Our PeopleenviroMETS Qld was formed to be independent and industry led. Its stakeholders come from our innovative SME vendors, academic researchers, government agencies and the corporate METS and mining firms. Our leadership comes from these groups. In addition each has well recognised expertise in one or more of our six technical focus streams to ensure we can deliver cross discipline collaboration to produce innovative tools, techniques and methodologies to transform the mining industry residual impact. |
The eMQ constitution provides for three to nine directors. The company has been founded with four initial directors, Jan Kwak, Alison Price, Russell Merz and Allan Morton, who is also Executive Director.
This board will evolve and expand to ensure the Board capably represents our Interest Groups and Expertise Streams. It actively seeks directors with an appropriate range of skills, knowledge, diversity, independence and an understanding of, and competence to deal with, current and emerging issues of the business, and its mission.
We have established and will maintain a 'Board Skills Matrix' to help guide the assessment of the skills and diversity that the Board has or is looking for and assists to identify any gaps in skills that the Board seeks of current directors, and required going forward, as part of the Company’s broader board expansion, renewal and succession process.
The Board reviews the skills matrix on an annual basis, to ensure the remains aligned with both the organisation’s needs, and emerging business and governance issues relevant to the Company, both from a compliance and industry perspective.
In 2024 this resulted in the addition of Jeff Stewart-Harris and Ross Browning to the board.
Jan Kwak - Non Executive Director Managing Director - Hatch, Australia and Asia Hatch Jan Kwak, understands the relationships between business strategy, technology, project development, and life-of-mine operations. He has managed every aspect of the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of large mines and metallurgical facilities. A skilled project manager, he leads multi-functional teams, developing, implementing, and delivering innovative solutions for mining clients around the world. | Alison Price - Non Executive Director CEO - WRIQ Alison was Managing Director of Soil Cyclers. With a strong skill set including systems and business development, automation and IT, financial management, marketing, and public relations, Alison has made positive and innovative changes in the construction, waste and mining industries. She is a former Director and Vice Chair of the National Association of Women in Construction, a Director of Austmine, and a Board Member of the Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland. |
Russell Merz - Chairperson CEO - AIX Technology Commercialisation Russell is a seasoned engineer, business leader, and strategist with expertise across the resources sectors. Presently leading the commercialisation initiative as an executive of METS Ignited, Russell has worked in government and private companies delivering projects in over 35 countries and brings a broad perspective to technology and commercialisation. During his 30+ years of experience, he has been technical director, subject matter expert, steering committee member, and served on expert review panels for over 50 large scale multi-disciplinary studies and engineering design, with special focus related to water quality and water management. The work has resulted in innovative engineering and design changes to characterise and mitigate risk, minimise impacts to environmental receptors, and increase water resiliency. In addition to design activities, Russell has ben involved in dam post-failure tactical response, forensic review, and legacy mine closure landforms and rehabilitation. Russell is a Fellow of the Engineers Australia in civil, environmental and leadership categories, a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland, and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Ross Browning - Non Executive Director Managing Director - Impact250 Ross is Founder and Managing Director of Impact250, which builds partnerships with traditional owners, establishes and operates business opportunities, creating positive impact for traditional owner groups. He also has a depth of practical experience in mine repurposing/rehabilitation through the full mining lifecycle. These activities are built on his strong working relationships with industry, Government and other stakeholders. The successful partnering with first nations Australians in post mining solutions has developed a deep understanding of the issue, and fires a passion to implement innovative post mining land use solutions. Ross is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and completed a Master of Environmental Management. | Allan Morton - Executive Director ED - enviroMETS Qld [a.morton@ enviromets.net.au] Allan is an experienced active business advisor, director and past ASX listed company board chairman. He’s an engineer, former senior corporate manager and executive in industrial and resource business sectors. His innovative entrepreneurial thinking developed and commercialized new technology, processes and products. He founded and grew a number of successful companies. He has held advisory positions in private companies, non-profit and publicly listed organizations in Australia and NZ. He was appointed by METS Ignited, with the support of the Queensland Government to lead the transformation and incorporation of enviroMETS Qld. With this achieved he leads an expanding organisation that is firmly focused on its mission to find new innovative and sustainable value in mining impacted land and communities for its current, and future custodians. Allan is a professional engineer, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Harvard Business School. Jeff Stewart-Harris - Non Executive Director Chair - Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays Jeff is an experienced public sector executive and director based in regional Queensland where mining has a dominant impact on its economic, social and environmental success. He is driven by an abiding passion to help people, teams, organisations, communities and regions thrive, now and into the future. His natural curiosity, foresight and expansive strategic thinking brings a holistic perspective to the challenges of post mining land use for regional communities. Jeff recognises the significance of fresh integrated sustainability thinking that leads to economic transformation. Jeff is qualified in many areas relevant to the work of enviroMETS, including public administration, human resource management, public and environmental health, engagement, leadership, services marketing and as a Company Director. He was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding services to state and local government in Queensland in the 2022 Australia Day honours. |
The enviroMETS team grows in its capacity and capability.
Joe Ippolito - Project Manager Joe has a range of experience in the resources sector gained in both operational and corporate roles. In his most recent role, he was a Growth Facilitator in the Federal Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme. In that role Joe worked with a range of businesses servicing the resources supply chain. These businesses ranged from major project owners and tier 1’s contractors to SME’s engaged in providing products, services, and technology to the oil and gas, hard rock, and coal mining industries. During the 14 years in the EP programme Joe worked with over 450 businesses helping them identify and execute their growth plans. As a result he has gained a very good understanding of resource supply chains and the challenges confronting all stakeholders. Prior to this role Joe was a strategy and planning manager for a major Australian listed oil company. Joe is a Chartered Accountant and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. |
Our Board also utilises advisors who have been influential in establishing the original METS Ignited - Tailings & Mine Affected Water cluster and remain committed to evolving the enviroMETS Qld strategy.
The Board uses its Advisors to supplement skills and experience gaps identified via the Board Skills Matrix. Advisors offer specialised technical and commercial skills.
Angus M Robinson Graduating in 1968 as an exploration geologist, Angus has worked in the metallics and coal mining sectors, in senior executive roles in tourism attraction and technology park management, in technology diffusion projects with The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering, and then in ‘hi-tech’ manufacturing. Angus now specialises in geotourism development, coordinating the implementation of the National Geotourism Strategy for the Australian Geoscience Council. A longstanding Fellow of The AusIMM, Angus is active in the social and environment and mining heritage communities; he also serves on the Board of the Robotics Australia Group. Angus has a passion for creating new industries. |