Congratulations to our winners

NSW Mining Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC)
People’s Choice Award

NSW has some of the world’s leading mining operations and some of the best practitioners in health and safety, environmental management and community engagement.

The winners of the NSW Minerals Council’s Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC) Awards were announced in August.

We recognised the most outstanding innovations and contributions to a responsible mining industry across four categories. These winners are:

Health Excellence
Ampcontrol, DRIFTEX Battery Electric Vehicle for Underground Mining Operations

Safety Excellence
Newcrest Mining, Cadia's Stringer Chain Telehandler

Environmental Excellence
Aurelia Metals, Recordable Environmental Incident Frequency Rate (REIFR) Reporting

Community Excellence
Evolution Mining & Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation, Galari Agricultural Company

The HSEC People’s Choice Award was chosen from these four category winners.

We polled 500 industry colleagues at the NSW Mining HSEC Conference.

WINNER
Ampcontrol, DRIFTEX Battery Electric Vehicle for Underground Mining Operations

Mining supply business Ampcontrol won the Health Excellence Award for the development of their new DRIFTEX vehicles. The DRIFTEX vehicles are a new generation of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) specifically designed for underground mining.

The health benefits of the DRIFTEX system are the reduction in diesel fuel emissions within an underground mining environment, with the added benefit of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Outstanding Contribution to NSW Mining Award

This award recognises an individual that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and performance over a sustained period, promoting, protecting and serving the industry through their career.

Since its inception, this award has become one of the highest honours the NSW mining industry bestows upon one of its own.

Chris Lauritzen
General Manager – Resource Development, MACH Energy Australia

Chris commenced with MACH Energy in 2016, where he was appointed the General Manager role following the acquisition of the Mount Pleasant Project from Rio Tinto.

Prior to that, he had a long history of achievement and experience over 30 years in mining operations, mineral exploration, resource assessment, mine planning, and more.

With humble roots starting as an exploration geologist in the Gunnedah Basin in 1980, Chris has developed a stellar career helping to develop a range of projects and work in operations that have gone on to be significant contributors to the state and national economies, including Maules Creek, Coal Cliff, Western Main, Howick (now part of Hunter Valley Operations), and more.

In 2000, Chris worked in Indonesia for seven years and then returned to Rio Tinto before joining BHP as its Global Coal Commodity Expert in Singapore.

Chris is now part of the executive leadership team at MACH Energy Australia and looks after major approvals and government relations. He is known by colleagues as a steady hand, a thoughtful professional and a calm and experienced leader.

Chris is a strong contributor to the wider mining industry through his work as a valued member of the NSW Minerals Council’s Executive Committee.

He is also a fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Previous Winners

  • Fiona Robertson

    For more than 30 years, Fiona has combined her understanding of resources and finance to work with emerging resource companies as a banker, CFO and non-executive director, successfully guiding growth-oriented businesses through the transition from juniors to ASX 200 producers.

    Fiona’s contribution to the profile and support for women in mining in NSW has been outstanding. Her enthusiasm and hard work have been key to building the NSW WIMnet Committee, which she chaired from 2013 to 2015.

    WIMnet launched its first Mentoring Program in 2015. And her legacy continues with WIMnet Chairs and Committee members developing under Fiona’s leadership… as the mentoring program goes from strength-to-strength.

    She has also been a significant contributor to our Women in Mining Awards, guiding and judging at both the State and National levels over many years.

  • John Richards

    John commenced with Bloomfields in 2002, was appointed Managing Director and CEO in 2010, and then Chairman of the Group in 2016. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, a feature of John’s career has been his extensive engagement in the broader mining industry and in the local community.

    John’s contribution to the NSW Minerals Council includes many years of distinguished service on the Council’s Executive Committee, as well as a two year term as Council Chair. He also successfully chaired the Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue, where his positive local community profile and contribution helped to improve engagement between the industry and the community in the Upper Hunter region.

    By any measure, John’s career in the NSW mining sector has been highly successful. He is one of our most respected and distinguished industry representatives, affectionately regarded by his teams and industry colleagues for his thoughtfulness, his humour and his massive contribution to The Bloomfield Group, our sector, and the community.