Q&A with Michael Munro
NAME
Michael Munro
TITLE
Technical Director, GMEK
QUALIFICATIONS
BSc, MSc
Everyone has a story to tell, and this month we asked Michael Munro, Technical Director at GMEK, the hard questions.
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
Knowing there’s a whole world of opportunity out there, people to meet, and places to see. The rest of the time what gets me up is good waves with light offshore winds.
Why did you choose your current career and how did you get to your current position?
I’ve always been curious about science and nature, and I knew geoscience and mining would give me opportunities to get outside and explore the world. After 15 years in the mining industry, I decided to specialise in geological and geotechnical modelling. It’s a field where there is a lot of space for innovation and improvements in our industries. I hope I’m right!
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part has to be resolving geological structure from complex settings. It’s exciting to work on something that is geologically challenging. It feels like learning a new language!
These projects usually start with relentless mapping with whatever data is available, sometimes coupled with complete despair and helplessness until everything finally clicks into place! Challenges like this are the best ones, especially when you get to share the results with happy clients.
What do you find most challenging about your role?
The most challenging part is conveying geotechnical understanding and the significance to stakeholders. I find having industry experience in planning and financial forecasting a real asset here. You always have to make your ideas or outcomes relatable, no matter how complex the science might be.
What is one thing you would like to change about the mining and geotechnics/rock engineering industry?
I’d like to make mining projects more accountable with respect to achieving geotechnical confidence. With resource models, for example, the mining industry has many rules and legal regulations to ensure information is accurate and not misleading. However, when it comes to geotechnical models, the benchmark isn’t as high.
Ultimately I think we’d all benefit from having a more universal framework where geotechnical models meant to keep people safe are held to the same rigour as those which serve to protect investments.
What areas of the industry or trends do you think will become more important in coming years?
Realistic fracture modelling. This allows us to see and understand ground conditions ahead of time. The technology is already here and waiting to be applied.
If you could invite three people, alive or dead, to dinner – who would they be and why?
Rik Mayall, David Bowie, Sean Lock; Just for the laughs and the oddity, might be a few beverages involved and many laughs no doubt.
What moment of your life would you want to re-live – and would you change anything?
My Cardiff University days - and not much.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
‘The enemy of art is a lack of limitations.’
What advice would you give to someone considering geotechnical or rock engineering as a career?
Strive to master the basics and it’ll spark so many questions. There is still so much we don’t fully understand about our field. Time spent here will serve you well.