Professionalism in Australian Geoscience

I place considerable value on professionalism, evidenced through voluntary professional registration, a demonstrated commitment to professional ethics, and continued professional development.

I’m a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Geological Society of London.

Additionally, I’m a Professional Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), a Member of the American Geophysical Union and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

I’m also a Registered Professional Geoscientist (RPGeo) in Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology under the Australian Institute of Geoscientists professional registration program, which I think is the more rigorous professional registration program for geoscientists operating in Australia.

These memberships demonstrate my broad interests in. both technical and management fields. They help to keep me in touch with a vibrant geoscience community and are a great means of building a strong professional network in both geoscience, and through AusIMMm the broader mining and resources industry.

My AIG and AusIMM memberships also enable me to act as a Competent Person for public reporting of mineral exploration activities, mineral resources and ore reserves to Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges, and stock exchanges in other countries under reciprocal reporting arrangements. Ore Reserves reporting, of course, is undertaken as part of a team, working in collaboration with suitably qualified engineers, metallurgists and allied professionals responsible for quantifying mining, metallurgical and an increasing range of other modifying factors required to meaningfully convert mineral resources estimates to ore reserves.

Being a Registered Professional Geoscientist (RPGeo) is especially valuable to me. Unlike Canada and a number of U.S. states, there is no requirement (at present) for professional registration of geoscientists. The program, however, demonstrates my professional standing with my peers and provides independent confirmation of my personal continued professional development efforts.

Maintaining my AICD membership also requires meeting continued professional development requirements relevant to best practice when working as a company director.

I encourage all geoscientists to take up membership of a professional institute as a means of building their networks, accessing professional development opportunities, and meeting public expectations of professionals in any field.