enviroMETS Qld was formed to be independent and industry led. Its stakeholders come from our innovative SME vendors, academic researchers, government agencies and the corporate METS and mining firms. Our leadership comes from these groups.
In addition each has well recognised expertise in one or more of our six technical focus streams to ensure we can deliver cross discipline collaboration to produce innovative tools, techniques and methodologies to transform the mining industry residual impact.
The eMQ constitution provides for three to nine directors. The company has been founded with four initial directors, Jan Kwak, Alison Price, Russell Merz and Allan Morton, who is also Executive Director.
This board will evolve and expand to ensure the Board capably represents our Interest Groups and Expertise Streams. It actively seeks directors with an appropriate range of skills, knowledge, diversity, independence and an understanding of, and competence to deal with, current and emerging issues of the business, and its mission.
We have established and will maintain a 'Board Skills Matrix' to help guide the assessment of the skills and diversity that the Board has or is looking for and assists to identify any gaps in skills that the Board seeks of current directors, and required going forward, as part of the Company’s broader board expansion, renewal and succession process.
The Board will review the skills matrix on an annual basis, to ensure the remains aligned with both the organisation’s needs, and emerging business and governance issues relevant to the Company, both from a compliance and industry perspective.
Jan Kwak - Non Executive Director
Managing Director - Hatch, Australia and Asia Hatch
Jan Kwak, understands the relationships between business strategy, technology, project development, and life-of-mine operations.
He has managed every aspect of the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of large mines and metallurgical facilities. A skilled project manager, he leads multi-functional teams, developing, implementing, and delivering innovative solutions for mining clients around the world.
Alison Price - Non Executive Director
CEO - WRIQ
Alison was Managing Director of Soil Cyclers. With a strong skill set including systems and business development, automation and IT, financial management, marketing, and public relations, Alison has made positive and innovative changes in the construction, waste and mining industries.
She is a former Director and Vice Chair of the National Association of Women in Construction, a Director of Austmine, and a Board Member of the Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland.
Russell Merz - Chairperson
CEO - AIX Technology Commercialisation
Russell is a seasoned engineer, business leader, and strategist with expertise across the resources sectors. Presently leading the commercialisation initiative as an executive of METS Ignited, Russell has worked in government and private companies delivering projects in over 35 countries and brings a broad perspective to technology and commercialisation.
During his 30+ years of experience, he has been technical director, subject matter expert, steering committee member, and served on expert review panels for over 50 large scale multi-disciplinary studies and engineering design, with special focus related to water quality and water management. The work has resulted in innovative engineering and design changes to characterise and mitigate risk, minimise impacts to environmental receptors, and increase water resiliency. In addition to design activities, Russell has ben involved in dam post-failure tactical response, forensic review, and legacy mine closure landforms and rehabilitation.
Russell is a Fellow of the Engineers Australia in civil, environmental and leadership categories, a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland, and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Joe Ippolito - Project Manager
Joe has a range of experience in the resources sector gained in both operational and corporate roles. In his most recent role, he was a Growth Facilitator in the Federal Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme. In that role Joe worked with a range of businesses servicing the resources supply chain. These businesses ranged from major project owners and tier 1’s contractors to SME’s engaged in providing products, services, and technology to the oil and gas, hard rock, and coal mining industries.
During the 14 years in the EP programme Joe worked with over 450 businesses helping them identify and execute their growth plans. As a result he has gained a very good understanding of resource supply chains and the challenges confronting all stakeholders.
Prior to this role Joe was a strategy and planning manager for a major Australian listed oil company. Joe is a Chartered Accountant and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Allan Morton - Executive Director
ED - enviroMETS Qld [a.morton@ enviromets.net.au]
Allan is an experienced active business advisor, director and past ASX listed company board chairman. He’s an engineer, former senior corporate manager and executive in industrial and resource business sectors.
His innovative entrepreneurial thinking developed and commercialized new technology, processes and products. He founded and grew a number of successful companies. He has held advisory positions in private companies, non-profit and publicly listed organizations in Australia and NZ.
He was appointed by METS Ignited, with the support of the Queensland Government to lead the transformation and incorporation of enviroMETS Qld.
Our Board also utilises advisors who have been influential in establishing the original METS Ignited - Tailings & Mine Affected Water cluster and remain committed to evolving the enviroMETS Qld strategy.
The Board uses its Advisors to supplement skills and experience gaps identified via the Board Skills Matrix. Advisors offer specialised technical and commercial skills.
Dr Ian Dover
Ian Dover spent his early career as a process metallurgist in international copper mining and integrated aluminium corporations in Australia, Canada and Norway. He competed a PhD in metallurgical process improvement, worked 15 years in business strategy and operations management. Ian joined CSIRO as the Minerals Research Director.
Ian is an experienced Managing Director, Non-Executive Director and Chairman who has helped a portfolio of start-ups, charities and a major university via his various board roles.
It was through Ian's insight and work that the Mining Equipment Technology & Services sector became recognised as a major contributor to Australia's economy. Ian went on to lead the founding of the METS Ignited Growth Centre and through further representations secured Queensland Government's support and for it to be headquartered at QUT.
Jonathan Loraine is Chair and founder of Core Group, an award-winning technology and innovation company which provides metallurgical testwork, process design and technology to the minerals industry. He is a director of the CRC for Future Energy Exports (CRC FEnEx). From 2010 until 2022 he was Chair of the CRC for Optimising Resources Extraction (CRC ORE). He is principle of Neuchâtel Partners, an advisor to industry, research and government, and strategic advisor to Sojitz, a global Japanese corporation.
He has over 40 years of senior level minerals industry operational and commercial experience in Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Australasia. This has encompassed exploration management, project development and financing, operational management and commercialisation of technology across all sectors of the minerals industry.
Dr Peter Whitbread-Abrutat
Pete is a Chartered Environmentalist, Churchill Fellow and IEMA Lead Environmental Auditor with 30+ years’ international experience in mining ESG, sustainability, mine closure and international development. He earned a PhD from the UK’s Camborne School of Mines (University of Exeter) in revegetating mine wastes and a Natural Sciences degree from Cambridge University. He is chair of the Camborne School of Mines Trust.
Pete was deeply involved in the creation of the Eden Project and worked there for 12 years. During that time, he helped establish Eden’s engagement with the mining industry, including a strategic partnership with Rio Tinto, which led to the book 101 Things to Do with a Hole in the Ground in 2009. He is now writing the second edition, “102 Things…”
He advises enviroMETS though Future Terrains, his UK based social enterprise company, with a mission to “tackle the challenge of degraded lands by enhancing environmental and social performance and promoting landscape restoration”. He works across the world on mining ESG audits and reviews, as an advisor, and in raising awareness on mining and SD issues and as a trainer and lecturer.
Prof Brett Heyward
Prof Brett Heyward works closely with business, government and community sectors to assist leaders deliver on mission and create engaged workplaces that attract the talent to separate them from their peers.
As an experienced CEO and Senior Queensland Government Executive, including Director General – Dept of Natural Resources and Mines, Brett provides valuable insight into the policy expectations and operations of the regulatory framework. He works across all levels of government and industry to bring pragmatic outcomes that benefit all parties.
His university research roles have focussed on industry involvement, and how innovation can be harnessed by the METS sector to accelerate growth and solve globally significant problems in the mining resources sector.
Mine Automation Robotics - BHP / OZ Minerals
Andrew has over 30 years of experience in the resource industry technology innovation, working with Placer Dome and Barrick Gold. A leader in the mining & metals industry, community and ecosystem development.
Andrew is part of the founding team for the Global Mining Guidelines collaboration group. and also serves on the board of Queensland Robotics. At METS Ignited he focused on technology commercialisation and is very active in competitive cluster development.
Andrew promotes collaboration to stimulate and realise positive outcomes for the mining industry. His background across various resource industry sector initiatives connects enviroMETS Qld to an extensive international network.