Underground Operators Conference 2023

AMC Consultants looks forward to attending the Underground Operators Conference 2023 on 27-29 March 2023 in Brisbane. We will share our knowledge and expertise through a paper we co-authored with our client South32 on their Cannington mine, a Silver/Lead mine in North West Queensland. Led by Mike Sandy, our Global Practice Leader Geotechnical Engineering, our delegation includes experts from our offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth.


Organized by the AusIMM, the conference brings together mining engineers, mine operators, technical service managers and consultants. The conference will address issues such as the evolution of digital technologies, automation and artificial intelligence and how these innovations are making it possible to mine at greater depths and lower grades.


Presentation Paper: Challenges and solutions for deformation management of Cannington's hoisting shaft

Co-authored by Mike Sandy, and presented by Andrew Clarkson, Senior Project Manager, South32 as part of the Session 3 presentations.


Time: 1.50 PM -2.10 PM

Date: Monday March 27


About the project: Cannington mine consists of an underground hard rock mine and surface processing facility, a road-to-rail transfer facility and a concentrate handling and ship loading facility at the Port of Townsville. In Q4 FY22, South32 transitioned to 100 per cent truck haulage to bring product to the surface.

Recommended White Paper

New technologies in underground mining: promises vs reality


In this paper analyze recent adaptations to mining systems and practices across jumbo development, long-hole drilling, long-haul-dumping and decline trucking. Also examining productivity and cost analyses, this White Paper is set across two generations of mining technology and is an industry must-read.


White Paper

Meet the team at Underground Operators Conference 2023

Mike Sandy

Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Global Practice Leader Geotechnical Engineering

  • Short bio

    Mike's primary expertise is in rock mechanics (underground operations) including ground support design, rock mass characterization, mining method selection and optimization, extraction sequencing and applied numerical modelling. Mike also has extensive experience in underground mine planning and feasibility studies, mine geology, dewatering, diamond drilling strategies and management of mining technical research.

Meredith Goss

Technical Services Manager / Principal Geotechnical Engineer

  • Short bio

    Meredith has 20 years of geotechnical experience in the areas of both underground and open pit metalliferous mines and open pit coal mines, specializing in site investigations for mining concept through to feasibility and implementation geotechnical studies. She has managed many studies that include evaluation of rock mass characteristics, ground support design and slope stability analysis, reviews, ground control audits, core logging, mapping, monitoring, ground awareness training, and site supervision. 

Mathew Widelski

Principal Geotechnical Engineer

  • Short bio

     Mathew has worked as a geotechnical engineer for 19 years in both the civil and mining industries. He has more than 7 years site based operational experience across a range of open pit and underground operations including the massive Olympic Dam underground sub-level open stoping operation, Large open pit iron ore mines in Western Australia and at numerous smaller operations.  Mathew has worked on open pit and underground studies in Australia, the Russian Federation and on the African continent. He regularly undertakes reviews of ground control, seismic hazard and inrush hazard management plans, and is experienced with geotechnical data collection and structural modelling.

    Mike Sandy

    Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Global Practice Leader Geotechnical Engineering

    • Short bio

      Mike's primary expertise is in rock mechanics (underground operations) including ground support design, rock mass characterization, mining method selection and optimization, extraction sequencing and applied numerical modelling. Mike also has extensive experience in underground mine planning and feasibility studies, mine geology, dewatering, diamond drilling strategies and management of mining technical research.

    Simon Kusabs

    Principal Mining Engineer

    • Short bio

      Simon’s core skills are mining studies (concept to feasibility), leading mine engineering and multi-discipline technical teams, financial evaluation/analysis, due diligence, mine planning and budgeting, and technical guidance and standards. He is also skilled in the use of Deswik, Vulcan, Datamine, EPS, Ventsim, Xeras and the Microsoft suite.

    Laura Daly

    Senior Mining Analyst

      • Short bio

        Laura has a strong foundation in all areas of business analysis, from strategy through to measuring organizational performance. With demonstrated strengths in financial analysis and benchmarking, she has a comprehensive understanding of the cost drivers of a mining operation. Laura has conducted numerous benchmarking and operational improvement studies at base metal and gold operations which has included detailed underground and open-pit productivity and cost studies. She has also provided the cost modelling and revenue components of various international conceptual, prefeasibility, and feasibility studies across a range of commodities, including platinum, iron ore, gold, base metals, potash, and uranium. Laura has also developed value driver trees to model mine-to-market costs, productivities and value.