Inducting Hall of Fame 2024

Announcing the 2024 inductees during MINExpo International 2024 in Las Vegas in September, Maptek CEO Eduardo Coloma thanked nine customers who have championed Maptek products.

‘They have made lasting industry contributions and inspired others through their passion,’ said Coloma. ‘They display a willingness to lead by example so that our solutions are widely understood and easily adopted at their operations.’ 

John Combs

Senior Mine Engineer at Freeport McMoRan, John Combs has led innovations in geomechanics and slope optimisation using LiDAR and drone photogrammetry technologies. His work has significantly impacted mine reclamation and design conformance across various roles during his 15-year career.

Bill Everett

With more than 50 years of experience in mine management and geology, Bill Everett has championed the use of modern technologies in the iron ore industry, including computer-based truck dispatch and mine engineering. As Manager of Mining & Mineral Resources at Mesabi Metallics, he continues to promote sustainable mining practices.

John Florek

President & CEO of Emperor Metals, John Florek brings more than 35 years of expertise in geology and mining, having held senior roles with major companies like BHP and Barrick. Known for his innovative use of machine learning in exploration, he continues to drive advancements in the development of high-grade gold deposits.

Shaun Leary

As General Manager of Technical Services at Whitehaven Coal, Shaun Leary has over 30 years of experience in leadership and technical roles across various sectors, including mining and finance. He has played a key role in advancing the use of Maptek solutions in coal mining and remains committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies for future growth.

Andre Leite

Vice President of Ontario Operations for Agnico Eagle, Andre Leite has more than 20 years of operational, technical and project management experience in the gold, base metals, uranium and iron ore industries. A Maptek customer for over a decade, he uses applications for geological and resource modelling, short and long-term mine planning, geotechnical modelling, and drill and blast processes. 

Toby Prior

With nearly 30 years of  industry experience, Toby Prior is a Resource Geologist and co-owner of Measured Group. A dedicated Vulcan user since 2003, he excels in applying stratigraphic modelling tools to create more accurate, reliable models, especially for structurally complex mining projects.

Patrick Ruffridge

Head of Mineral Resource Management at Nevada Gold Mines, Patrick Ruffridge brings a wealth of experience in resource geology and ore control across multiple mining districts. A strong advocate for data-driven workflows and team development, he has been instrumental in enhancing geology’s role in maximising mining value.

Brent van Dijken

With 25 years of experience in geology across gold, nickel and iron ore operations, Brent van Dijken is Principal of the Problematic Ore Project at BHP. He has been a key leader in leveraging Vulcan 3D modelling tools to improve drill design, resource modelling and materials handling, while also driving product enhancements through close collaboration with Maptek.

Andrew Vidale

Managing Director of AVCS, Andrew Vidale has nearly 40 years of expertise in open pit mine evaluation, covering pit optimisation, design and cost modelling. His 30-year collaboration with Maptek continues as he leverages Evolution for medium-term scheduling across diverse mining projects.

Maptek values connections with customers—their feedback and collaboration has helped to refine our tools and enhance applications for all industry users.