Nicky Benson Email and Phone Number

Project Manager of non-operational assets

Responsible for managing and ensuring quality execution of client projects. Managing project interfaces across all business areas; internally sourcing team members with the best knowledge and expertise to ensure quality and added value. Setting up of team including selection and interviewing and training in technical aspects including GIS and technical report writing. Controlling and ensuring delivery of reports for the Australian Securities Commission to the highest standard according to the Joint Ore Reserve Committee (JORC) regulations and standards.Managing the creation of technical and statutory reporting including annual reports, independent geological reports, feasibility studies, resource modelling and reporting; designing reports to represent the GIS data. Creating, developing and attaining approval for Standard Work Procedures specific to exploration drilling and associated activities; training and mentoring of junior staff in all aspects of procedures and best practice. Working to the project plan, priorities and scope; managing documentation and execution of plan activities; regular reporting of progress.Leading and directing of specialist teams in multiple project scopes, providing of coaching and mentoring in all aspects of project deliverables; ensuring their active participation in working together to provide high quality, accurate and verifiable data to project deadlines. Establishing of training presentations and materials and delivery of high quality training instruction.Identifying and managing risks associated with projects; implementing mitigation strategies to reduce company exposure, incident or accident. Maintaining knowledge of organisational, legislation and governance and ensuring support and compliance throughout project planning and execution. Maintaining professional and effective working relationships with clients to ensure delivery of a quality customer service, meeting and exceeding business needs.

Initially as Project Geologist providing technical expertise through technical reports, GIS database, maps and modelling. Latterly as Resource Geologist, responsible for conducting of resource estimation and developing of geostatistics, audits, due diligence studies, feasibility studies and technical reports in order to facilitate organisational planning and decision making.Delivering of analysis and technical information through high level GIS, scientific reporting, database compilation and validation according to client specifications. Managing of projects from inception to completion including budgeting, scoping, planning, reporting and finalising; maintaining client relationships throughout process in order to provide clarifications, technical guidance and assistance. Organising of project resource allocation, costing and reporting in order to deliver successful project outcomes.Establishing of proposal and report formats, technical procedures and processes for resource estimation; utilising of systems and databases in order to provide accurate and comprehensive information. Developing and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, suppliers and vendors to enhance engagement and service levels, and to support market and knowledge sharing. Managing delivery of technical proposals, reports and studies according to client requirements; complying with established quality procedures and processes throughout project execution.Collaborating with professional team members, providing support and technical guidance in order to deliver team objectives. Providing of training and mentoring to junior Geologists in data interpretation, analysis and report writing according to their work activities. Complying with and maintaining quality controls, standards and integrity in all work activities and technical data presentation.

Based on the Seraji East Extension Project as part of a specialist team. Responsible for managing drilling and evaluation of underground and satellite projects to ensure continued productivity and extension to life of operations. Acquiring, validating and providing technical expertise and information including geophysical logs and borehole data; inputting and reconciling of data into database. Consulting with sub-contractors on a regular basis to ensure delivery of on-site logistics requirements. Facilitating and managing suppliers according to their procurement agreements; discussing of issues and progress in order to deliver according to project deadlines.Managing and reporting on project progress, monitoring of changes and variations, reviewing and resolving of variations prior to approval. Coordinating of team members, working collaboratively towards common goals in order to achieve project success. Managing and controlling approved documentation according to policies; ensuring comprehensive knowledge and application of JORC reporting system; updating knowledge of new research and development; contributing to the development of technical procedures and methods. Developing and maintaining sustainable and professional working relationships within the company, regulatory agencies and key business stakeholders; liaising and interfacing with internal clients; communicating with clients and external service providers in order to achieve desired project outcomes. Working within the quality management system, ensuring appropriate quality controls and standards are in place and complied to. Adhering to all occupational health, safety and environmental guidelines and safety management systems, ensuring safety of self and colleagues in all working environments.

(2008 - 2011) Exploration GeologistResponsible for conducting logging, mapping and modelling to provide detailed geological insight for the development of mining projects; demonstrating different geological settings and mineralisation controls. Developing and executing exploration programs including planning, scheduling and budgeting to provide technical data in order to support resource modelling and evaluations. Overseeing of drilling operations including defining drilling patterns, preparation and pegging of drilling sites and supervising drilling activities and productivity of crews and external suppliers of services. (Drilling programs have included LOX program for delineation of pit parameters; structural drilling for extension of reserves; continuous coring for converting green field to brown field resources; chip drilling and chip-core drilling proposed extension and benches of pit; in-fill drilling of resources; last drop for delineation seam for blast purposes.)Identifying of risks and implementing of mitigation strategies to reduce company exposure, incident or accident. Coordinating of team members in the execution of work activities including task allocation, progress reporting and monitoring of performance; providing of training and support in all aspects of processes and procedures. Participating in the development and approval of standard work procedures specific to exploration drilling and associated activities. Ensuring continuous professional development through maintaining knowledge of new geological techniques and applications; sharing knowledge within the team. Maintaining professional working relationships and building networks with internal and external key stakeholders. Adhering to all quality management systems, controls and standards as they apply to work activities. Ensuring all activities follow and comply with the company’s occupational health, safety and environmental policies and procedures.

On a project by project basis, responsible for the conducting of field studies, analysing of logs and interpreting effectiveness of geophysical processes in order to provide clients with statistics and insight through provision of technical reports. Performing of data collection, collation and interpreting of mine resource and reserve evaluation. Creating of GIS databases and developing of technical reports in order to facilitate mine planning and valuation according to client requirements.Developing of target generating GIS tool, sourcing data from the platinum industry and compiling spatial database to represent resource specific information to assist clients in target generation. Presenting of results, findings and conclusions through technical presentations and reports to key client stakeholders. Working in a team environment, supporting team members in the achievement of common goals and objectives aligned with business policy and strategy. Maintaining and building on client business relationships and networks in order to demonstrate business capability and enhance business growth. Complying with the quality standards and controls implemented by the company for the delivery of technical information and data.

Conducting quality control checks on coal seam data and information, sample preparation and assisting in the assessment of drilling targets; providing of monthly mining target reports.