Mining
Operations professionals in Mining
These ten professionals have held operations leadership roles at mining companies and mine sites. A reader can learn how mining operations leaders plan production, keep equipment and plants running and manage safety on site.
Professionals to explore
01—10Aden Muñoz
LinkedInExperience: Director de Operaciones de Interior. UG Operations Director · Sandfire MATSA
Director de Operaciones de Interior. UG Operations Director at Sandfire MATSA since 2023; the highlights tie the role to the Aguas Tenidas, Magdalena and Sotiel mines. Other listed Sandfire MATSA roles are Director de Servicios Tecnicos (2020–2023) and Director Facultativo, Proyectos y Mejora Continua (2018–2020). The summary describes more than 25 years of experience in base metal mining, both open pit and underground, as well as industrial minerals and rock mechanics.
Frans Gonsalves
LinkedInExperience: Operations Director · Kinross Alaska
Operations Director at Kinross Alaska since 2026. Other listed roles include Engineering Manager at Kinross Alaska (2022–2026), Engineering And Maintenance Manager at Kinross Gold Corporation - Chirano Gold mine Limited (2021–2022), CO-Head of Operations and Capital Projects at Banro Corp (2018–2021) and Engineering Maintenance Manager at Endeavour Mining (2016–2018). The summary describes general mine and management positions in the mining industry, including driving operations and handling engineering and technical pressure points.
Frederik Van Niekerk
LinkedInExperience: Head of Operations · Akshar Mining Services
Head of Operations at Akshar Mining Services since 2026, and also Head of Mining at Akshar Mining since 2026. Other listed roles include Mining Director of Operations (2025–2026) and Mining Operations Director (2025–2026) at Ikh Gobi Energy LLC, and General Manager at TAU Mining (2024–2025). The summary describes nearly three decades in the mining sector, with expertise in mining operations, drilling, blasting and earthmoving across commodities including coal, platinum, gold and diamonds.
Geoff Fenton
LinkedInExperience: General Manager Operations · De Grey Mining Ltd
General Manager Operations at De Grey Mining Ltd since 2024. Other listed roles include Senior Study Director at HPPL (2021–2022), and Deputy Acting COO (2019–2021), Head Of Operations (2018–2019) and GM Head of Mining (2016–2018) at Roy Hill. The summary cites 25 years of operational and technical experience across exploration, contract and owner mining, open pit and underground, mineral processing, rail, road haulage and port.
Grahame Smith
LinkedInExperience: Operations Director · Kinross Gold Corporation
Former Operations Director at Kinross Gold Corporation (2015–2018), and former Operations Director at SUKARI GOLD MINES (2019). The summary describes a results-focused mining professional with +35 years of industry experience and a record of delivering safety and bottom-line results to mining operations in countries including Australia and Tanzania.
Jessica Morgan
LinkedInExperience: Operations Director & Deputy GM at Syama · Resolute Mining Limited
Operations Director & Deputy GM at Syama at Resolute Mining Limited since 2025. Other listed roles include VP & Deputy General Manager, La Coipa at Kinross Gold Corporation (2024–2025), Mine Manager - Open Pit at West African Resources (2021–2023), Regional Manager - Long Range Planning at Nevada Gold Mines (2019–2021) and Open Pit Mining Director (Acting) & Underground Project Manager at Nordgold (2017–2019). The summary describes a mining leader with 20+ years of experience in operations, engineering and project delivery, most of it spent in the field.
Jose Luis Velez
LinkedInExperience: Gerente de Operaciones de Planta Plant Operations Manager · Sandfire MATSA
Gerente de Operaciones de Planta Plant Operations Manager at Sandfire MATSA since 2017; the highlights give the role as Plant Operations Manager at Minas de Aguas Teñidas S.A.U, based in Almonaster La Real, Andalucía. Other listed Sandfire MATSA roles are Jefe de Operacion de Planta (2016–2017), Supervisor de Operacion (2014–2016), Supervisor de Proceso (2012–2014) and Jefe de turno (2008–2012).
Kieran Rich
LinkedInExperience: Operations Manager · Barrick Mining Corporation
Operations Manager at Barrick Mining Corporation since 2024; the highlights describe the role as Operations Manager at Porgera Gold Mine, overseeing open pit, underground, mill and maintenance functions. Other listed roles include Deputy General Manager Operations (2023–2024) and Senior Mine Manager (2022) at PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk, and Mine Manager - Open Pit (2019–2022) and Acting General Manager & Site Senior Executive (2021) at OceanaGold Corporation.
Stephen Humphray
LinkedInExperience: Mine Operations Manager · GS Mining Company
Mine Operations Manager at GS Mining Company since 2019; the highlights place the role at the Bates Hunter Gold Mine in Colorado, with a focus on safety compliance, environmental policies and managing mining contractors. Other listed roles include self-employed Mine Operations Management Consultant (2018–2019), Mine Engineer at BASIN SANDS LOGISTICS PTY LTD (2017–2018), Mine Operations Management Consultant - Chief Operating Officer at MXM (2014–2017) and Mine Manager, Cairn Hill Operations at IMX Inc (2011–2014).
Tim Wride
LinkedInExperience: Operations Manager · Barrick Mining Corporation
Operations Manager at Barrick Mining Corporation since 2025. Other listed roles include General Manager Mine Operations at Kascco Zambia (2024–2025), Mine Operations Manager (2023–2024) and Mine Production Manager (2020–2023) at First Quantum Minerals, and Mine Operations Superintendent Mine Manager at Barrick Mining Corporation (2010–2013). The highlights place the current Barrick role and the Kascco Zambia role in the Operations department.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's site type and commodity to your decision, since an underground base metal mine and a large open pit gold operation raise different questions. Check whether their operations role is current or past and whether it was site-level or corporate.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you balance production targets against equipment availability and maintenance windows?
- 02Where did handoffs between mining, processing and maintenance teams slow work down, and what did you change?
- 03Which operating measures did you review every shift or week, and why those?
Reaching operations professionals in Mining
How can I contact one of these operations professionals in Mining?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 8 companies, including Sandfire MATSA, Kinross Alaska and Akshar Mining Services, based on profile data retrieved on October 1, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach operations professionals in Mining?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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