IMWA 2022 Chair
James Pope is a geochemist specialising in mine water chemistry with 18 years of experience in minerals sector environmental science. He has been an IMWA member since 2014, on the executive committee since 2017 and has contributed to IMWA conferences regularly throughout the last 12 years. James is Chief Executive of Verum Group, a research, consulting and laboratory company in New Zealand, and is Adjunct Professor at the University of Windsor (Canada) and Adjunct Fellow at University of Canterbury (New Zealand). He has published 40 peer reviewed journal articles and about 80 conference papers on mine water related topics. Throughout his career, James has aimed to deliver best practise science (innovation, application or analyses) to enable the minerals sector to operate with a decreasing footprint, and improving sustainability and social licence.
James has a school aged family and lives on a small farm outside Christchurch, New Zealand. Away from work, James spends his time in the outdoors mountain biking, hiking, adventure racing and skiing.
Paul Weber is a Director and Principal Environmental Geochemist for Mine Waste Management Ltd (MWM) based in Christchurch, New Zealand providing expert technical advice on acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) for clients internationally. He has been involved in the research and operational management of AMD for 20+ years and has been an author for over 70+ publications. His M.Sc. thesis (1995) related to investigations of neutral mine drainage at the historic Globe-Progress Au Mine near Reefton, New Zealand. His Ph.D. thesis (2003) investigated the neutralising reactions associated with AMD and considered predictive tools and management mechanisms. This was part of the Australian mining industry supported AMIRA P387B Research Project. As a Principal Environmental Geochemist he has been involved in gaining regulatory approvals for mining operations having AMD related issues including the development of technical supporting AEE’s; and the development of AMD management plans including supporting operational protocols.
Programme
Rachel Rait is the National Advisor for Contaminated Sites at the Department of Conservation, New Zealand where she specialises in contaminated land management including legacy mine sites. She has been involved in acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) in past work in New Zealand and Australia. She is a Certified Environmental Practitioner Site Contamination specialist working in contaminated land throughout New Zealand. She has in depth knowledge of New Zealand local authority and central government processes including gaining regulatory approvals and technical input to environmental impact assessments. Rachel also has extensive experience within hydrogeology and soils.
Dave Trumm is a geologist at Verum Group based in Christchurch, New Zealand. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley (1983) and a Master’s degree from San Jose State University (1989). His early years of employment involved research at the U.S. Geological Survey in California, followed by consulting in groundwater remediation in the upper Midwest of the USA, before migrating to New Zealand. From 2001, he has been with Verum Group conducting research and consulting on mine drainage issues. His primary work is on development and application of passive treatment solutions for the mining industry in New Zealand. He has been presenting at and attending ICARD and IMWA conferences since 2003. He also presents lectures on geochemistry and mine drainage issues at the University of Canterbury and Otago University.
Dave has a small family and enjoys many outdoor activities, such as camping, caving, mountain biking, tramping and skiing.
Short Courses
Hana is a research scientist and geochemist at Verum Group in Christchurch. Her background is in chemistry, and she completed her PhD on phosphorus biogeochemistry at the University of Canterbury in 2015. Hana has experience working on the distribution and mobility of contaminants and nutrients in aquatic systems in New Zealand and Antarctica. Hana has worked on water treatment and long-term trends in mine drainage chemistry as part of the New Zealand Mine Environment Life Cycle research program and continues to do consulting work in this field. Hana helped to develop the acid-base accounting standard reference materials. Hana’s current research projects include studying the application of infrared analytical technology to different materials and enhanced passive treatment systems, of which the nitrate removing bioreactor trials in Springston is an exciting development. Away from work, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, gardening and is a member of the national women’s ultimate frisbee team.
Mandy Train works as event manager for conference innovators.
PCO
Secretariat / PCO
Karoline Wolkersdorfer works as event manager for wolke events.