Meet our consultants

Pat has worked in the mining industry since graduating in 1976. His experience includes operational and management roles on various mines in the UK, Zambia and South Africa, the long term planning of gold, platinum, base metal and coal mines as well as serving on several feasibility studies while working for Gold Fields group.

Since 1989 his experience included applied research and development for mining. This included mine mechanization, geophysics, hydraulic transport, ventilation and refrigeration as well as research into innovative mine design and barriers to successful technology transfer. He was instrumental in forming a number of collaborative research programmes including Deepmine, Futuremine, Platmine and the Global Mining Research Alliance (GMRA).

Since mid-2003 he has consulted to a wide range of mining industry clients including in Canada, the United States, Australia and South Africa. He is an active member of the SAIMM and the IOM3 and has chaired a number of conferences including the 6th International Symposium on Mine Mechanisation and Automation. He is a past President of the SAIMM.

Dick is a senior mining professional with global experience having worked in the mining industry since graduating in 1967. He obtained a First Class Certificate of Competency from the UK Coal Board, moving to Zambia where he worked in line management on the copper mines, then South Africa where he continued in production management firstly at Palabora and then as a mine manager with Anglo American Coal Division. He was a consultant for SRK Consulting in the UK for 7 years as a principal mining and in 2003 returned operations as General Director at Amantaytau Gold Mine in Uzbekistan. Dick is highly experienced in mine management, project management, mechanization, economic assessment of mines and mining methods, due diligence, CPRs, feasibility studies as well as project leadership, operational assistance and troubleshooting.

Graeme Fulton B.Sc. (Hons.) Mining and Petroleum, FAusIMM
Graeme is a qualified mining engineer with over 40 years’ experience in mining operations and projects. He has delivered at Principal Engineer and Senior Manager level in several roles including for 7 years as General Manager, Malaysia for Besra Mining, Consulting Mining Engineer for Mine Design Systems in New Zealand, and Senior Mining Engineer for AVMIN (Target Division) in South Africa. Additionally, he spent 3 years with Andersen Consulting undertaking system analysis and design as well as business and information system training. Experienced in both open pit and underground mine design and scheduling using DataMine Suite, Graeme specializes in several areas including geological modelling & evaluation, mine design and optimization, feasibility studies, costing and financial analysis, project planning, management and administration, as well as health and safety.

Steve is an expert in Mining and Blasting Engineering with experience in international explosives including regulation, handling, storage and use, plus advances and latest technological developments in blasting, blast design and explosive selection. Over the past 25 years Steve has led blast design, explosive technology and handling for inter alia Turgis Consulting, RHDHV and now Bara Consulting; facilitated a complete re-focusing and re-positioning of a UK explosives supplier that in three years increased turnover by 320%; helped Sasol Explosives grow from a new entrant in the South African marketplace in 1985 to a company that now exports to 70 countries and has an annual turnover of well over £100 million; undertaken numerous specialist blasting applications, including demolitions (small dams, chimneys), portals, tunnels and shafts plus blast designs for all major stoping methods in all rock conditions; and, chaired a number of internationally run blasting seminars and presenting papers on the latest developments in blasting and explosives technology throughout the USA, Australia, Europe and Africa.

Maurice has worked in the mining industry since graduating in 1981. His experience includes mine line management and operational experience on deep level gold mines, plus consulting on large scale material handling projects. At Gold Fields he exercised overall consulting responsibility for refrigeration, backfill and hydropower systems for various Group mines. Since joining the consulting engineering industry, he has applied his practical and design experience to both projects and operations globally. His expertise includes mine infrastructure engineering design, particularly pumping, mining hydropower systems, backfill, refrigeration, dewatering, compressed air, mine transportation systems and other engineering services including energy recovery in mines. He has a particular specialization in failure analysis and accident investigations involving mine infrastructure.

Ed has over 20 years experience in industry, including as a project engineer, project manager and consultant. His specializations include electrical, control and instrumentation design, including PLC and SCADA system design. He can design, engineer and project manage electrical, control and instrumentation systems related to mining, process plants and mine infrastructure including pumping, he has additional experience in communication system and network engineering.

After receiving a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1975, Alan joined Osborn (South Africa), who manufacture and supply materials handling and beneficiation plant, conveyors and equipment to the mining, quarrying and construction industries. Initially he was a project engineer serving on a wide variety of projects, including coal, iron ore, diamonds, platinum, gold, chrome, manganese, nickel and copper, aluminium ranging from feasibility studies to turnkey design-build contracts. In October 1985, he was appointed manager, projects and contracting; in 1987, divisional director, then in 1989, projects director. In July 1999 he was appointed managing director, the position he held until he left the company in September 2004. From 2004 Alan has been a consultant with a variety of companies including Aspasa, RHDHV and now Bara Consulting.

Allan started at the Randfontein Estates Gold Mining Company as a Learner Official, obtained his Government Engineers Certificate of Competency in Electrical Engineering in 1982 and his Certificate of Competency in Mechanical Engineering in 1985. He held roles at JCI varying from Project Engineer to Section Engineer, on projects and operations including Doornkop Gold Plant and the trackless mining project at Rustenburg Platinum Mines Union Section. Since 1989, Allan has worked for a variety of shaft sinking companies including GFC Mining, Cementation and Murray and Roberts, working on shaft sinking and equipping projects internationally, including Bafokeng Rasimone and the Gautrain Project in SA and Onaping Depth in Canada. Allan’s expertise includes design and construction of shafts, declines and related infrastructure including raise boring, drop raising, diamond drilling, high pressure grouting and cementation techniques in addition to general expertise in mechanical mining methods, hoisting and shaft operations and maintenance.

Freddie is a strong design professional and experienced draughtsman with over 35 years design experience in the mining industry. Freddie has been involved in all aspects of mine and plant design including shafts, shaft equipping and conveyances, underground infrastructure including hoisting, refrigeration, ventilation and pumping, as well as material handling and process plant design. He is skilled in AutoCAD, MicroStation, Prostructures, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) in general. Freddie has held previous roles as a draughtsman with Blyvooruitsig Mine, Sigma Colliery and Goldfields, joined Bara Consulting as draughstman in 2019, and was appointed Drawing Office Manager in 2021.

Collins is a mining engineer with over 5 years experience in open pit and underground mines. Graduating in 2012 from Pretoria, he worked as a section miner at Arnot Colliery, followed by roles a a shift overseer and mine overseer. Additionally he worked as a project engineer on underground infrastructure. Collins joined Bara in 2018, where he has worked variously in mine planning, ventilation design and cost engineering. He is proficient in common mining software such as Deswik (design and scheduling), Whittle, SimSched, as well as Ventsim. He is currently completing a Masters of Mining Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Ken specialises in the design of mining-related infrastructure for deep level and open pit mines. He has over 20 years experience in mining environments focussing on infrastructure design, mechanical engineering and civil engineering. Over the years he has engaged in nuts and bolts detail through to strategic planning level for a range of organisations including mining operations and engineering companies. Ken has held diverse roles from Senior Engineer at Royal Haskoning-DHV and Turgis Consulting to Design Draughtsman at Cementation Mining, Anglogold and Rocla. He has both deep and wide experience including: general shaft infrastructure design; water mud and backfill piping system design for deep vertical and incline shaft systems; design of dewatering systems for open pit mines; backfill system design (from concept to detailed design and implementation) for hydraulic backfilling operations; hydropower, service water reticulation and cooling system design for deep-level mines. Ken can undertake work including design, cost modelling, contract administration, tender preparation and evaluation, as well as peer review on projects ranging from due diligence to feasibility studies and detailed design for operations.

Franco is an accomplished Mechanical Project and Maintenance Engineer with over 10 years' heavy
construction experience with companies including TDS Projects and AngloGold where he was involved across the entire project lifecycle from research, concept development and design, to final delivery. Experienced in major mining infrastructure design, installation and maintenance, including winders, refrigeration, ventilation, dewatering, compressors and material handling, Franco aims to provide project stakeholders with solutions that significantly impact their overall productivity. He has excellent generalist human resource skills with a collaborative management style successfully managing large teams on major engineering projects. His natural inclination and understanding of mechanical components and equipment combined with his extensive software experience enables him to find practical solutions to highly technical challenges.

Boet is a highly experienced ventilation engineer with over 50 years’ experience in the industry, covering production work in conventional and mechanised mines, project work and consulting. He
has been involved in many pre-feasibility and feasibility studies and has also been
involved in the implementation of several large projects. Boet started his career at Gold Fields of South Africa where he gained practical experience as a ventilation engineer, becoming Head of the Ventilation Department on several Group Mines. As Head of ventilation Boet was involved in the design, planning and implementation of various ventilation projects including expansions on some mines, as well as the establishment of new mines. After leaving Gold Fields, Boet gained further experience designing ventilation systems, as well as establishing ventilation department and training staff as a Consultant.

Tony has over 40 years' experience in hard rock, deep level mining. He worked for Lonmin Platinum and Anglo Platinum for 20 years as Manager Engineering and Consulting Mechanical & Electrical Engineer, for 10 years as Engineering Director for DRA Global, and now as Engineering Manager for Bara Consulting.
Principally his role has been to lead design and implementation work relating to major capital projects such as mine, shaft, plant and infrastructure developments. He has detailed knowledge of both operational and project management aspects of mining, having held appointments as Project Manager, Business Manager and Consultant. He has in addition been an expert panel member for the Chamber of Mines and chaired several committees setting mining standards for the South African Bureau of Standards. As Engineering Manager Tony is responsible for specifying and managing major design projects for our clients.

Andrew has over 20 years’ experience providing value-adding environmental, social and governance services to the mining and metals industry. Originally educated as a biologist and natural resource manager, he cemented his passion for the environment working as a game ranger and camp manager at various private lodges in the greater Kruger National Park as well as the Okavango Delta. After serving as General Manager of Blue Swallow Environmental in South Africa, he started his own consultancy, Umhlaba Environmental, in 2004. At Umhlaba he worked with a diverse array of specialists and other stakeholders undertaking environmental and social projects, across a range of commodities, for clients such as Rio Tinto and Sibanye-Stillwater. Having represented both mines and mining-affected communities in projects, and with experience throughout the mine lifecycle, he is considered an expert in stakeholder engagement. As Principal ESIA consultant for Bara, Andrew has taken on those aspects for existing Bara Projects, as well as building a new service line in ESG investment compliance and assurance for resource projects.