2025 Committee Members

Daniel Goldstein's experience in Australian and international mining includes periods as a geotechnical engineer, mining engineer and geologist in open-pit and underground mining and exploration operations. He is currently a Principal Geotechnical Engineer at Rio Tinto and a PhD Candidate at the Western Australia School of Mines, for which he was awarded the Dr Baden Clegg Award from the Australian Geomechanics Society and 1^st Place at the MRIWA Science Communications Awards as well as Curtinnovation Awards. His strengths and professional interests include leading multi-disciplinary teams to adopt best practice and latest and facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing through community forums and innovating geotechnical workflows.

Kate Williams

Kate Williams is the Head of Geotechnical and Hydrogeology for Newmont, with 28 years of global mining experience leading teams to deliver strategic, safe, and efficient outcomes. Specializing in geotechnical engineering, underground mining, and operational management, she fosters collaboration, solves complex problems, and drives innovation to optimize mine performance.

She envisions a geomechanics group that builds a strong community, advancing industry-wide knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and technical excellence.

Paul Couto

Paul Couto is a Geotechnical/Rock Mechanics Engineer based in Perth, Western Australia, with over 15 years of experience in underground and surface metals mining, Paul has managed geotechnical projects in seismically active environments and has expertise in various mining methods and commodities, including gold, copper, diamonds, manganese, chrome, and PGMs. ​​His professional experience includes roles such as Western Australia Manager for Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics, Chief Rock Engineer at Northam Platinum, Divisional Head Rock Engineer at Middindi Consulting, and Rock Engineering Manager at Brentley, Lucas and Associates.

Paul would like to positively contribute to developing a society that serves the interests of all Geomechanics in Australia, through collaboration with members and member associations. The development of a society, that provides valuable inputs and growth through the promotion of the Geomechanics to ensure a sustainable and competent future in Geomechanics.

Evan Jones

A smile comes across my face each time my 3-year old empties his rock filled pockets after daycare, joyfully showing me his treasures of the day. Engineering the earth is fascinating, exciting and challenging. The past twenty years have been dedicated to my own learning in this field starting with a high-school topic in Geology, followed by undergraduate degrees in Civil and Structural Engineering, Geology and Applied Mathematics, a Master's in Mining Engineering. Vac-student placements conducting electromagnetic surveys in outback NSW, seismic surveys in northern Morocco, and open pit geomechanics in the Pilbara guided me to my career in mining geomechanics. Over the past 15 years I've worked as an operator, a site engineer at multiple sites, mining methods and commodities, a contractor, and as a consultant. My experience covers every state in Australia and continent with mines. As someone who is grateful for the countless opportunities I've been provided in my short career, I'm excited to participate in this committee and give back to the industry that has provided so much to me thus far. 

My objectives for being part of this committee are to raise the profile of geotechnical  engineering in areas of education, reporting, and supporting material for practicing engineers. 

Carol De Moliner

I began my mining career in 2008 as a Rock Engineering Graduate in the platinum mines of South Africa. After earning my South African Rock Mechanics Certificate in 2011, I gained extensive experience across open pit mines, shallow decline operations, and deep, seismically active orebodies. Seeking new challenges and exposure to different mining methods, I moved to Australia in 2019, where I encountered a vastly different mining culture. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible people and tackling complex geotechnical challenges. This journey ultimately led me to my current role as Principal Geotechnical Engineer in the Group Technical Services Department at Evolution Mining, based in Brisbane.

I want the Geomechanics department to establish a clearer, more accessible pathway for becoming a Mining Geotechnical Engineer. The current lack of clarity, combined with the absence of a dedicated university qualification, makes Geotechnical Engineering a less visible and less structured career choice. Defining this pathway would help attract more talent and strengthen the profession within the mining industry.

Dave Clark

Dave has extensive experience in the energy and resources sector and more specifically minerals - in geoscience, mining geotechnical engineering and leadership positions over a decade with Newcrest Mining (NSW), Rio Tinto (Vic and WA) and Dominion Mining (NT). His over 30 years of experience in total includes more than 20 years in various senior consulting / strategic leadership positions with GHD in the energy and resources market primarily.

He has focused on large-scale open pits, ground control management plan development / execution and associated infrastructure investigation, design, operations, mine closure and asset transition planning, critical minerals strategies / developments, and risk management.

Dave is a Fellow and Chartered Professional of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM). Dave was also elected to the (AusIMM) Board in October 2015 (completing his Director terms at the end of December 2023) and served as AusIMM President and Board Chair for the period of 2021-22.

Charles Lilley

Charles Lilley is a mining engineer with experience covering site-based geotechnical and mining engineering roles, corporate technical services, consulting and research.

Charles joined Rio Tinto in May 2023. Before joining Rio, he spent 13 years in the mining consulting business, offering geotechnical and mining engineering advice for underground mines around the world, including independent expert reviews, design and geotechnical characterisation.

Adrian Penney

Adrian Penney is the Head of Geotechnical Engineering for MMG, with over 25 years of operational and consulting experience. His experience is dominantly in underground mining with knowledge spreading project and studies, operations and operational enhancement, plus technical expert reviews and audits.

Over the past 15+ years, Adrian has been an active member of various AusIMM branches, conference committees, plus the Chartered Professional and Professional Conduct committees. Adrian is a Fellow and Chartered Professional of the AusIMM, and also acts as an assessor for engineering registration with various states in Australia.

Adrian joined the Geomechanics Society committee with various ambitions; to provide a collaborative society for knowledge sharing, help the discipline enhance our relevance in regulatory engagements and reporting codes, and foster mentoring opportunities for the future professionals.

Felicia Weir

Dr Felicia Weir is an engineering geologist with experience in research, consulting and operational roles. She joined PSM in 2006 after completing her PhD and is now a Principal and Director at the company.

 Felicia’s areas of expertise include geotechnical models, mining geomechanics, and open pit slope design. She has worked on mining projects in multiple commodities across the globe, with a particular focus on Australia and Southeast Asia. Felicia’s strengths include open pit design in complex geological environments and management of unstable slopes.

 Felicia is also passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of geoscientists. You’ll find her sharing her knowledge at universities around the world, including multiple courses at the master’s program at UNSW and the Geotechnical Centre of Excellence (GCE) Open Pit Slope Design Course.

Sanjive Narendranathan

Sanjive is a Chartered Mining Professional and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, with over 20 years’ experience in the field of Mining Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. His operational experience includes responsibility for ground control at KCGM’s Super Pit and Mt Charlotte (underground) operations, where he undertook a number of applied research projects on topics such as final wall blasting techniques for open pit batters underlain by historic underground workings and underground support design requirements in ‘high stress’ conditions.

He spent 16 years as a consulting engineer with Coffey Mining (7 years), the Infra Tech Group (3 years) and GHD (6 years), where he undertook a number of geotechnical designs and feasibility studies for clients such as Rio Tinto, BHP, Barrick, Newmont, Boral, Barro Group and Adelaide Brighton, Maas Group, for projects across of number of commodities in Australia, Asia and Africa. He has also been called upon to provide expert technical and forensic advice on a number of sensitive cases involving geotechnical engineering issues and disputes for firms such as Clayton UTZ and Minter Ellison’s. During this time, he also spent 1 year with the Earth Resources Regulator in Victoria, as a Geotechnical Advisor, where he was responsible for providing advice to the office of State Resources Minister on Victorian mine and quarry stability requirements.