2018 Programme
Executive Director Energy and Technical Regulation
Graduate Diploma in Advanced Economics (University of Adelaide)
Bachelor of Economics (University of Adelaide)
I have been working on energy market reform issues, primarily economic regulation, National Electricity Market issues and sustainability, since joining the Electricity Reform & Sales Unit (ERSU) in August 1999.
My previous experience in the Government has included working as an economist in the Economics Branch of Treasury and Finance and at the Passenger Transport Board as well as working as a budget officer in Treasury and Finance. From 1982 until 1993, I was employed as a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Australian Airlines.
Executive Director Mineral Resources
Alex Blood is Executive Director Mineral Resources, within the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining, which she joined in late 2017 from the private sector.
Alex’s experience spans state, national and global levels for a wide variety of mining, oil and gas, infrastructure and industrial projects across Australia, Asia-Pacific and Africa interacting with lenders, governments, communities and a wide range of stakeholders. She has held global and national corporate and technical advisory roles.
She is Chair of the Australian New Zealand Board for environmental professional certification. Alex has received a number of project technical awards and was the first woman to be awarded Australian Environmental Practitioner of the Year.
Chief Executive Officer
Jodie has over 20 years experience in the development and implementation of employment and educational programs. Since 2005 her involvement has been predominantly in building capability in the resources industry sector.
She has project managed national industry driven government funded programs ($5m) and, as a technical specialist, managed the maintenance and development of the Australian nationally endorsed competencies and qualifications for the Resources and Infrastructure sectors (Drilling, Mining, Quarrying and Civil Construction).
Her experience has included industry and enterprise workforce analysis and capability studies commissioned by State government and industry bodies, particularly in mining and the civil construction sectors.
Jodie currently represents METS Ignited and NERA on the national Metalliferous Industry Reference Committee, and sits on the Training and Skills Commission’s Construction Mining and Energy Industry Skills Committee. These Committee’s play key roles in developing and influencing the systems, processes and programs that support the current and emerging skills requirement of industry.
Senior Geologist
Aaron is Senior Geologist at Marmota Limited, and has over 15 years’ experience in mineral exploration for Copper, gold and Uranium in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. He has expertise in regolith-landscape geology along with geochemical and biogeochemical exploration, with recent successes including the discovery of gold mineralisation at the NW flank and Two fingers mineralised zones of Marmota’s Aurora tank Gold Project.
Chief of Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Dividion
Andrew graduated 1st class Hons in Earth Sciences from the University of Auckland (New Zealand) in 1996 after which he completed his PhD at James Cook University in 2000.
Andrew has 20 years of professional experience in leading pre-competitive geoscience research within the Australian Government. This includes more than17 years as a senior leader in Geoscience Australia, with responsibility for energy and mineral resources, carbon capture and storage, marine geoscience and groundwater programs. Andrew has published over 100 scientific and technical papers and is a member of 12 professional organisations.
Andrew has responsibility for building a national prospectus of energy and mineral groundwater resources across Australia through regional geological framework studies, and delivery of pre-competitive scientific data and information. A key outcome is to stimulate new exploration investment in frontier areas through an improved understanding of under-explored regions and sustainable water management.
As a member of the Australian Government’s Ocean Policy Science Advisory Group Andrew had a lead role in drafting A Marine Nation 2009 and Marine Nation 2025 as blueprints for coordinating investment in marine science in Australia. Andrew represents Australia in the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) as Council Member of the Australia–New Zealand IODP consortium, is a board member of the C02CRC and is the Commonwealth’s representative on the COAG Energy Councils Geoscience Working Group.
Consultant
Sam is an experienced transactional and projects lawyer in our corporate and commercial practice groups. With extensive banking, finance, projects and general corporate/commercial experience, Sam is uniquely positioned to add value across all touchpoints of the business (or project) life-cycle
Having completed a number of legal secondments over the years (and having worked in a purely commercial environment), Sam is not your average lawyer. He understands the challenges of stakeholder management faced in most large businesses and prides himself on making his clients lives’ easier by providing commercial, user friendly legal advice.
One of Sam’s biggest value adds, is that he knows what it takes to drive complicated transactions and projects towards successful completion and he has the experience, skills and grit required to get the job done efficiently. A well-rounded and commercial legal advisor, Sam has particular expertise in the following areas:
Managing Director
A mining engineer with 35 years experience in open pits and underground operations, with both owner mining and contractor experience.
He has been involved in various commodities ranging from Gold, Chrome, Silver-Lead-Zinc and Iron ore.
Kevin has been in corporate roles for the past 15 years with a focus on project approvals, project development and Corporate Governance.
Special Counsel
Kyra is an environmental, project approvals and resources lawyer, and the head of Finlaysons’ Environment, Climate Change and Planning practices.
She has degrees in Engineering and Law from the University of Adelaide, including First Class Honours in Chemical Engineering.
Kyra assists the resources sector with project development and regulatory requirements, with particular focus on approvals and tenement applications, land access, environmental impact assessment, compliance, water access, and offset arrangements.
Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession has listed Kyra as a Recommended Planning and Environmental lawyer in South Australia since 2010. Kyra has been recognised by Best Lawyers Australia for Planning and Environmental Law since 2014. Kyra was named by Best Lawyers Australia as ‘Lawyer of the Year – Planning and Environmental Law in South Australia’ in April 2018.
Non-Executive Chairman
Derek Carter has over 40 years’ experience in exploration and mining geology and management. He held senior positions in the Shell Group of Companies and Burmine Ltd before founding Minotaur Gold NL in 1993. He is the Chairman of Highfield Resources Ltd, former Chairman of Petratherm Limited (resigned 31 March 2014) and Minotaur Exploration Ltd (resigned November 2016), and a former board member of Intrepid Mines Ltd (resigned November 2015) and Mithril Resources Ltd (resigned December 2014), all ASX listed companies.
Mr Carter is a former President of the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy, former board member of the Australian Gold Council, is a member of the South Australian Minerals and Energy Advisory Council and the South Australian Minerals and Energy Council, and a former Chairman of the Minerals Exploration Advisory Group. He was awarded AMEC’s Prospector of the Year Award (jointly) in 2003 and is a Centenary Medallist.
Managing Director
Quentin has over 20 years’ experience in mineral exploration and development in Australia. He has wide ranging commodity experience including gold, iron ore, coal and base metals. Quentin has been Managing Director of Carpentaria for over six years, and has overseen the successful delivery of resource upgrades, a prefeasibility study and product marketing that has positioned the Hawsons Iron Project as one of the worlds leading high quality iron ore developments. Quentin was Carpentaria’s Senior Geologist when the Company listed and was also integral in the discovery of the 1.8Bt Hawsons Iron Project.
Prior to his 12 years with Carpentaria, Quentin held technical positions with major miners, including seven years with Delta Gold and with Vale’s coal division. He also held a senior role in the Queensland Government, where he implemented several exploration funding initiatives.
Industry Lead - Crowdsourcing
Holly has over 9 years of experience in the resources sector, as both a geologist and technical manager. She now assists our industry partners to leverage the power of the crowd through international competitions.
Managing Director
David Christensen is an experienced mining executive, with recent successful experience managing exploration, mining and marketing operations. Prior to founding the Company, David served as Chief Executive Officer of Adelaide‑based companies, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd and Quasar Resource Pty Ltd. While at Heathgate and Quasar, his responsibilities included overseeing Australian operations, including the Beverley uranium mine, as well as the expansion into new projects with the discovery and development of the Four Mile deposit and numerous joint ventures. David’s experience also includes serving as President of Nuclear Fuels Corporation, a trading and marketing company, where he managed a multi‑million dollar uranium portfolio and was responsible for developing sales strategy, executing trades and swaps and negotiating all contracts. David commenced his career as an attorney in California and London offices of international law firm Latham & Watkins, where he advised on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. David was educated at Cornell University (BA, Economics and Classical Civilizations), the University of California, Los Angeles (JD) and the Universitá di Bologna (Fulbright Fellow).
Minister of Energy and Mining
Hon Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP is South Australian Minister for Energy and Mining.
Minister van Holst Pellekaan was elected to Parliament as the Member for Stuart in 2010. He was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet in 2011 and has held the Energy and Mining portfolios since June 2014.
After his re-election at the 2018 State Election, he was sworn in as Minister for Energy and Mining in the Marshall Liberal Government.
Minister van Holst Pellekaan started his working life as a labourer before playing four seasons in the National Basketball League and at the same time gaining a Bachelor of Economics. He then spent ten years with BP Australia before entering the small business sector as a shareholder and operator of Outback roadhouses for seven years. This was followed by three years developing cycle tourism in the Southern Flinders Ranges immediately before entering Parliament.
Minister van Holst Pellekaan’s electorate extends from Kapunda at its southern end, all the way up to the NT border. It heads east to the NSW border. It includes the Mid North agricultural region, all of the Flinders Ranges and the vast north-east pastoral region surrounded by the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. The regional city of Port Augusta is its main population centre.
Manager - WA, SA, NT & amp; Industrial Policy
Neil has over ten years’ experience working in Western Australian government ministerial offices, international development and industry associations. Neil spent four years as a senior adviser in the WA Premier’s office, followed by two years with the Minister for Mines and Petroleum as the principal policy adviser. Neil is passionate about opportunities in South Australia.
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Paul Heithersay leads the South Australian Government’s Department for Energy and Mining. The new Department brings together the resources, energy and renewables divisions responsible for managing and regulating the State’s mineral, gas, petroleum and energy sectors on behalf of the people of South Australia.
The Chief Executive role also encompasses leading the Resources Infrastructure and Investment Task Force, a specialist team that works to secure investment in state significant projects involving mineral resources and downstream processing with recent examples being the Port Pirie’s Smelter Transformation and the Steel Task Force for Whyalla.
Previously, Dr Heithersay was deputy chief executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet where he was responsible for the Minerals, Resources, Energy and Economic Development divisions. He joined the South Australian public service in 2002, initially as executive director of the Geological Survey of South Australia within the Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA).
In June 2012, Dr Heithersay was awarded a Public Service Medal for his outstanding public service to the growth and development of the mineral resources sector in South Australia and in November 2012, elected to the Fellowship of the Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (ATSE). In October 2013, Dr Heithersay was awarded the prestigious Legend in Mining award for his role in guiding South Australia’s transformation into a major destination for investment in mineral resources and energy.
In 2014 the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) appointed Dr Heithersay as the 2014 International Exchange Lecturer. This is the Society’s lectureship that is intended to bring leading economic geologists to lecture venues worldwide, to interact with economic geology professionals and students, and act as an ambassador for the profession and SEG.
Before joining the Public Service, Dr Heithersay spent more than 20 years in the mining industry in Australia and Southeast Asia and China for North Ltd and its predecessor Geopeko.
Partner
A highly sought-after taxation expert and Partner at Bentleys SA, Simon How, has over 20 years’ experience providing tax advice to clients in a wide range of industries.
Simon specialises in income tax issues for public and private groups predominantly in the Adelaide market. He has extensive experience with mining industry tax issues having previously provided advice and managed the income tax affairs for companies including: OZ Minerals, Beach Energy, Adelaide Brighton, SANTOS, Centrex Metals, Lincoln Minerals & Leigh Creek Energy. Simon is an active participant in the SA tax community and a regular presenter for the Taxation Institute and considered a thought leader in his field.
Chief Executive Officer
Rebecca Knol is the Chief Executive Officer of the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy, the leading industry body representing the resources sector in South Australia.
SACOME members generate 50 per cent of South Australia’s exports, $6.4 billion of its gross state product, and contribute $299m in royalties to the State annually.
Significant achievements in 2019 included:
Looking ahead, Rebecca continues to position SACOME at the forefront of policy and advocacy leadership in South Australia.
Cheif Executive Officer
Chris is a resources executive specialising in mineral project evaluation, corporate governance, finance and M&A strategies. Chris is CEO of Coda Minerals Ltd and has held senior leadership roles in the mining industry and management consulting in Australia, China and the UK. Chris is a fluent Mandarin speaker and holds an Honours degree from the University of Oxford and an MSc in mineral economics from Curtin University.
Conference Manager, Paydirt Media
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