Stew: MD & Principal Geologist
BSc (Geology) James Cook University 1987

With over 35 years in exploration and mining geology across Australia and internationally, Stew has worked on some of the industry’s most significant discoveries and operations.

Early career highlights in Australia include:

  • Extensive work in the goldfields of Charters Towers, Croydon, the Hodgkinson and the Northern Territory

  • Resource definition drilling and exploration at the extraordinary Tick Hill gold mine (705,000 t @ 22.6 g/t Au) for Mount Isa Mines

  • Leading the 100,000m sterilisation and pathfinder program on the Ernest Henry IOCG discovery

  • Resource drill-out and deep directional drilling at Ernest Henry (now Evolution Mining underground)

  • Extensive work in the Mount Isa–Cloncurry district during the 1990s “golden age” of discoveries (Osborne, Eloise, Century, Cannington, Ernest Henry)

From 2007 he operated internationally in technically and logistically challenging jurisdictions:

  • Papua New Guinea (porphyry Cu-Au and magmatic Ni)

  • New Zealand (epithermal Au)

  • Philippines (Mindanao gold porphyries)

  • Mongolia (placer and hard-rock gold, Cu-Au porphyries, due diligence, and project generation) — established and managed the Mongolian office of RSC Mining & Mineral Exploration

  • Senior roles with RPMGlobal (now SLR Consulting) managing projects across Mongolia, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Türkiye

Returning to Australia in 2022 and recognising the acute skills shortage in exploration and mining geology, Stew co-founded Norwest Exploration and Mining Services. Norwest specialises in rapid, compliant placement of experienced Australian and overseas geologists and field technical support (with 482/494 visa sponsorship where required) into mine-site and exploration roles nationwide.

Our contractors have filled critical vacancies for Glencore, Evolution Mining, MICO and numerous mid-tier and junior explorers.

Stew remains based in Mount Isa and is directly involved in candidate selection and client liaison, ensuring the right person is on site, on time, every time.

Acknowledgements: Stew is indebted to and would like to thank mentors and colleagues, including Roger Taylor, Bill Laing, Jon Hronsky, John Vann, Simon Beams, Rene Sterk, Phil Baudry, Peter Forrestal, Mark Elliot, Chrissy Maguire, Trevor Shaw and many others who helped shape a long and varied career.