I can say is that we but are also prepared to call out any company or government not
have been incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed the support from so upholding the standards required by communities and stakehold-
many people, companies and organisations, for which we are most ers. Through the magazines and conferences, we have raised is-
sincerely grateful. sues of bribery and corruption, security, public health and disease
Despite coming from a foundation that was predominately print, and the challenges of economic development. Fortunately, we
Paydirt has tried to evolve and keep up with change and I have have not had to do this many times during my nine years as Editor.
no doubt that the next 25 years will see an acceleration in change Instead, we have been proudly able to show mining’s unique ability
to our medium. I am nevertheless confident that our people will to provide upliftment opportunities to otherwise neglected commu-
respond to and thrive amongst what is required to remain inter- nities across the globe.
esting and relevant to our customer base of readers, advertisers, I’m proud of the small role I’ve played in the Paydirt story and
sponsors and participants through our news gathering and at our hope to play a similar part over the course of the next 25 years.
events.
I have been incredibly fortunate to have led and worked with
a team of exceptional people for the past two decades. Paydirt
would not be here without the commitment of those people and
their professionalism and dedication. dominic@paydirt.com.au @DominicPiper

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