Robert Grayson Email & Phone Number

Perth, Wa, Au

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Management of field operations, Australia.

Minerals Australia - Perth, Wa

BHP’s Minerals Australia business includes iron ore and nickel mining and processing operations in WA, steel-making and coal in QLD and NSW, and copper in SA. Employed as “Principal Explosives Australia - Drill & Blast,” my core remit is to providing SME advice and support for explosives procurement for Australia-wide operations. Associated core deliverables include (but are not limited to):► Subject Matter Expert (SME) to advise on the development, implementation and optimisation of strategies, systems and processes for the sourcing and negotiation of supply contracts (including pre-qualification, estimating, costing, tendering and award phases, through to contract start-up and execution) for explosives right across the Minerals Australia business ► Advising on the analysis of national and international supply chains to ensure on-time and cost-efficient supply, and accountable for total cost of ownership (TCO), overseeing auditing and compliance, and ensuring adherence to regulations► Providing visible safety leadership by promoting safe work systems, and ensuring a focus on compliance and continuous improvement of HSE systems and processes to protect people, equipment, and the environment (same for all roles below)► Development and implementation of continuous improvement programmes, assisting with the management of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), and managing vendors in accordance with the Contractor Management Framework► Development and management of a Transition Management Team (3 full-time and 3 part-time personnel), including definition and communication of individual and team roles, responsibilities, expectations and reporting lines► Leading the transition to new explosives supply arrangements across West Australian operations, and supporting legal and commercial teams with contract terms and conditions, and associated scopes of work.

Nickel West Operations - Perth, Wa

BHP's Nickel West operations (temporarily suspended in July 2023 due to global downturn for nickel supply) include the Leinster and Mount Keith Nickel Mines, the Kambalda Nickel Concentrator, the Kwinana Nickel Refinery, and the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter. Seconded to Nickel West as “Specialist Drill & Blast,” working predominantly across surface mining operations (i.e. Leinster and Mount Keith Nickel Mines), but also supporting Underground Operations, my core deliverables and achievements included:► Reviewed drill and blast systems, standards and practices for surface mine, reported findings, recommended options to optimise safety, efficiency and effectiveness of drilling and blasting operations, optimise fragmentation, reduce downtime and ensure efficient resource utilization, and coached and mentored an SME to develop same for underground operations► Used data analytics to assess drilling and blasting operations, identified performance and productivity gaps, and recommended best practices for implementation to improve overall performance of drilling and blasting operations► Led project feasibility and approval for the establishment of new explosives storage facilities, and assisted the West Musgrave team with technical support for project evaluation studies related to drilling, blasting and explosives► Developed and communicated emergency response plans, and advised on measures to minimise environmental impacts ► Led the development of blasting and drilling training modules and curricula including on-line LMS training► Provided SME technical support for wall control and heritage blasting at Mt Keith.

Innovation Centre - Newman, Wa

► Member of a core team of 3 (with support from a China-based web development team), analysing data from BHP and 3rd party software systems, and developing apps/web-based applications such as LiveMine, Notify and AutoTUM to measure equipment utilisation, availability and performance trends for WAIO drill and blast operations, and improve overall process ► Used data analytics to assess drilling and blasting operations, identified performance and productivity gaps, and recommended best practices for implementation to improve overall performance of drilling and blasting operations► Developed and communicated emergency response plans, and advised on measures to minimise environmental impacts ► Worked closely with vendors to identify, evaluate and trial new and emerging drill and blast technologies.

Waio Mining Operations - Perth, Wa

Member of the Integrated Operations Mines team, providing expert advice and support for project structured works, with a focus on optimisation, standardization, and operational improvement of drilling and blasting systems, practices, processes and equipment for all 5 WA iron ore mines sites. Working as a Lead or key member for such projects/initiatives, deliverables and achievements included:► Assisted site teams to improve productivity of drills from <20MTPA to >50MTPA on average, achieved by standardising processes, implementing a drill operator mentoring program, identifying reliability and efficiency issues and working with internal stakeholders to solve, and developing and testing tooling and consumables to improve efficiency and productivity ► SME for explosives supply and drilling consumables tenders (and associated contract administration), as well as SME for the transition to fully autonomous drilling operations, and governance and SME support for drill and blast operations► Standardisation of WAIO drilling consumables, reducing the catalogue of 130 standard drill consumable items and over 40 direct purchase items from more than 7 suppliers to less than 25 standard drill consumable items from 1 supplier► Developed WAIO’s Electronic Blasting Strategy, evaluated all potential systems, conducted detailed user acceptance testing on top-tier identified options, and managed the implementation of electronic blasting to all WAIO mines ► Worked collaboratively with the Autonomous Blasthole Drill project team from inception to BAU submission, with the end result being the automation of all production blasthole drills at all WAIO mines ► Standardisation of the BHP WAIO blasthole drill fleet, reducing 7 different production drill types to 1 WAIO standard for production drilling► Supported other interstate and international group mining assets and operations as required► Development of WAIO Drilling and Blasting Operations Management Plans.

Drill & Blast Services - Perth, Wa

Initially employed as General Manager Contracts and Operations, and promoted to Executive Director in 2009, core deliverables included:► Operational management of a contract drilling and blasting business with full P&L accountability, successfully developed the business from a turnover of <$7M p.a. to >$26M p.a., and held a crossover function with Chemrok P/L (an explosives manufacturer with a manufacturing plant in Kalgoorlie capable of manufacturing cartridged and bulk emulsion explosives)► Developing, implementing and optimising commercial plans and strategies, aligning strategy with key milestone dates, conducting detailed market research and analysis, monitoring and analysing commercial metrics, managing and tracking budgets and expenditures, financial forecasting, and advising on project funding and regulatory compliance requirements► Tendering and development, negotiation, sign-off, management and analysis of strategic contracts, managing commercial documentation, overseeing procurement and logistics, and focusing teams on solid partnerships and dispute avoidance► Providing commercial advice to support key decision-making processes, as well as identifying opportunities to reduce cost, negotiating benefits, leading change management processes, and driving continuous improvement initiatives ► Business planning, analysis and optimisation of operations management systems and processes, as well as operationalising plans, schedules and agreements, risk management, client management, and monitoring service agreements► Management reporting of revenue, profit, operational and maintenance activities, as well as plant status, actual progress against contract and agreed internal KPI’s, and operational improvement initiatives► Provided focused leadership, mentoring, technical and procedural guidance and support for my team (12 staff).

Freeport Gold & Copper Mine (Grasberg) - Papua Province, Indonesia

I commenced as Technical Services Superintendent for a mine-mill programme to improve fragmentation and productivity, advance the 22km AB Tunnels Project to access reserves below the existing deep ore zone, and assist with underground block caving operations. After 3 months I was given full operational and financial management accountability for Orica’s operations. Core deliverables included:► Managed and developed a team of 6 direct reports (Technical Services Engineer, Technical Services Superintendent, Plant Superintendent, Surface Operations Superintendent, U/G Operations Superintendent and Tunnels Superintendent) to ensure they delivered high performance from the site-based teams they led, which included 70 personnel► Continuous improvement and optimization projects including i-kon electronic blasting, initiation designs for blast patterns, velocity of detonation measurement, fragmentation analysis, in-field operations audits, drill accuracy measurement, advising on the development of procedures and risk analysis, blaster training, and vibration analysis ► Deep Ore Zone block caving operations, including magazine management, priming, loading and tie-in of up-hole rings using i-kon electronic detonators and bulk emulsion for retention in up-holes, and worked in development headings as per client requests► Assisted with negotiation of complex commercial and logistical commitments that resulted in a 5-year contract extension, then took responsibility for contract implementation, with scope including relocation and upgrade of underground services, supply facility and magazines, and upgrading of the bulk emulsion manufacturing facility ► Common Infrastructure Project, which involved the supply of a bulk emulsion and loading service at the AB Tunnels project (22 km’s of development tunnelling) using specialised charging systems► Responsible for the Bulk Emulsion Explosive Manufacturing Plant, and Down The Hole bulk explosives services.

Morila Open Cut Gold Mine - Mali, West Africa

► All aspects of drill and blast operations management including HSEQ, maintenance and consumable management, training, management of explosives supplier, and compiling quarterly, monthly, weekly drill and blast plans and reports► Managed a team of direct and indirect reports (~150 personnel) to ensure safe and efficient drilling and blasting operations for a gold mine with production requirements of ~1,500,000 BCM/month, with a fleet of 14 drill rigs.

Geita Open Cut Gold Mine - Tanzania, East Africa

► Supervised a team of direct and indirect reports (~150 personnel) to ensure safe and efficient drilling and blasting operations for a gold mine with production requirements of ~2,500,000 BCM/month, with a fleet of 15 drill rigs► All aspects of drill and blast operations supervision including HSEQ, production reporting, maintenance, drill consumable management, and training of drillers and blasters.

Hard Rock Quarries - Pilbara & Kimberley Regions, Wa

► All aspects of operations management including HSEQ, planning, production forecasting, budgeting, cost control, aligning production pant configuration and location with strategic plans, client relationship management, staff training and development, ensuring effective use and management of resources (i.e. fixed and mobile plant), and statutory compliance.

Perth, Wa

► Worked collaboratively with R&D, marketing, manufacturing, clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders to manage the full development and implementation lifecycle of new products, equipment and plant to maximise safety, quality and cost efficiencies, and managed associated logistics, budgeting, forecasting, reporting and auditing requirements.

2 Granite Quarries Including Load, Haul & Crushing - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

► Site establishment and operations management for 2 quarries producing +400t/month located in a suburban district, which required intensive development and controlled blasting to within 30 metres of a 415kVa electrical transmission line ► Responsible for all drill and blast monitoring and reporting to project consultants and government departments.

Gold Mining Projects - Australia & Chile

► Started as Site Manager in the WA Goldfields, moved on to Area Manager in Kalgoorlie managing the contracts for 6 open pit mines, then completed an 18 month contract in northern Chile as Project Manager for the Guanaco Gold Mine project.

Mt Morgans Gold Project - Laverton Gold District, Wa

Goldfields Region, Wa