Consultants Society Forum 2025: Consulting - A 360 Perspective

Prof. Mark Noppé is the CEO of JKTech (the technology-transfer company of the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI)), on secondment from his role as Director of the SMI’s WH Brian Mining Geology Research Centre.

Mark provides research and advice on mining and geoscience project assessment, development and operations, supported by 25 year’s consulting and 12 year’s industry experience with Anglo American.

Prior to joining UQ-SMI in October 2022 Mark was the group chair of SRK Consulting and a Corporate Consultant, where he and the teams focused on a range of geosciences, project development and mining projects for industry and investment clients. He was MD of the SRK Consulting (Australasia) and prior to that was the founding MD of Xstract Mining Consultants. Mark began his Australian consulting career with the Snowden Group in 1997.

Mark is a Fellow of the AusIMM, an AusIMM director, a non-executive director of junior explorer Litchfield Minerals Limited and mentors with the International Women in Resources Mining annual program.

Mark was part of the inaugural Consultants Society (2014-2019) and its second chair. He received the AusIMM Charles Marshall Award for Technical Excellence (in consulting) in 2020.

Mark is a geologist with 45 years of experience spanning exploration, feasibility and development, mine operations, management, research and development, consulting, and professional development. He worked in a mainstream mining consulting company for 10 years prior to forming Derisk 8 years ago.

Pepe Moreno is a civil–geotechnical engineer and co-founder of Tailex, a consultancy focused on tailings governance, mine waste, and water management. He began his consulting career in his hometown in Peru, later working in Chile and South Africa before settling in Australia, where he has practiced for the past 17 years. Drawing on a global perspective and deep technical experience, Pepe will share the story behind launching Tailex—highlighting the key decisions, challenges, and personal lessons that have shaped his consulting journey.

Max holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a Senior Associate of the Australia and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF). With over 20 years in the insurance industry, having worked in broking, underwriting and management roles, Max has well rounded experience in providing clients with tailored solutions for their insurance requirements. Max mainly specialises in financial lines insurance products including but not limited to, Professional Indemnity, Management Liability and Directors & Officers, Cyber and IT Liability Insurance. Due to his significant experience and strong industry relationships, Max is able to ensure that his clients are getting comprehensive insurance cover, at competitive premium rates, and that his client’s businesses and livelihoods are adequately protected, in the event of a claim.

John Dunlop is an engineer, with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Mining Engineering from the University of Melbourne. He has enjoyed 50 years membership of the AusIMM, being mentored initially by institute legends Beryl Jacka and Geoff O’Malley in the 1960’s.

His career has spanned 20 years or more in operations, 25 years as a consultant (gaining experience in more than 30 countries) and 5 years as a university lecturer & researcher at the University of Melbourne. During this time John has occupied positions of offshore rig hand, air leg miner, shift boss, mine manager, project manager and general manager, as well as being a public company director or company chairman for more than 20 years. He is also involved in arbitration and mineral asset valuation.

John was formerly an AusIMM director from 2001 – 2006 and 2018 - 2023, occupying numerous committees and task forces as well as instigator of the AusIMM’s Mine Manager and Consultants handbooks. He received the AusIMM’s Beryl Jack award in 2007.

He has three grown children, two of whom live overseas. He is also the son of distinguished Australian surgeon, soldier and sportsman Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop, a former Australian of the Year, who appeared on the 1995 commemorative 50 cent Australian coin".

Sonia has 35+ year’s international experience across the entire value chain of the mining industry. 10+ years consulting in Principal and leadership roles working with a broad range of clients, projects and commodities; 10+ years in resource estimation and project evaluation including operational, corporate and leadership roles; and 10 years in exploration, project development and production from discovery through to development. Sonia has held operational and leadership roles with Goldfields, Placer Dome, Anglo American, Pt Agincourt and Pt Archi. Her consulting experience includes establishing and operating her own consulting business, and as part of wider consulting teams with AMC Consultants and CSA Global.

Sonia is currently a Consulting Director and Manager of the Resources Team, part of the Technical Mining Services team at ERM. In this role she provides technical and business expertise to achieve business value growth for all stakeholders. Key responsibilities are team leadership and mentoring for the resource team, project and client management, collaboration with other ERM business units, and business development to actively build the client portfolio.

Fran Burgess is a mining Executive for over 40 years in the Mining Industry with extensive experience in Mine Site General Manager and Corporate General Manager Operations, Metallurgy, Health, Safety, Environment & Community roles in Australia and overseas. Exceptional leadership skills, ability to lead complex diverse teams, to take command of complex issues and find the right solution, manage multiple operations with a strong belief in people and their abilities to deliver outstanding business outcomes creating a return on investment of capital safely.

Fran has over 40 years’ experience in the design, operation and management of complex polymetallic operations in Australia. She is a known industry expert in polymetallic flotation and improving mining businesses through culture change.

Fran has experience with Ore sorting of polymetallic ores. She has an extensive experience base in base metals operations from crushing to tailings management, including process control, plant operations, site operations, mine to mill corporation and modelling and technical research management. Fran’s experience since joining Ausenco includes project studies for Oceana Gold Corporation, Copperstone Resources AB, KPMG/Hindustani Zinc and Barrick Lumwana Mining Company, Glencore MIM Zn, Dover Castle Mining, Phillex Mining Corporation. Fran’s communication style is direct and she values collaboration to achieve effective and efficient project outcomes.

Extensive Due Diligence and advisory experience across the world for over 20 years including Cuba; Ecuador; Peru; Sudan; Ivory Coast; Laos; Italy; Chile; The Netherlands; China; USA; South Africa; Finland; Dominican Republic; Canada and Australia.

Fran has worked as a consultant periodically with her own practice of Firefly Consulting Services Pty Ltd since 2010.

Fran has a series of firsts as a female in the industry:
1. First female General Manager of an Underground Mine in Australia when appointed at Rosebery Mine for Pasminco in 2003;
2. Fran was the first female working metallurgist in Australia from 1977;
3. First female Mill Superintendent in Australia in 1987;
4. First female Manager of Metallurgy & Environment in 1998;
5. First female General Manager of a Smelter in Australia at Glencore’s Lead Smelter in Mt Isa;
6. First female GD Delprat Lecturer in 2021; and
7. The first female Metallurgy Cadet in Broken Hill and Australia.

Fran was named in the Top 100 Global Woman in Mining in 2013. Fran has been a mentor formally since 2015 with WIMNet NSW, WIMARQ and with the AusIMM. Fran has been a committee member of the AusIMM Professional Conduct Committee and is the immediate past chair of the AusIMM Chartered Professional Program Committee and is a committee member for the AusIMM Metallurgical Society.

Fran is a Fellow of the AusIMM and is a Chartered Professional Metallurgist. She is a member of Engineers Australia, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Institute of Instrument and Control Australia (IICA).

Fran 4 degrees (including an MBA) and is intending to start her PhD in Geometallurgy by Dec 2025.

Paul Harper is a distinguished strategic leader with over 40 years of global mining experience, specialising in mine operations, consulting, and business development. A mining engineer by background, Paul has built a reputation for optimising asset value, influencing key stakeholders, and leading high-performing teams across diverse international markets. Throughout his career, Paul has managed large-scale projects in Australia, South and Central Africa, and the Americas, demonstrating expertise in production, development, contracting, and project evaluation. He played a pivotal role in developing Australia’s first block cave underground mine and led the successful turnaround of high-cost operations. As the CEO of Enthalpy Pty Ltd, Paul continues to leverage his extensive industry network and expertise to provide world-class consultancy services. Prior to this, as CEO of AMC Consultants, Paul expanded the company from 80 to 250 personnel, establishing new offices in the UK, Canada, and Australia, and transforming it into an internationally recognised consultancy. Under his leadership, AMC Consultants delivered high-quality services across the global exploration, mining, and financial industries, cementing its reputation for excellence. Paul’s career includes senior roles at Anglo American and Advisian, where he drove strategic business development and initiated transformative changes within the mining sector. Paul’s leadership in adopting cutting-edge technology and his commitment to sustainable mining practices have made him a highly respected figure in the industry.