Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
It Software Experience
Personal Information
References
Timeline
Generic
Charles Graham

Charles Graham

Project Manager
Cape Town

Summary

PMI accredited Project Management Professional (PMP) offering 20 years’ experience delivering multidisciplinary mining and infrastructure projects of up to $450m from initial feasibility study stages to execution and final commissioning, safely, on time and within budget in remote and logistically challenging geographical regions. Experience in gold, copper, cobalt, platinum, rare earth elements and mineral sands projects, including carbon in leach, flotation, SX/EW, magnetic separation and gravity concentration processes. Have successfully delivered multiple projects and feasibility studies in Mali, Ghana, Senegal, D.R.C. and South Africa which include gold, platinum and copper, including associated major infrastructure (power, water, roads, tailings etc.). As Project Manager responsibility for teams of up to 10 direct and 200 indirect reports within Owner/Operator and EPC/M engineer and as Construction Manager, contractor, and subcontractor teams of up to 500 personnel. Proven track record of increasing project value (NPV/IRR) by reducing capital and operating costs during project life cycle from study to execution. Expert knowledge of effective and efficient project execution strategies to suit the Owner or EPC/M engineer, based on accepted international best practice (PMBoK). Track record of adding shareholder value by assertive yet responsible decision making and implementing effective risk management strategies on projects in logistically challenging locations.

Overview

33
33
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages

Work History

Senior Project Manager

ADP/Lycopodium
05.2023 - Current
  • Company Overview: ADP is a Lycopodium owned company, specializing in delivering minerals processing projects for clients in the African space. ADP started off as a company specialising in modular plants, predominantly in for the diamond industry, including marine diamonds, but has since been acquired by Lycopodium diversified into larger projects and different commodities.
  • I was employed by ADP to manage delivery of feasibility studies and the execution of projects for various customers. ADP/Lycopodium Cape Town presently has ~200 full time employees.

Lead Project Manager

Rainbow Rare Earths
02.2021 - 04.2023
  • Company Overview: Rainbow Rare Earths is a London listed mining company with one rare earth element producing mine in Burundi and several projects in the project pipeline.
  • I assisted RRE to advance various studies including resource definition, tailings deposition and infrastructure development to support the FS for the project. Delays with process definition delayed completion of the study (still delayed mid 2025).
  • Led the development of comprehensive project plans, incorporating scope definition, risk mitigation strategies, and budgeting considerations.
  • Monitored project progress, identified risks and implemented corrective measures to acquire success.
  • Communicated project plans and progress to key stakeholders and project contributors.

Project Director

AVENIRA Limited/BFA
12.2018 - 05.2020
  • Company Overview: AVENIRA is an ASX listed junior mining company with interests in a number of phosphate projects in Australia and Africa. Avenira sold the project to BFA (Baobab Fertilizer Africa) in 2019.
  • I was employed by AVENIRA/BFA to manage a multi-disciplinary team to take their BAOBAB phosphate project in Senegal post FS (feasibility study) to completion, including DFS (definitive feasibility study), construction, commissioning and ramp-up.
  • Achievements: After completion of the Feasibility Study, I initiated a desktop value engineering study which at concept level, illustrated that capital cost could be reduced by ~20% ($30M from $160M) without any increase in operating cost thereby significantly increased project value. This desktop work will be further refined in a formal VES (value engineering study) which is due to commence mid 2019 prior to commencing the DFS.

Project Manager

METC Engineering
02.2018 - 11.2018
  • Company Overview: METC is an engineering and project management and engineering company specialising in the development of mineral processing plants and associated infrastructure with 50-250 employees.
  • I was employed by METC to take over a ~$450m copper cobalt project located near Kolwezi in the DRC approximately 3 months into execution. The project includes minerals processing plant, tailings storage and other major infrastructure (e.g. roads, power, water reticulation). The scope initially included engineering, procurement, and construction management, but construction management was later removed from scope as client opted to self-perform.
  • Achievements: I inherited a project with very little structure in place and within 3 months, have managed to put proper structure and controls in place to manage the project to a predictable outcome. This included some basic project documentation (e.g. decision registers) to assist in managing expectations for a rapidly changing client team.

Project Manager

AVNEL Gold
02.2017 - 11.2017
  • Company Overview: Avnel Gold is a gold mining, exploration and development company with operations in south-western Mali in West Africa listed on the TSX under the symbol “AVK”. The Company’s strategic objective is to develop the Kalana Main Project into an open-pit mining operation through its 80% ownership in SOMIKA. A secondary objective of the Company is to explore the remainder of the 387 km2 Kalana Exploitation Permit to discover new mineral deposits.
  • Assist Owner’s Team to close out Definitive Feasibility.
  • Review DFS and identify risks and opportunities. Develop mitigating strategies for risks and effective plans to realise opportunities.
  • Develop project control system to ensure that project team has accurate data to manage project appropriately.
  • Develop project execution strategy.
  • Develop procurement and contracting strategy to ensure major contracts are awarded in line with corporate strategy on local procurement.
  • Negotiate major contracts with contractors and service providers.
  • Generate monthly and quarterly reports for Board review.
  • Initiating, executing and managing portfolio of ~50 small to medium projects and varying degrees of complexity.
  • Reporting directly to the President of AVNEL gold, based in London.
  • Achievements: Identified several major opportunities post completion of DFS and played a major part in increasing project economics (e.g., IRR increased from 35% to 46%), reduced capital expenditure and at the same time reduced operating cost.
  • Played an instrumental role in the developed and implemented a simple yet effective database based cost control system fully integrated with MS Project to give accurate cost and progress reports.
  • Played a significant role in the successful sale of the project to Endeavour Mining Company.

Program Manager

Gold Fields (South Deep)
04.2015 - 08.2015
  • Company Overview: South Deep is an established deep underground gold mine with Mineral Reserve of ~80Moz. Gold Fields acquired the operation in 2007 and has invested significant capital in the business since, including an expansion project that would bring the mine to >750kozpa production. However, the operation has been plagued with problems and is currently struggling to meet 300kozpa and running at significant loss.
  • Working closely with the Operations Management team to identify key hurdles preventing the business from functioning effectively.
  • Initiating, executing and managing portfolio of ~50 small to medium projects and varying degrees of complexity.
  • Establishing a Project Management Office including execution framework, essential governance etc.
  • Establishing appropriate project controls to measure project progress and cost, reporting to senior management including recommendations to maintain project schedules and budget.
  • Preparing Board and Investor documents and presentations to communicate the headline portfolio objectives, individual project status and other relevant information.
  • Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President of the South African region, under which the South Deep operation is managed.

Project Manager

Hummingbird Resources
07.2014 - 09.2014
  • Company Overview: Hummingbird Resources is a West African gold explorer and developer listed on AIM since December 2010. The company owns two advanced stage projects (Dugbe in Liberia and Yanfolila in Mali) with a total 6Moz gold resource and 5,000 km2 of exploration ground. Hummingbird acquired the Yanfolila Project from Gold Fields in June 2014.
  • Overall responsibility of managing project development budget of $85m.
  • Reporting to the Director of Operations based in London.
  • Leading a globally based multidisciplinary team of 4 direct reports (exploration manager, SHEC manager, mining engineer, geotechnical engineer), several contractors (resource drilling, geotechnical drilling and hydrogeological drilling and testing etc.) and a several international consultancies (mineral resource consultants, metallurgical engineers, mineral processing plant engineers, mining engineers, water and environmental engineers, geotechnical engineers) with ~100 staff overall.
  • Initiated drive to significantly increase focus on safety, health and environment from top management down.
  • Report weekly to management committee, quarterly to board and frequently to community and governmental stakeholders (up to minister of mines).
  • Strong resource development and remote project (West African) development experience, having taken the project from Scoping Study level to start of final development.
  • Achievements: Assisted Hummingbird Resources in securing conditional funding of $85m for the full development of the Yanfolila Project from Taurus Mining Finance Fund (Australia).
  • Concluded ~40,000m resource drilling campaign in 3 months to grow oxide resources from ~460koz to 620koz to ensure project viability in challenging economic climate with zero LTI (lost time injury) and limited budget.

Project Director (promoted From Project Manager in Jan 2013)

Gold Fields Ltd
05.2010 - 06.2014
  • Company Overview: Gold Fields is a multi-listed (JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ, NYX and SWX) gold miner with operations in South Africa, Ghana, Australia and Peru and market cap of ~$4-8bn. The company embarked on an aggressive growth strategy and built a world class project team consisting of specialists from exploration to project development and in 2013 had 5 advanced stage development projects on 3 continents to facilitate targeted growth from ~3Moz to 5Moz per annum.
  • Managed the delivery of several feasibility studies (budgets from $25-50m per study) on projects in Ghana and Mali from exploration to feasibility conclusion. Total project capital cost was estimated to be $25m, ~$250m and ~$750m respectively (if executed).
  • Complete project life cycle management from initial scoping, budget development, presentation to executive management (EXCO) and securing project funding (internal) through to final delivery and board presentation.
  • Leading a globally based team of 6 direct reports (including country manager, HSE manager, exploration manager, engineering manager, metallurgical manager and planning manager), numerous international contractors (resource and other drilling, engineering investigations e.g. geotechnical, geohydrological etc.) and consultants (specialist internal and external e.g. mining, geotechnical, water, power, tailings, metallurgical etc.) totalling up to 200 staff overall.
  • Assembling and managing multi-disciplinary project teams across multiple continents to deliver fit for purpose results suited to the country and region in which the product is to be delivered.
  • Overseeing the development of successful cost-effective community engagement strategies to the benefit of all stakeholders.
  • Monthly reporting to project steering committee, quarterly to board and bi-annually to executive management (EXCO) by formalised presentations. Frequent reporting to external stakeholders such as community and governmental stakeholders (up to ministerial level).
  • Reporting to the vice president projects based in Perth.
  • Assisted other project directors with budget development and implementation of thorough project controls.
  • Achievements: As project director, successfully delivered a pre-feasibility study within time and under budget on a Greenfields project in West Africa, thus growing the company Resource and Reserves by ~2Moz. The study included >150,000m resource drilling and was completed for ~900k man hours with zero LTI.
  • As project director, successfully delivered a pre-feasibility study within time and under budget that indicated the feasibility of adding ~5Moz gold to the resource at an existing operation (Brownfields) in West Africa. The study included ~45,000m resource drilling and was concluded in 12 months for ~$25m. Achieved >750k LTI free man hours at project completion.
  • As project manager, delivered an options study on a 20Mtpa (mill throughout) to restore nameplate throughput after it had reduced to 18Mtpa and then implemented the recommendations of the study in a Brownfields project, ultimately restoring throughput to nameplate. Following the recommendations of the study, the project was executed in 14 months using consultants, contractors, and operational personnel for a total of ~$25m without any LTI.
  • Significantly improved overall project & exploration group safety statistics by achieving >2.5m man-hours worked without an LTI through rigorous implementation of various company safety programmes and project specific initiatives and placing a very big emphasis on safety throughout all phases of project execution.
  • Secured a mining (exploitation) permit in Mali in 2014; the first such permit to be issued post the coup d’état in Mali in March 2012 through the development and implementation of a cost effective and mutually beneficial community and local stakeholder engagement plan.
  • Collaborated closely with executive leadership to align organizational strategies with long-term business objectives through effective planning and execution of key projects.
  • Oversaw budget development and financial tracking, ensuring cost-effective execution of complex projects.

Project Manager

MDM Engineering
02.2010 - 04.2010
  • Company Overview: MDM Engineering is a 25-year-old AIM listed engineering company specialising in the development of mineral processing plants and associated infrastructure with ~500 employees. It specialises in executing projects in difficult and remote locations with many of its historic successes being in remote parts of Africa.
  • I accepted a short-term role at MDM in anticipation of them securing a large project in South Africa. However, the project was delayed and there was little/no work for me and terminated employment after 3 months.

Senior Project Manager

GRD Minproc
07.2007 - 08.2009
  • Company Overview: GRD Minproc was an Australian listed engineering consultant with >2,000 employees and offices in Australia, South Africa and Brazil and had a 30-year track record of delivering mineral processing projects including associated infrastructure on multiple continents, before being acquired by AMEC in 2009.
  • As senior project manager and later as construction manager, successfully completed the Smokey Hills Platinum project in South Africa. The project experienced several delays due to unforeseen circumstances. The scope of the project included mineral processing plant, power plant (diesel), water reticulation and major infrastructure (roads etc.). The project achieved >1m LTI free man-hours at completion and total cost was ~$50m.

Self Employed

PC123
10.2006 - 06.2007
  • Company Overview: Started an online IT business; one of the first of its kind in South Africa. However the South African consumer proved to be internet purchase averse and the business was closed down.

Project Manager

GRD Minproc
07.2004 - 10.2006
  • Company Overview: GRD Minproc was an Australian engineering consultant with >2,000 employees and offices in Australia, South Africa and Brazil and had a 30-year track record of delivering mineral processing projects including associated infrastructure on multiple continents.
  • Successfully secured the Syama Gold Project for GRD Minproc and kick-started the project by completing FEED (Front End Engineering & Design) in GRD’s Perth offices.
  • Successfully completed the Ruashi Copper project in the D.R.C. within budget and on time, despite significant challenges. The scope of contract included dismantling, refurbishment and significant re-engineering of a copper concentrator located in remote Northern Cape Province of South Africa and modifying and then re-erecting it just outside Lubumbashi in the DRC.
  • Completed a definitive feasibility study in joint venture (with Murray & Roberts) to upgrade the Namakwa Sands mineral processing facility and infrastructure for Anglo American. The study was completed below budget and on time.

Project Manager

MDM Engineering
07.2002 - 06.2004
  • Company Overview: At the time, MDM Engineering was a privately owned and medium sized (~150 employees) metallurgical processing engineering consultant specialising in the execution of LSTK (lump sum or fixed price) projects in remote parts of Africa; especially West and Sub-Saharan.
  • Successfully secured the Loulo Gold Project for MDM and kick-started the project by completing FEED (Front End Engineering & Design) and early construction. Total Project value (MDM portion) was $90m.
  • Successfully completed the ~1Mtpa Afrikander Lease Gold (Mill/CIL) upgrade project in the South Africa, within budget and on time.

Project Engineer

Anvil Mining
10.2001 - 06.2002
  • Company Overview: At the time, Anvil Mining was a small junior mining company listed in Australia and the Dikulushi project was to be its first operation. It was also the first fully permitted foreign investment in a mining project in the DRC for many years.
  • Successfully completed the Dikulushi Copper project in the DRC, including all infrastructure (Dikulushi barge, roads, power plant etc.). The project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget.

Project Engineer

VATech WABAG
11.2000 - 09.2001
  • Company Overview: VA Tech WABAG was the water treatment division of the Voestalpine group out of Austria.
  • Successfully completed the design and construction of the Rawal lake water treatment plant near Rawalpindi in Pakistan. The project was executed from Pakistan and my involvement terminated after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the USA as only “essential” personnel were allowed to complete the project.

Proposals Engineer

Bateman Water
08.1998 - 10.2000
  • Company Overview: Bateman Water was the water treatment division of the Bateman Group, a large listed engineering and project execution house with ~2000 employees in South Africa.
  • Completed numerous cost estimates and compiled and submitted tenders and proposals for the company.

Project Engineer

UTT/Metalspray
05.1996 - 07.1998
  • Company Overview: UTT (later Metalspray) was a small specialist site applicator of metallic coatings and worked mostly in the petrochemical and power generation fields.
  • As project engineer, I lead a team of ~20 personnel on various site projects, typically 2-3 weeks duration (plant shutdowns) and amongst others, completed the largest ever metal spray project in South Africa (at SASOL Secunda) within very tight time constraints.

Mechanical Technician

ESKOM Kendall Power Station
07.1992 - 05.1996
  • Company Overview: Kendall power station was the largest coal fired power station in the world at the time with ~7GW generation capacity and part of South Africa’s state owned power utility, ESKOM.
  • As engineer, completed numerous small projects and modifications (to increase plant reliability) to the newly completed power station auxiliary services (coal and ash handling, fuel oil, water and compressed air services etc.)

Education

PMP - Project Management Professional

Project Management Institute
09.2024

PMP - Project Management Professional

Project Management Institute
01.2019

National Higher Diploma - Mechanical Engineering

Pretoria Technikon
01.1994

Skills

  • MS Project

  • MS Office suite

    • Project plan development

    Cost control

    Project goals and milestones

    Multi-project management

    Project management

    Problem-solving

    Work Planning and Prioritization

    Decision-making

    Analytical thinking

    Problem-solving abilities

    Time management

    Budget control

    Analytical skills

    Cost analysis

    Technical presentations

    Problem-solving aptitude

    Gantt charts

    Task prioritization

    Self motivation

    Professional demeanor

    Strategic thinking

    Verbal and written communication

    Critical thinking

    Risk management

It Software Experience

  • MS Project
  • MS Office suite

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth: 21/02/1970
  • Nationality: South African

References

I will provide references on request.

Timeline

Senior Project Manager

ADP/Lycopodium
05.2023 - Current

Lead Project Manager

Rainbow Rare Earths
02.2021 - 04.2023

Project Director

AVENIRA Limited/BFA
12.2018 - 05.2020

Project Manager

METC Engineering
02.2018 - 11.2018

Project Manager

AVNEL Gold
02.2017 - 11.2017

Program Manager

Gold Fields (South Deep)
04.2015 - 08.2015

Project Manager

Hummingbird Resources
07.2014 - 09.2014

Project Director (promoted From Project Manager in Jan 2013)

Gold Fields Ltd
05.2010 - 06.2014

Project Manager

MDM Engineering
02.2010 - 04.2010

Senior Project Manager

GRD Minproc
07.2007 - 08.2009

Self Employed

PC123
10.2006 - 06.2007

Project Manager

GRD Minproc
07.2004 - 10.2006

Project Manager

MDM Engineering
07.2002 - 06.2004

Project Engineer

Anvil Mining
10.2001 - 06.2002

Project Engineer

VATech WABAG
11.2000 - 09.2001

Proposals Engineer

Bateman Water
08.1998 - 10.2000

Project Engineer

UTT/Metalspray
05.1996 - 07.1998

Mechanical Technician

ESKOM Kendall Power Station
07.1992 - 05.1996

PMP - Project Management Professional

Project Management Institute

National Higher Diploma - Mechanical Engineering

Pretoria Technikon

PMP - Project Management Professional

Project Management Institute

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