Professional Profile

Darren is a principal environmental scientist with over 20 years experience in environmental research and management within the mining, transport and conservation industries.  His key areas of expertise are operational environmental management, environmental impact assessment and mine closure planning. Darren has worked extensively on major mining and infrastructure development projects across Australia in both technical leadership and project management capacities.  Darren is also a recognised industry leader in the management of mine closure studies and has project managed and directed numerous multi-disciplinary studies for Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and AnglGold.  He also has extensive experience in the coordination of mine development approvals and associated environmental impact studies.

Darren is a Principal and shareholder of Sinclair Knight Merz. As a senior member of the environmental team Darren has been responsible for the coordination of environmental services to Resource Industry clients across the Sinclair Knight Merz Group. As Practice Leader for Mine Closure, he provides technical leadership for mine closure projects. Darren is currently leading a number of large environmental impact assessment projects from SKM’s Perth Office and is actively assisting to develop SKM’s project delivery capability in that office.

Some of the significant projects Darren has project managed or directed include:

• 11 Mile Well Open Pit Notice of Intent (2004)
• Greater Tom Price Closure Study (2005, 2007)
• Greater Pannawonica Closure Study (2005)
• Sunrise Dam Gold Mine Closure Study (2005)
• Rapid Growth Project 5 Dredging Approvals (2008)

Qualifications

• MSc (Research), University of Western Australia
• BSc (Honours), University of Western Australia

Affiliations

• Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP), Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand.
• Member, Environment Institute of Australia
• Member, Environmental Consultants Association (WA)