Minsouth Council and Officers
Council
The volunteers who run MinSouth
MinSouth is run by a volunteer council of professionals from across the mining and minerals industry, alongside a small committee team handling day-to-day society matters. Roles and members change periodically, if you need to get in touch with someone on the council please follow the link below.
Committee
President – Grace Yungwirth
Grace’s connection to mining began in her hometown in Northern Canada, where she was actively involved in exploration activities with junior mining companies. That early exposure sparked a lifelong commitment to the industry, its communities and environment. She pursued studies in Physical Sciences, Civil Engineering, and Hydrogeology at the University of Waterloo and Queen ’s University and then entered the consulting industry building her career around practical, site-based experience – working on both operational and greenfield mines and infrastructure projects from the Arctic to the desert, often in complex, multilingual environments.
Her technical foundation in Water Management evolved into leadership of large, multidisciplinary projects through the entire mining lifecycle. Grace is known for her dedication to responsible mining practices and innovation, having authored numerous papers and articles on mine water management best practise, water stewardship, and ESG-aligned investment and risk mitigation that reduces risk and improves performance. She also has actively championed thoughtful dialogue on the balance between carbon and water in critical mineral extraction. As the Global Industry Leader – Mining & Metals at ERM, she leads the firm’s global strategy for supporting clients through the energy transition, responsible resource development, and the evolving ESG expectations shaping the future of the sector.
Beyond her technical work, Grace is deeply committed to the future of a responsible mining industry. She actively supports STEM outreach, culture and DE&I initiatives, mentoring, and the promotion of safe work practices. In 2025, she proudly joined the MinSouth Council, continuing her mission to help shape a more resilient future for the mining industry.
Senior Vice President – TBA
Junior Vice President – TBA
Past President (2025/26) – Patrick Cox
Following studies in Geology and Engineering I have worked internationally on projects covering infrastructure, natural resources and the extractive industries including the UK, Hong Kong and Australia including practice and research to develop advisory studies guiding policy. I am a Fellow and Chartered Engineer with IOM3 and a Fellow and Chartered Geologist through the Geological Society with more than 30 years of experience but a continued passion and interest in the profession and business of multi-disciplinary geosciences, including geology, hydrogeology and engineering geology all critical areas within society and under exposed, which am wanting to make a continued contribution to change.
Strategic ground risk management and opportunity is where I like to work technically. I am a STEM Ambassador and advocate for diversity, equity and equality. I am especially keen on using STEM-based thinking and foundations in smart solutions using technology and resources efficiently with benefits to sustainability evidenced in authoring key guidance on the use of geosystems in civil engineering. I am presently Chair of Think Deep UK which has similar goals to Minsouth in seeking to raise awareness of the importance of the resources beneath us
Past President (2024/25) – Mark Davis
Mark Davis is an independent consultant having worked predominantly in Africa and the Middle East. Mark has over 38 years’ experience in exploration and mining looking at a wide variety of commodities from road stone to diamonds. More recently Mark has been advising companies on early stage projects and data rooms. Mark in a careers mentor on the SEG web site and a STEM Ambassador. Mark joined the MinSouth Council in October 2019 and was president for the 2024/25 year.
Past President (2023/24) – Mark Burnett
Mark has 30 years of experience in the mining industry and is a Principal Geologist at AMC Consultants. He is a member of the PERC executive and is one of PERC’s representatives on CRIRSCO. Mark is PERC’s representative to INTRAW and is a member of three UNRMS expert working groups.
Past President (2021/22) – Simon Kocher
Having always had a strong interest in minerals and mining it appeared natural to pursue a career in geology, which led to a degree in economic geology from the University of Tuebingen. After a period of working as near mine exploration geologist on greenschist metamorphic VMS deposits in Northern Sweden I took on a PhD position with Imperial College and the Natural History Museum London. Currently I am researching the distribution of molybdenum in the Bingham Canyon porphyry deposit, Utah to gain a deeper understanding of the behaviour of Mo in porphyry systems. This project is carried out in cooperation with Rio Tinto. Since 2012 I am a member of the MinSouth council and in 2013 I joined the applied earth sciences board of IOM3.
Hon. Treasurer – Paul Griffin
I graduated from Cardiff as a Mining Engineer in 1977 followed two years later by a Msc in Coal Outbursts. For the next 14 years I worked throughout the global coal industry employed by Dowty Mining Equipment. In 1993 I joined the Australian mining software developer, Surpac where I was initially European Manager and then Group Finance Director. In my time with Surpac I established offices in South Africa, Chile and India. I was awarded my MBA through the Open University in 1999. After a period of merger and acquisition I became VP Sales for Gemcom in 2006 before eventually leaving to run my own freelance activities in 2008. I also returned to study (yet again!) and was awarded a degree in Law in 2010.
I joined MinSouth in 2012 firstly as secretary and now as treasurer.
Now mostly retired I am active with the South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group as well as presenting talks on the coal industry in the Forest of Dean.
Hon. Secretary – Gordon Stove
Gordon Stove is the Founder and CEO of VEXRAD Ltd, an Edinburgh-based deep-technology company commercialising Atomic Dielectric Resonance (ADR) — a coherent pulsed electromagnetic technology for scanning beneath the Earth’s surface. Under his technical leadership, VEXRAD applies ADR to subsurface challenges across sectors from geothermal energy to critical resource exploration.
Co-inventor of ADR patented methodologies, Gordon combines a strong scientific grounding with the commercial discipline needed to bring frontier technology to market. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Geography from the University of Edinburgh and a PRINCE2 project management qualification and has completed the University of Strathclyde Business School’s Growth Advantage Programme and School for CEOs.
An EY Entrepreneur of the Year alumnus, Gordon also serves as a King’s Trust Business Mentor, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. He is based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Student Representative and Liaison – Jake Oliver
Jake has been involved with MinSouth for just over a year as a student representative for the university of Leicester, using his involvement as a committee member on the student societies there. He is completing the final year of his Applied and Environmental Geology MGeol at the University of Leicester, and volunteers at the Leicester museum, having previously run events to promote critical minerals and the importance of mining.
Past President (2018/19) – Stuart MacGowan
I was educated at St. Olaves’ Grammar School in Kent before completing a 4-year geology degree at the Royal School of Mines. Graduating in 2015, I then studied for an MSc in Mining Geology at the Camborne School of Mines, which I completed at the beginning of September 2016. My dissertation pertains to exploration in the Copperbelt. I am a keen mineralogist and petrologist who prefers the field to the desk as a place to work. In any spare time I play hockey and go clay pigeon shooting whenever possible.
Throughout my time as a student I have held roles on behalf of the RSM and Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). During my final year I was President of the SEG Chapter at the RSM, which planned and ran a three-week field trip to Eastern Europe, examining porphyry systems and their associated epithermal regimes.
I have constantly been at the forefront of increasing student involvement with the SEG, MinSouth and, in a wider sense, the Geological Society. In my opinion, the events run by these bodies, particularly MinSouth, are a hugely underused resource for students. The monthly sundowners have reasonable attendance, though I have yet to see students at any of the talks or events which have taught me so much about the industry. My opinion of the university system at the moment is that is biased towards box-ticking and exam-passing rather than producing graduates with an understanding of how the world generally works. I feel there is a lost opportunity here and I would like to once again increase student involvement with MinSouth.
Councillor – Alan Bozeat
Past President (2019/20) – Sue Struthers
Sue is a mining geologist/environmental engineer with over 40 years of experience in the mining industry. Following a BSc from London University and MSc Mining Geology from Camborne School of Mines in 1984, she spent ten years as a geologist, firstly with ZCCM on the Zambian Copperbelt and then with Mount Isa Mines in Queensland. Much of the work with MIM involved investigation of all aspects of leaching, as a metallurgical process and an environmental issue, including in-situ leaching tests for copper, SX-EW and tailings retreatment. A strong interest in the impacts of mining and a move to Melbourne, led to a PhD in environmental engineering from RMIT, focussing on the feasibility of recycling mine tailings.
Subsequently Sue has worked as an independent mining environmental consultant through Skapa Mining Services, involved in a wide range of projects, from geochemical investigations and characterisation; AMD prediction-, management- and troubleshooting; rock dump and tailings storage, management and rehabilitation; ESIA planning-, management- and reviews; NI43-101 reviews; feasibility studies; development and implementation of mine environmental and social management systems and plans; environmental auditing; and Gap Analyses and compliance work for European, Equator Principles and IFC performance standards; to health and safety, and social aspects of operations.
Sue is a Chartered Environmentalist and a Fellow of IOM3.
Councillor – Michael Wilkinson
Student Coordination – Alex Norori-McCormac
Alex Norori-McCormac is the Programme Director of the Global Management of Natural Resources MSc programme at UCL, and has a background in geology and mineral processing. The purpose of the MSc is to upskill individuals from any background in aspects of the natural resource industries. Alex is also a member of the IOM3 Membership Committee, and is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist with the Institute.
Alex initially undertook a 4 year MSci in Geology in the Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering (Royal School of Mines) at Imperial College London, followed by a PhD in the Rio Tinto Centre for Advanced Mineral Recovery, specialising in Froth Flotation, looking to improve grade and recovery through retrofitting existing flotation cells in collaboration with industry.
Alex subsequently moved to UCL in 2017 and joined the teaching staff in the Department of Chemical Engineering, where he delivers courses in mineral exploration, extraction, processing and production, as well as environmental practice with respect to these operations. He also engages in research in metallurgical practice in collaboration with external partners.
Alex is interested in broadening public engagement and improving public acceptance of the importance of resource industries. He is also interested in increasing the uptake of cognate degrees by prospective students, and helping to ensure degrees are fit for purpose through working with both industry and academia.
Past President (2020/21) – Mike McLoughlin
I am a Fellow of the IOM3 and a Chartered Engineer. After graduating from the University of Strathclyde as a mining engineer I worked in open pits as an engineer and a manager in the UK and overseas. I was later employed by a firm of consultants before becoming an independent consultant and creating a software house – Rockmate Limited where I specialise in intelligent mining systems.
BTS Liaison – Dave Terry
Dave Terry is Head of Tunnelling for Skanska UK. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He has 30+ years’ experience in tunnelling and heavy civil engineering in the UK. His experience includes numerous large and small diameter TBM driven tunnels in a variety of ground conditions, drill and blast techniques and the construction of major projects involving the latest SCL tunnelling works, traditional timber supported hand excavations and managing complex interfaces with third parties such as rail and metro operators / maintainers.
His career has developed from production supervision on tunnelling projects of varying construction techniques to the management of engineering departments, including feasibility studies and preparation of bids for major projects. Dave has also undertaken expert advisor roles, providing guidance to a stakeholder whose assets were affected by tunnelling works, including representing the stakeholder at public hearings.
He is currently working as the Tunnel Engineering Lead for the SCS JV constructing the High Speed 2 London Tunnels, a role which involves leading the tunnel engineering team across the £6bn project. The project includes the construction of 41km of large diameter TBM driven tunnels, complex sprayed concrete lining tunnels through highly variable ground conditions necessitating the use of various ground treatment techniques including Artificial Ground Freezing. Dave supports the project by representing the contractor at various school engagement events and meetings with the local residents.
WIM Liaison – Aymone Schendel
Aymone has 30 years of experience working in both corporate and institutional settings around the world, including Hong Kong, Washington DC, and London. She currently divides her time between well-respected mining organisations including as Head of Relationship Management at the Natural Resources Forum in charge of managing the Forum’s speaker line up, sponsor relationships, digital webinar and in person production, and marketing operations; the Oxford Mining Club, where is she manages all networking events, sponsorship, and the membership community; and as a Councillor at MinSouth, a local society of IOM3 representing SE England.
Councillor – Karin Tynelius
Dr. Karin Tynelius
VP Stakeholder Relations, Sustainability and Communication Europe, Sibanye-Stillwater.
IDP-C, Certificate in Corporate Governance, INSEAD, France
PhD, Doctor of Philosophy in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Drexel University (PhD), Philadelphia, US
MS, Master of Science in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden
Karin has a wide-ranging experience in the mining and metals industry where she has worked for Sandvik Steel in Sweden, Alcan Aluminum (now Rio Tinto) in Canada, Eramet in France and TiZir in the UK.
Karin is based in France and joined Sibanye-Stillwater in September 2023.
Councillor – Alistair Cadden
With 35 years experience in the consulting industry, Alistair now runs his own independent consultancy Cadden Consulting Ltd to continue supporting mine tailings projects. He holds a B Eng (Hons) degree from the University of Leeds in civil engineering, an MSc in Soil Mechanics from the University of London and a Diploma of Imperial College. He is a chartered engineer (Engineering Council UK Registration number 569976), a corporate member of Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (MIMMM), graduate member of Institution of Civil Engineers, an associate member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (AIEMA), a registered environmental auditor through IEMA, and a registered lead auditor of the International Cyanide Management Institute’s (ICMI) cyanide management code for gold mining operations.
He has over 35 years’ experience in civil engineering and mining projects. Alistair’s experience covers design of civil engineering structures and earthworks, construction management, environmental assessment, and auditing. He has been primarily involved in the mining sector, and in particular in the investigation, design, construction and assessment of tailings management facilities in S America, Africa, Europe, Russia and Central Asia.
Alistair is named as Engineer of Record on a number of large copper and gold tailings dams in Chile and Perú. He has a specialisation in cyanide management for gold mines including health and safety management and emergency response planning. Alistair has extensive experience of construction contracts, specifications, bills of quantities, works supervision, and management of claims. Alistair can speak English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.
Councillor – Humna Mujahid
I am a Geology graduate from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, currently pursuing an MSc in Mining Engineering at the Camborne School of Mines. A Fellow of IOM3 and the Geological Society of London, I have experience across mineral processing and critical minerals through roles with Mkango Resources and the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials. I am passionate about building a more inclusive and accessible future for the mining industry, particularly through education and outreach. After three years as an Outreach Ambassador at Imperial, alongside my involvement with Women in Mining, I am excited to bring this experience and enthusiasm to MinSouth as I develop my career in the industry.
Councillor – Tina Teyhill
Tina Teyhill is a geologist by background, holding an MSci Geology from UCL, where her studies focused on mineral resources. She is currently a PhD student at UCL working within the UCL Earth Resources Centre. Her research centres on critical minerals and how we can responsibly source them for the energy transition. Tina is passionate about gender equity in the mining sector, as well as supporting students and early-career professionals interested in the industry. As a MinSouth Councillor, she is a member of the Young Persons subgroup.
Councillor – Glynn Williams
Co-opted Councillor – John Monhemius
I have been involved with MinSouth since its inception, as well as its predecessor societies. I am a retired academic, having taught at the Royal School of Mines for over 40 years in the field of extractive metallurgy, particularly hydrometallurgy. I have consulted extensively in the mining industry, particularly in gold extraction. Currently, I am a director of Anglo Asian Mining, a London-listed, mid-tier, copper and gold mining company with operations in Azerbaijan.
Co-opted Councillor – Michael Forrest
I spent the first part of my career as a Senior Geologist with the British Geological Survey, specialising in exploration geochemistry and remote sensing. In 1990 joined Mining Journal Research Services, researching mineral commodities and mining equipment markets. I continued providing consultancy research services for mergers and acquisitions, feasibility studies and business development in the mining sector through the company, Mining Research. For nearly a decade I have been an Advisor to Strand Hanson, a merchant bank and AIM Nomad, specialising in the mining sector.
Co-opted Councillor – Geoff Hooper
As a member of SME of AIME I have spent the last 40 years developing and implementing ICT in the minerals industry. While employed by Charter Consolidated, Amoco, Seltrust Engineering/BP Minerals, Techpro and SNC-Lavalin I worked on the resource estimation and mine planning for projects in Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Iran and North America. I now provide consultancy on geological, metallurgical and mining ICT.
Interested in getting involved?
MinSouth’s council is always open to new committee members and volunteers who want to help shape the society’s work.