An overview of AusIMM members listed with consulting interest

The AusIMM member database and other related sources have been reviewed to get a better understanding of the consulting interests and member backgrounds of those expressing an interest in consulting.

While not a perfect analysis in that not all members with an interest in consulting may be represented in the database figures, the results of this analysis are nevertheless of interest.

Of the nearly 15,000 AusIMM members, the AusIMM webpage Membership Directory contains only 5,153 entries.  As you have to elect to be included in the Membership Directory, only around 34% of members have elected to be included.

One of the search parameters within the Membership Directory is to turn `Consultancy' on or off.  Turning Consultancy on shows a subset of 749 members.  Again, members have to elect to be shown as interested in Consultancy, so some may be interested and have not elected.

The AusIMM was asked to provide a breakdown of those in the Membership Directory that have selected Consultancy.  621 unique member names were provided, broken down by branch membership and years of membership (a crude proxy for age and experience). 

The number of international members (excluding New Zealand) expressing an interest in consulting was quite striking (some 41% of 621 consultancy sub-group).  Within Australia, most with consulting interests are based in the capital city branches, and less so in the mining district branches.  Notably, the Kalgoorlie branch has only one member (from the 621 sub-group) with consulting interests.

When considering years of AusIMM membership, one would have expected longer-term members to be well represented in those with consulting interests.  The membership breakdown shows the opposite.  75% (of the 621 sub-group) have less than 20 years membership and 50% less than 10 years membership.

It is likely that the 41% of `International’ members with consulting interests are relatively newer AusIMM members and hence distorting the proportion of newer members with consulting interests.  Even with this in mind, consulting interest is still strongly represented in the “younger”, perhaps less experienced membership.

Precise data is not available on the number of active consultants or their fields of interest from the AusIMM member database.  However, of those electing to be included in the AusIMM website Member Directory, only some 12% have expressed an interest in consulting.  If this proportion was to be applied to the entire AusIMM membership, that would suggest some 1,800 members potentially with consulting interests.  Of course, expressing an interest in consulting does not necessarily mean they are currently active consultants.

It is important to understand that the vast majority of members with consulting interests have less than 20 years’ AusIMM membership, representing the younger and newer (and international?) members.  Whether they are active consultants, most likely working within larger consulting organisations, or aspiring to be consultants, the Consultants Society is here support and encourage their consulting interests.  Monograph 34 – Mineral Consultant’s Handbook and related webinars are important resources (https://www.ausimm.com/publications/monograph/monograph-34---mineral-consultants-handbook/).

It is somewhat surprising that the senior AusIMM members, those with a wealth of industry experience, appear to be under-represented in those expressing consulting interests.  What can be done to encourage this highly experienced member group to assist others in the industry through consulting?

Only 34% of current AusIMM members have elected to be listed in the AusIMM’s website Member Directory (https://www.ausimm.com/communities/membership/member-directory/).  All members are encouraged to proudly elect to be included in this Directory, and if you have an interest in consulting, elect to also be part of this directory sub-group (https://www.ausimm.com/dashboard/my-details-page/).  It helps the AusIMM and Community Interest groups such as the Consultants Society better serve you as members.