IOM3 appoints new Chair of Mining Technology Division

IOM3 is pleased to appoint Colin Comberbach CEng CEnv MIMMM as the new Chair of the Mining Technology Division (MTD) from 5 April 2022, taking over from Christine Blackmore CEnv CSci FIMMM, currently a Vice President of IOM3.

Colin has spent most of his career as an applied geoscientist in minerals, quarrying and mining, delivering technical, advisory and management services with leading operators, consultants and software providers. Such organisations have often combined to innovate in technology at all stages of the mining lifecycle, from exploration and design to production, and transport and restoration.

He is a Professional Member of IOM3 and a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist. Since 2006, Colin has been a member of the Extractive Industry Geology (EIG) Conferences, organising and consultative committees, including two officer terms as Secretary and Chair. Prior to EIG, he served on a regional group committee of the Geological Society, where he became a Chartered Geologist. Colin has also represented the influential CBI Minerals Group and UK Minerals Forum.

Speaking of the appointment, Colin said, ‘Looking ahead, new and improved technologies will be central to the drive towards more sustainable and safer mining practices while meeting the projected exponential growth in demand for materials in the built, communication and transportation infrastructures of the future. Therefore, one of my main ambitions is to help further inspire the next generation of entrants into the extractive industries, and to support individuals on their journeys to perhaps one day become the leaders of IOM3 and the stakeholders it serves.

I will also aim to foster creative networking, content and professional development ideas for IOM3 members as it is important to respect the value of their affiliations and subscriptions and the external competition for them.

Collaboration within IOM3 and consultation with the wider membership will help us to keep bringing mining technology to the forefront. Collectively, we must also continue to develop a wider public acknowledgement that mining is global, mining is essential, mining is for everyone and that it influences, affects, and provides the needs of societies across the world.

Finally, I wanted to say thank you to outgoing Chair, Christine Blackmore, who has led and developed the Mining Technology Division for the last 6 years – I will strive to complement her commendable endeavours.’