Ian Payne was elected a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mine Surveyors on 14th September 2023 at the AIMS 2023 Annual General Meeting held during the AIMS 2023 National Conference in Sydney.
Over his time working in the field of surveying, Ian has been an advocate for mine surveying within the industry and has mentored many surveyors through the registration process from within his own teams, as well as providing support for surveyors from other companies through his experience and knowledge sharing and it was felt that Ian’s achievements and commitment to the mine surveying industry should be formally recognised.
Ian has worked the entirety of his mine surveying career throughout the Hunter Valley and Gunnedah Coal Basin undertaking various positions including mine surveyor, mine surveyor in charge, Open Cut Examiner, Drill and Blast supervisor and planning engineer. A timeline of his work history can be found below:
- November 1977 - 1983, Surveyor’s Assistant, Hebden Mining Company (Durham North & Swamp Creek O/C) / Liddell Colliery Underground
- Ian completed his Coal Mine Surveyor’s Certificate – TAFE NSW 1980
- June 1983, Ian passed the Mine Surveyor exams in Sydney. 2x3 hour maths written exams 1 day, a 3 hour legislation written the next day, then 6 hours in Centennial Park doing a traverse, level run, instrument adjustments and an oral exam. Presented with Mine Surveyors certificate of Competency No. 473
- June 1984 - January 1991, Assistant Surveyor / Drill and Blast Design, Swamp Creek Open Cut, Ravensworth East
- February 1991 - December 1992, Open Cut Examiner, Shotfirer, Vickery Open Cut, Gunnedah
- January 1993 - June 1999, Statutory Mine Surveyor / Drill and Blast Design Coordinator, Howick Open Cut (West Pit HVO)
- June 1999 - November 2002, Statutory Mine Surveyor, Hunter Valley Operations
- December 2002 - June 2005, Drill and Blast Supervisor, Hunter Valley Operations
- Registered Mining Surveyor (unrestricted) under Board of Surveying & Spatial Information since 18/09/2003 – Number SU008293
- Statutory Mine Surveyor, Short Term Planning Engineer, relief OCE, Ashton Coal O/C
- September 2006 - March 2007, Surveyor, Mt Arthur Coal
- April 2007 - September 2016, Chief Mining Surveyor, rehab planning, Mt Arthur Coal
- September 2016 – January 2022, Statutory Mine Surveyor, Bengalla
Ian was presented with his Fellow Certificate at the AIMS Hunter Valley Seminar on 16 November 2023 by AIMS President James Sherritt.
