Adrienna Robotham
Adelaide,Australia
Summary
Principal/Manager-level registered geotechnical engineer and Chartered Professional with 14+ years’ experience in open cut and underground operations, asset planning, and project delivery. Proven track record in building and leading diverse teams, driving technology adoption, and delivering geotechnical strategies that enhance safety, efficiency, and long-term asset value. Recognised industry leader in open cut coal with extensive contributions to ACARP, BOHOGS, and slope stability research.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Geotechnical Manager Open Cut
Anglo American
Brisbane, Australia
11.2022 - 09.2024
- Leading all aspects of geotechnical engineering at two open cut coal mines.
- Over twelve months, expanded the Open Cut geotechnical team from two long term employees to thirteen.
- Developed and implemented geotechnical onboarding processes for all new employees, including five international hires.
- Mentoring geotechnical engineers including senior-level, superintendents, juniors, and technicians.
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive skill tracking methodology and upskill training schedule for the Open Cut geotechnical engineers, resulting in a capability uplift of 20% for new Anglo American hires over six months.
- Managing geotechnical aspects of mid-term planning, life of asset planning, and projects such as feasibility studies and CAPEX projects with budget >$50M.
- Fostering a sense of community across the Anglo American Steelmaking Coal sites and the Brisbane office by organising and facilitating Special Interest Group workshops.
- Long-term project identification and justification including uplift of GIS and hazard reporting capabilities, development of an empirical model for lowwall stability analysis.
- Developing a pipeline of future engineers through engagement at schools, universities, and Anglo American’s talent management stream.
- Development and implementation of a monitoring strategy guideline for Anglo American Steelmaking Coal Open Cut mines.
- Acting Geotechnical Manager for Underground Mines.
- Sites supported during this time: Capcoal, Dawson, Moranbah North, Grosvenor, Aquila
Engineer Geotechnical Projects & Technology
BHP
Brisbane, Australia
08.2017 - 11.2022
- Geotechnical site support including RPEQ design review signoff across all BHP coal sites.
- Major and minor geotechnical new technology project assessment, design, and implementation.
- Subject matter expert for the development and implementation of a map-based iOS application for hazard identification which produces the site statutory report and allows site supervisors to remotely access and track compliance of geotechnical controls.
- Subject matter expert management of two production-critical SQL databases.
- Creation and maintenance of analytical dashboards used to understand geotechnical costs and benefits to the business.
- The resulting dashboards are presented at all levels of the business e.g. to track compliance to geotechnical advice, justify exploration costs, and assess sufficiency of personnel coverage.
- Working with a broad range of personnel including remote technology development and ongoing support teams in India and China, geotechnical engineers and mine managers across QLD, NSW, SA, and WA.
- Managing access to geotechnical software including budgeting, licensing, and host environment.
- Assessing skills gaps and organising relevant ongoing and upskill training for a team of >20 geotechnical engineers and new graduates and interns.
- Recruiting new talent, new starters, and directing graduate engineers and interns.
- Thesis supervision for final year engineering students.
- Awards during this time: 'Resource Engineering Most Hats Worn 2019' awarded to the person who carried out the highest number of different roles and responsibilities throughout the year.
- Sites supported during this time: Mt Arthur, Blackwater, Saraji, Peak Downs, Caval Ridge, Goonyella, Daunia, South Walker Creek, Poitrel, Norwich Park (Care and Maintenance)
Geotechnical Engineer
THIESS MINING
Brisbane, Australia
11.2015 - 08.2017
- Internal and external client liaison including geotechnical reviews for tender submission.
- Geotechnical interface for QLD and NSW Coal Mines support including design and incident investigation.
- Principal Hazard Management Plan writing, review, and implementation.
- New technology improvements including GIS interrogation of geotech data and UAV highwall photogrammetry.
- Awards during this time: Geotechnical Practitioner of the year 2016 – BOHOGS.
- Sites supported during this time: Lake Vermont, Jellinbah Plains, Burton, QCNH, Dawson South, Mt Owen, Mt Arthur, Rocky’s Reward. Global design projects within coal, nickel, diamonds, and gold.
Geotechnical Engineer
THIESS MINING
Mt Owen Complex, Australia
11.2011 - 11.2015
- Implemented GIS-based electronic inspection and reporting methods for open cut examiners.
- Geotechnical data collection, interpretation, modelling, and slope design.
- Collection methods including photogrammetry, I-Site scanning, survey, and mapping.
- Slope stability monitoring program design, installation and maintenance including automated prisms, GroundProbe and IDS radars, vibrating wire piezometers, automated wireline, and manual tell-tales.
- Geotechnical budgeting, sourcing, and purchasing.
- Creation and presentation of geotechnical training for crews, OCEs, and inductees.
- Geological support: Grade control, modelling, blasting advice, production advice.
- Surveying: Laser scanner data acquisition and processing. Car, ground, and UAV surveying.
- Drill & Blast: timing, loading and pattern design for through-seam blasting.
- Awards during this time: 2014 Safety Innovation Award, 2013 Bright Idea winner and 2013 Leadership in Action Award.
Geology/Geotechnical Graduate
VALE AUSTRALIA
Integra Underground and Open Cut Coal, Australia
01.2011 - 11.2011
Education
Masters - Mining Engineering (Geomechanics)
UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Sydney, NSW01.2013
Postgraduate Certificate - Advanced Training in Mining
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO OURO PRETO
Ouro Preto, Brazil06-2011
Bachelor of Science - Geology Honours (Class 1), on volcanic rock deformation and structural mapping, structural geology and geophysics
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
Brisbane, QLD01.2010
Skills
- Project management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Change management
- Strategic execution
- Team leadership
- Knowledge sharing
- Geotechnical modeling
- Database coding and management
Certification
- AusIMM Chartered Professional Mining Geotechnical Engineer
- Registered Professional Engineer Queensland #17363
References
- Gift Makusha, Head of Geotechnical KAZ Minerals – previously Geotechnical Manager Anglo American Steelmaking Coal, +61 409 826 777 (WhatsApp) or +77 015 722 951 (Khazakhstan mobile), Gift.makusha@yahoo.com
- Dan Payne, Geotechnical Manager BMA, +61 417 684 021, Dan.payne@bhp.com
Other Roles And Achievements
- ACARP Open Cut Geotechnical Task group member (2016-2024) and Chair (2018-2024)
- Bowen Basin Hunter Valley Open Cut Geotechnical Society (BOHOGS) committee member (2013-2024) including Chair (2018-2019)
- Papers and/or presentations at: ACG Slope Stability 2013, 2015, 2020; EAGCG New Technologies 2017; Various Bowen Basin Hunter Valley Open Cut Society (BOHOGS) meetings including “Best Presentation for NSW 2015” award; ACG Open Pit Seminar, Brisbane April 2015
Timeline
Geotechnical Manager Open Cut
Anglo American
11.2022 - 09.2024
Engineer Geotechnical Projects & Technology
BHP
08.2017 - 11.2022
Geotechnical Engineer
THIESS MINING
11.2015 - 08.2017
Geotechnical Engineer
THIESS MINING
11.2011 - 11.2015
Geology/Geotechnical Graduate
VALE AUSTRALIA
01.2011 - 11.2011
Masters - Mining Engineering (Geomechanics)
UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Postgraduate Certificate - Advanced Training in Mining
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO OURO PRETO
Bachelor of Science - Geology Honours (Class 1), on volcanic rock deformation and structural mapping, structural geology and geophysics
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
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