Robin J. Hickson

Independent Mining Consultant

2026 Medal of Merit Recipient

Robin J. Hickson is an independent mining consultant and mining author with some 50 years of experience building mines around the world. Today he provides senior management consulting services, expert advice and analysis to entities involved in the development, expansion and operation of both underground and surface mines. Mr. Hickson has served as President of three mining organizations, was the Senior Mining Executive for four engineering / construction firms, and spent 29 years in the field directing operations and projects at some 100 mines in over 20 countries. Mr. Hickson has proven leadership skills along with strong project management expertise in the evaluation, acquisition, feasibility, process design, engineering, development, construction, operation and reorganization of mines and mining projects. He has practical hands-on project execution and field start up experience. Mr. Hickson led the building of 15 grassroots mines including Grasberg and DOZ (Indonesia), El Abra and El Tesoro (Chile), Cerro Verde (Peru), Karonie and Bow River (Australia), Kubaka (Russia), Fort Knox (Alaska), Mesquite (CA), Ortiz (NM), Big Springs (NV), American Soda (CO), Willow Creek (UT) and Santa Cruz (AZ), as well as 9 major brownfield plant expansions in Peru, Chile, Zambia and the US – all delivered in budget, on schedule, and operating at design throughput. He has managed mining operations on six continents, both union and union-free. Mr. Hickson has a record of successfully building new mines and then operating those mines profitably. He is the co-author of the "Project Management for Mining" book, published by SME in January 2015 and has co-authored three other books for the mining industry and numerous technical papers. Mr. Hickson obtained his B.Sc. degree from the Royal School of Mines in England. He went on to receive his MBA, with honors from Tulane University in Louisiana. He is a Chartered Engineer and a certified Qualified Person in Mining Engineering. Specialties: Mining expert advice. Mine property evaluations, due diligence, and mining property acquisition. Feasibility studies, mine and process design, mine engineering. Mine development & construction. Mine management and operation. Project management, project controls. Practical hands-on project execution and field start-up. Robin has experience working within the copper, lead-zinc, nickel molybdenum, gold, silver, diamonds, uranium, coal, iron, soda ash, phosphate and potash industries.

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