Leadership

Paul Evans has been our Chief Financial Officer since 17 October 2006. He has extensive experience in commercial, general management and financial roles. 

Paul brings industry experience covering the media, manufacturing, mining services and telecommunications industries. 

• Chartered Accountant Australia and New Zealand 

• Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand  

• Australian Institute of Company Directors 

Shaun Southwell has extensive management experience, delivering operational excellence across multi-disciplined teams. 

He brings excellent knowledge of the drilling tools business and all aspects of the supply chain including manufacturing; service; fleet management; and logistics. 

He commenced his career as an apprentice fitter and turner and progressed to senior management positions including Global Head – Drilling Equipment Inspection; General Manager – Oil, Gas & Chemical; and General Manager Industrial & Gearhart Group.  

Prior to joining IMDEX, worked with SGS Gearhart United for 27 years. 

• Leading Organisational Impact - Melbourne Business School Executive Program

Shane Plant has 16 years’ experience within the resources and advisory sectors. 

During his career he’s had extensive experience in commercial strategy, marketing, M&A and corporate transformations across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe and North and South America. 

Prior to IMDEX he was with Weatherford International for 6 years as Global Commercial Director. Other roles have included strategy and corporate turnaround while advisory roles focused on new product strategy and investment. 

• Bachelor of Science in Management and Finance from Technological University Dublin 

John Hickey brings over 30 years’ experience in oil & gas formation evaluation and drilling tool development and operations with companies including Teleco Oilfield Services, Baker Hughes and APS Technology. 

He has had leadership roles in engineering, R&D, business development and field operations.  

John has a strong engineering and technical background grounded in practical field operations globally. 

• Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Penn State  

• Master of Science in Environmental Management from University of Houston - Clear Lake 

Wayne Panther has extensive IT expertise ranging from strategy, development, delivery, operations, to innovation. 

He has experience with digital technology leadership across the resources value chain in data, applications, and infrastructure.  

Wayne also has a wealth of global experience from his time at Chevron and Mircosoft. 

• Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts, University of Auckland 

Dr Michelle Carey has over 20 years’ experience in the mining industry, working for companies including BHP and WMC. 

During her time at IMDEX she has over 8 years in senior leadership roles.  

Michelle has extensive experience in developing innovative products for the mining industry. 

• PhD in Geochemistry from Monash University 

Kiah Grafton, has strategic expertise across all aspects of HR including industrial relations, talent acquisition and organisational development. 

Prior to joining IMDEX, Kiah had over 18 years’ HR generalist experience, having held senior management and leadership positions across a broad portfolio of industry sectors including resources, banking, hospitality and not-for-profit, for national and global organisations. 

• Bachelor of Business, Human Resources Management & Management, Edith Cowan University 

• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Dr Dave Lawie has been our Chief Geoscientist since 2012, adding the responsibilities of Chief Technologist – Mining in 2015. 

He held global positions in exploration geochemistry and R&D with Pasminco and Anglo American before co-founding ioGlobal in 2004. 

Dave grew ioGlobal as Managing Director into a global company specialising in geochemistry and geometallurgical consulting services, cloud-based data management and the ioGAS desktop analytics software. The company was acquired by IMDEX in 2012. 

• PhD in Geosciences and Analytics from the University of New England 

Michael Tomasz is experienced in both corporate and commercial law, gained from a variety of multinational resource and industrial conglomerate companies.  

He is skilled in building collaborative partnerships with clients in the resources sector, including technology partners. 

• Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales 

• Admitted as a Solicitor in England & Wales 

• Masters of Business Administration from Curtin University 

• Bachelor of Laws from Murdoch University 

• Bachelor of Science (Geology) from University of Western Australia