Ross Bennett Email & Phone Number

Brisbane City, Qld, Au

Working in the Land and Regulatory Team on Projects including:• Strategic land access advice for the onshore transmission component of a proposed offshore wind farm.• Owner’s representative on landholder and cultural heritage issues for a Queensland water pipeline.

Reporting to the Chief Projects Officer, responsible for transmission system development planning including route refinement and land access.Key Responsibilities • Develop land access strategy and budget for acquisition of private and public landholdings.• Negotiate access for ~700km of overhead transmission line in the Northern Territory.• Refine transmission route with consideration given to engineering and environmental constraints.• Interface between parent company and project development partners to ensure land access requirements are clearly understood and communicated.

Reporting to the General Manager – Technical Services I had oversight of the company’s environment and approvals matters and a property portfolio worth in excess of $50M. My key responsibilities included: • Providing technical support to operational sites on environmental compliance matters• Providing direction and support for the Environmental and Approvals function of the company• Representing the company in environmental and approval matters with government departments and industry bodies• Developing and managing a budget in excess of $15M• Providing guidance on the management of the rental property portfolio and identifying development opportunities for the company’s extensive landholdings.One of my key achievements during this role was to support my team members during a period of uncertainty and change while ensuring the team’s responsibilities continued to be fulfilled.

Reporting to the General Manager – Technical Services I was responsible for a team of three people that was tasked with landholder negotiations, engagement with traditional owners, administration of a portfolio of 60+ exploration and production tenements, and the management of an extensive property portfolio across Queensland and New South Wales. Above and beyond my day-to-day tasks and responsibilities, I was proud to have also delivered:• Effective management of an annual operational budget in excess of $10M• Enhanced tenement and property management processes resulting in reduced holding costs and streamlined renewal processes for mining and exploration tenements and a reduction in property management costs, along with an increase in revenue from the rental portfolio. • An improved working relationship between the Land and Tenures team and other areas of the business including pastoral, exploration and mine planning business units as well as operational mine sites.• A number of complex Mining Lease Compensation Agreements• Improved relationships with landholders adjoining a mine expansion project

Reporting to the Chief Mining Engineer I was responsible for developing Mine Closure Plans for 2 open cut coal mines as they approached their end of mine life as well as a legacy site that had been inactive for over 20 years. This work included consideration of alternative post mining land uses for the mined land and identification of potential development options for the landholdings. A key achievement during this time was the negotiation of an innovative approvals pathway with State and Federal government departments, to enable the rehabilitation of the legacy site.

Bachelor Of Applied Science, Biology, General

Postgraduate Diploma In Environmental Management