BSc (Geology), MMinEng (Mine Geomechanics), MAusIMM (CP), CEng

Ian graduated from the University of Bristol in 2008 with an honours degree in Geology and completed his masters in Mine Geomechanics at the University of New South Wales in 2018. He has over 14-years experience in the mining industry and has worked across a range of roles in Australia, UK and Africa. His experience spans across exploration, operational geology and geotechnical engineering. Ian joined MineGeoTech’s projects group based in the UK office in April 2025.

Since joining MGT his geotechnical experience has been a combination of site-based and remote geotechnical support, plus project-based work. He has provided operational geotechnical support and auditing for open-stoping, airleg shrinkage stoping and open pit operations in West Africa. His geotechnical experience prior to joining MGT was predominantly from site-based operational roles, having worked as a Geotechnical Engineer in open pit and underground mines in Central Queensland that utilise dragline, truck-and-shovel, longwall and bord-and-pillar mining methods.

Other work has included reviewing geotechnical documentation, assessing ground conditions, ground support design, pillar design, open pit design and stability analysis with RocScience software suite including 3D numerical modelling of stoping activities with RocScience RS3.

Technical capabilities include:

  • Operational support for underground and open-pit operations.
  • Open-pit slope stability analysis, design implementation, compliance and auditing.
  • Slope stability monitoring and analysis.
  • Back-analysis of slope instability.
  • Geotechnical hazard management.
  • Underground strata support design, implementation and auditing.
  • Audit preparation, including internal and external audits.
  • Fall of ground investigation and response plans.
  • Analysis of geotechnical data, rock mass characterisation and structural setting for underground and open pit operations.
  • Numerical modelling and kinematic analysis for open pit and underground mine designs.

Software skills include RocScience suite (RS3, RS2, Slide 2, Dips, Unwedge, RocTunnel 3), ALTS suite (ALTS, ADFRS), GroundProbe SSR suite (SSR Viewer, MonitorIQ), Maptek PointStudio, Leapfrog Geo, Deswik CAD, AutoCAD, Gem4D, CloudCompare.