Antony Benham Email & Phone Number

Cardiff, Gb

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

MSA Mining Consulting UK, part of the larger MSA Group, is an independent technical consultancy providing high quality geology, exploration, mineral resource, mining and environmental solutions to the international Mining Industry.The MSA Group has >40 years of experience of undertaking projects around the world with offices in South Africa, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, as well as strategic partnerships in several other countries including Egypt, Pakistan, the USA, and Turkey.As Regional Director, I am responsible for leading MSA's work in UK, Europe and the Middle East and for building the MSA team and developing new business.Recent work includes:- Leading MSA's contribution to project delivering an online portal and mining cadastre to Egyptian Mineral Resource Authority (EMRA)- Exploration assistance at the Khnaiguiyah Zn-Cu-Pb deposit in KSA- Review and prioritisation of exploration targets in KSA for private clients- Ongoing support to private exploration company in Kazakhstan

Cardiff, United Kingdom

SRK Exploration Services (SRK ES), part of the international SRK Group, provides a wide range of independent field and technical consulting services to the mineral exploration sector.SRK ES specialises in exploration for all metal and industrial mineral commodities, elevating projects from the earliest stage of exploration through to resource drilling. SRK ES has helped >500 clients on projects in >100 countries. SRK ES works directly with National Governments to provide advice and support to countries seeking to attract exploration and mining investment, including the governments of Oman, Gabon, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.My duties at SRK ES included: commissioned reviews on a wide variety of exploration projects and deposit styles; leading and providing technical guidance and consultancy on governmental assistance projects; field-based exploration activities using the latest technologies and theories; and identifying new business opportunities with new and existing clients. Project experience included:- Leading major project assisting Saudi Arabia promote their mineral resources, including a Zn-Cu-Pb deposit and Cu-Au prospects- Project Manager for gold exploration programme for private client in the Siguiri Basin, NE Guinea - Gold exploration programme design and implementation for client in the Egyptian Nubian Shield- Regional prospectivity study and identification of new gold targets in the far East of Russia- Review of mineral potential of Northern Ireland for government agency- Review of Pre-Feasibility Study of a polymetallic mine in Armenia for private investment bank- Presentation of several technical geological courses to government agency in Uzbekistan- Project Manager of remote sensing study of artisanal gold mining in NE Guinea for private client

Nottingham, United Kingdom

IGS Ltd, previously trading under licence as BGS International, is an independent commercial geoscience consultancy providing knowledge and services to support National Governments, Ministries of Mines/Minerals, Geological Surveys, and the global mineral exploration sector. IGS was ‘spun out’ from the British Geological Survey (BGS) and is built on decades of BGS's international experience.IGS's work is highly specialised and focused on the collection, compilation, value adding, interpretation and serving of geodata to support mineral exploration. This includes large, complex, strategic-level studies with national governments, development agencies and the World Bank, as well as the mineral exploration sector. For further information, please see the IGS website - www.igsint.comAs Chief Operating Officer, I was responsible for technical supervision, project management and delivery of high-profile projects to national governments and donor organisations. I also coordinated and developed future business opportunities for IGS and IGS Xplore, a mineral prospectivity service developed by IGS to de-risk early-stage mineral exploration.From November 2014 - end September 2017 I managed three major DFID-funded capacity-building projects in Afghanistan as part of the Extractive Sector Support Programme (ESSP), rated 'A' at output level by DFID following its completion. I also led national government-funded projects in the Republic of the Sudan and Sierra Leone as well as managing and developing new business opportunities to expand IGS's portfolio, particularly in Africa and Central Asia. I chaired and presented at frequent international conferences including PDAC, the Mining Show, Mining Investment events, and MENA-themed meetings.

Nottingham, United Kingdom

The Nottingham Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage (NCCCS), now rebranded as the Geo-Energy Research Centre (GERC), was a joint venture between the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the University of Nottingham (UoN). NCCCS comprised >40 researchers, academics and PhD students from the UoN and BGS who undertake research in all aspects of CCS. Staff included Geologists, Chemical Engineers, Mathematicians, Geophysicists, Geographers, Sociologists, Geochemists, Psychologists and many other specialists.The Centre provided independent and impartial advice to government, industry and academia and undertakes research and training in all aspects of CCS.My key responsibilities included• Submitting proposals for projects funded by World Bank, Asian Development Bank, EU and various other funding agencies• Developing business plan for growth within NCCCS• Managing marketing budget and resources for new business development• Representing NCCCS at high-level national and international meetings and conferences, including events in China, Turkey, Portugal and Finland.Examples of personal successes include• Establishing CCS training course in partnership with commercial consultancy and delivering course to clients from Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and industry• Securing external competitive funding to host and organise specialist CCS conferences attended by senior international researchers• Organising Sandpit event to award £40,000 to collaborative research proposal

Nottingham, United Kingdom

I was responsible for Business Development in the Energy and Climate Change fields, as well as new business in Wales, and I worked to identify opportunities for growth in these areas at BGS.Key responsibilities within my fields included• Assistance with submitting proposals for projects from a variety of funding sources including National and Regional Government, Development Banks and other aid agencies• Helping to develop a strategy for new business• Managing marketing budget and resources for new business development• Representing BGS at high-level national and international meetings and conferences

Nottingham, United Kingdom

My duties included managing and working on a variety of UK-based and international projects. My international work included a major 3.5-year UK government (DFID-funded) project in Afghanistan from 2004-2008, PGE exploration in the UAE (Funded by the UAE Government), and an EU-funded project aiming to eliminate the use of mercury in artisanal gold mining in Ghana. My UK work included: Advising National and Regional government departments on the mineral resources of the UK; the use of 3D visualisation software to produce 3D geological maps; and research into the metallogenesis of mineral deposits. I used 3D modelling applications in my work including GOCAD and GSI3D, becoming fluent in ArcGIS and all standard MS applications.Key responsibilities as an Economic Geologist:• Project management skills e.g. leading a UAE government-funded project to examine metalliferous mineral resources in the UAE• Deputy project leader on UK government-funded project in Afghanistan• Frequent presentations at national and international conferences e.g. PDAC, Toronto; SME, Denver; IAEG, Dublin• Line management responsibilities for junior members of staff

Hong Kong

Temporary contract working on a challenging tunnelling project under Hong Kong harbour. Contract ended when tunnel boring completed.Key responsibilities:• Monitoring ground conditions during progression of the tunnel as it passed through a very weak and sheared section of ground• Measuring and recording water ingress into the tunnel• Advising senior management of unstable ground conditions ahead of the tunnel boring machine

South Africa

I worked on a variety of gold mines on the West Witwatersrand including Deelkraal, West Driefontein and Kloof. I then worked on precious metal exploration in the Bushveld and was appointed as Mining Geologist at Northam Platinum Mine, currently the deepest platinum mine in the world. Returned to UK to accept industry-funded grant for MSc course.Key responsibilities at Northam:• Geological responsibility for the deepest levels in the mine• Supervision and training of six geological assistants• Mapping stope sections, planning exploration boreholes, logging core• Technical report preparation• Advising senior management of geological problems ahead of mining

Bsc (Hons), Geology, 1St Class Honours

Independent mapping fieldwork and 3rd year dissertation titled "The Geology around the Indarama Gold Mine near Kwekwe in Central.

Msc, Mineral Resources, Pass, Distinction On Exam Assessment

Awarded industry-funded place on course through Chase Resources. Dissertation title "Block modelling and resource assessment.