A mining services group has announced new leadership, following two workplace tragedies in North Queensland.
Perenti Group recently confirmed Gabrielle Iwanow would become the company’s next president of contract mining, and Paul Muller a new group executive committee member.
Iwanow was formerly managing director and chief executive of Mincor Resources, which sold for US$509.4 million (A$760M) to Wyloo Consolidated back in July 2023. She previously worked for Rio Tinto and OZ Minerals, which was acquired by BHP.
Muller is also president of contract mining, and will commence his new role after taking study leave between January and May 2024.
The appointments came following subsidiary Barminco’s establishment of a new safety transformation taskforce to improve work conditions, after demobilising its crew at MMG’s Dugald River underground mine (65km northwest of Cloncurry).
Non-executive director Tim Longstaff has been appointed to chair the taskforce. Other members include Noetic Group principal Peter Wilkinson and Griffith University safety science innovation lab director Sidney Dekker. They will be supported through safety focused working groups within Perenti’s contract mining and mining services divisions.
Findings and outcomes are promised to be shared with the broader industry for “positive” safety and critical control improvements.
Dylan Langridge and Trevor Davis were fatally injured when their light vehicle plunged 15 metres into a refilled ore stope on 15 February 2023.
The pair had travelled in a utility vehicle to lay explosive charges 125 metres beneath the surface when the ground collapsed at about 8:55am. The vehicle, and a drilling rig following closely behind, fell down the stope.
The rig worker escaped with minor injuries and raised the alarm. Neither of the missing ute occupants responded to radio communication. Since ground stability concerns delayed rescue teams from removing debris they deployed drone technology to help locate the vehicle.
“I would like to welcome Gabrielle to Perenti and thank Paul for his ongoing contribution to Perenti. This is an exciting time for the business,” Perenti managing director and CEO Mark Norwell said in a public statement.
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