Professional headshot of a smiling man in a suit with a yellow tie, identified as Keith Whitchurch, Director at SMG Consultants.

Keith Whitchurch Biography
BE(Hons), MEngSci, FAusIMM, CP(Min), RPEQ, PERHAPI, CPI, IPU., ASEAN Eng., APEC Eng.
President Director at SMG Consultants CAREER OVERVIEW

 Keith holds a comprehensive set of qualifications, including a BE (Hons), MEngSci, affirming his excellence in the field.

As a Competent Person (Mining) and RPEQ, Keith's credentials extend to Registered Professional Engineer in Queensland, underlining his commitment to professional standards.

He is a distinguished FAusIMM, reflecting his active involvement in the industry's professional community.

Internationally, Keith's affiliations include PERHAPI (Perhimpunan Ahli Pertambangan Indonesia) and CPI (Competent Person Indonesia), illustrating his standing as a recognized professional in Indonesia. His groundbreaking achievements are further highlighted by his status as the first foreigner registered as a Professional Engineer Indonesia (PII) and the attainment of the Executive Professional Engineer (IPU) Certificate. On a broader scale, Keith's recognition extends to the ASEAN Engineering Register (AER) and APEC Engineers Registered (ER), showcasing his standing as a qualified and reputable professional within the ASEAN and APEC regions. Keith boasts an illustrious career in open-cut and underground mining, spanning almost four (4) decades, marked by a continuous and profound engagement in mining innovation and mathematical techniques for modelling and optimization. Specializing in mine transformation, he excels in geological modelling, reserves evaluation, pit optimization, mine design, equipment selection, scheduling, backfill design, and project costing. Keith holds a pre-JORC code Master's degree in Geostatistics and Resource Classification, showcasing his early dedication to academic excellence. As an avid early adopter of cutting-edge technology, his groundbreaking contributions include the presentation of the first peer-reviewed paper on artificial intelligence in mining at APCOM in 1996. Since 1985, Keith has played a pivotal role in global Resource and Reserve estimation across diverse commodities. Over the past 30 years, he authored reports underpinning transactions exceeding USD 15 billion, demonstrating his significant impact. Serving as an expert witness on three continents underscores his credibility.