Mark Chesher

Independent Principal Mining Engineer Mark Chesher

Mark Chesher is an accomplished Independent Principal Mining Engineer with extensive experience as a mining industry expert. His career spans four decades in the resource industry, in both operational and consulting roles, gaining expertise in mine planning, operations management, and mine engineering.

Mark has held significant positions, including a long tenure at AMC Consultants, where he managed mining feasibility studies for diverse mining projects globally, as well as managing an open pit planning team of up to 15 engineers. His expertise in mine operations, project management, and feasibility studies is well-regarded, as evidenced by numerous endorsements for commodities like gold, base metals, uranium, laterites, and more.

Expatriot living and working provided Mark with the opportunity to initiate an independent consulting branch office in Moscow, expand the client base and establish AMC Consultants as a provider of high-quality consulting services in Russian speaking countries. Mark grew the office to employ six staff, before closing operations in 2022.

Now self-employed as an Independent Mine Engineering Consultant, Mark continues to leverage his deep understanding of open-pit mine design and operations to provide smart mining solutions for companies worldwide. His roles have encompassed critical aspects such as ore reserve reporting, equipment specification, pit design, and operations management.

Qualifications and Experience

Education & Qualifications

AMC Consultants, 2000 - 2023

  • Principal Mining Engineer

  • Executive Lead,

    Business Development (2021-2023)

  • Technical Director, Moscow (2017-2022)

  • Open Pit Manager, Perth (2011-2016)

1983 to 2000

  • Anaconda Nickel, WA

    Murrin Murrin Mining Manager

  • Nimary Gold Mine, WA

    Operations/Mining Manager

  • Tuckabianna Gold Mine, WA

    Mine Superintendent

  • Telfer Gold Mine, WA

    Mine Planning Engineer

  • Comalco Brisbane, QLD

    Market Analyst

  • Comalco Weipa, QLD

    Senior Mine Engineer

Managing and contributing to Feasibility Studies at all confidence levels

  • Overall Feasibility Study Manager for open pit hard rock, laterite, bauxite, evaporite deposits

    Overall Study Manager for:

    • Crown Prince Gold Deposit open pit feasibility study and Ore Reserve for New Murchison Gold (2025)

    • Open pit phosphate project (Australia - 2010)*

  • Manager for Development and Commissioning of mining operations

    Mining Manager during development and commissioning for:

    • Murrin Murrin Nickel Cobalt Mine (Australia).

    • Nimary Gold Mine (Australia)

  • Manage feasibility studies and report Ore Reserves according to the JORC Code for large and small projects

    Manage Mining aspects of these Feasibility level Studies or Ore Reserve estimates:

    • Open pit gold project (Mauritania - 2026)

    • Open pit potash project (Eritrea - 2018)*

    • Open pit rare eaths project (Australia - 2012)*

    • Open pit polymetallic project (Finland - 2012)

    • Open pit gold project expansion study (Australia - 2012)

    • Open pit review and Technical Report (Australia - 2012)*

    • Open pit mining methods study for mineral sands project (Australia - 2011)

    • Open pit mineral sands project (Mozambique - 2006)

    • Open pit polymetallic project (Finland - 2005)

  • Manage feasibility study teams for large open pit projects

    Manage Mining aspects of these Pre-Feasibility level Studies or Ore Reserve estimates:

    • Large open pit gold project (Russia - 2021)*

    • Open pit zinc project (Russia - 2021)

    • Large underground Ni/Pd project (Russia - 2019)

    • Open pit gold project (Eritrea - 2016)

    • Underground gold project (Fiji - 2009 to 2013)

    • Open pit magnetite project (Australia - 2009)*

    • Open pit gold project (PNG - 2008)*

    • Open pit lead/zinc/silver project (Russia - 2008)

    • Open pit gold project (Tanzania - 2008)

    • Strategic planning polymetallic project (Finland - 2002)

  • Conduct and manage Due Diligence Reviews of studies and existing operations

    Manage these Mining Studies and Reviews:

    • Independent mining engineering review of copper project (Australia - 2026)

    • Independent mining engineering review of gold projects (Guinea - 2025)

    • Independent mining engineering review of gold project (Australia - 2024)

    • Independent mining engineering review of gold project (Cote d’Ivoire - 2024)

    • Scoping study for gold project (Russian - 2018)

    • Operational review vanadium project (Australia - 2013)

    • Mining strategy for gold project (Australia - 2013)

    • Open pit mining methods study for uranium project (Australia - 2010)

    • Production schedule for gold project (Egypt - 2008)

    • Operation review manganese project (Australia - 2007)

    • Open pit scoping study uranium project (CAR - 2007)

    • Open pit scoping study uranium project (South Africa - 2007)

    • Open pit grade variability study bauxite project (Australia - 2005)

    • Trial mining management (Finland - 2005)

    • Open pit mineral sands overburden removal concept study (Australia - 2001)

  • Denotes Competent Person (AusIMM) or Qualified Person (NI43-101)

Industry Testimonials

  • Crown Prince Open Pit Gold Project Feasibility Study, Ore Reserve Report, and Contract Tendering

    New Murchison Gold initially engaged Mark Chesher to prepare a technical report and Ore Reserve estimate for the Crown Prince Gold deposit, then to assist negotiation of the Ore Purchase Agreement with our offtake partner. Mark’s work covered all technical aspects of the study which culminated in the successful release of our Ore Reserve report to the ASX in February 2025. After funding, Mark managed the tendering and selection of the mining and crushing contractor and assisted implementation of mine design until the start of production. 

    During the technical study and implementation, Mark engaged and co-ordinated with all specialists, customers and suppliers in an effective manner and interpreted the information concisely to prepare the technical report and supporting reports to the New Murchison Gold Limited Board of Directors. 

    Mark was based in our office and brought great energy to the team, explaining and communicating complex engineering ideas efficiently and effectively, and balanced the commercial drive to deliver the project with a genuine commitment to safety and ethics. 

    The Crown Prince gold mine has subsequently been an outstanding success story moving from the announcement of the feasibility study and inaugural Ore Reserve estimate in February 2025 to a decision to mine in late June 2025 to a first blast on 30 June 2025 and first ore sales in September 2025. 

    I highly recommend Mark for any team looking for a talented, reliable mining engineer able to take on any position within a mining or management team.

    Alex Passmore (CEO) Derek Humphry (CFO)

    New Murchison Gold

  • Sukhoi Log Pre-Feasibility Study

    “Polyus is preparing to develop the Sukhoi Log Gold Mine, one of the largest gold resources in the world. Mark was a key contributor to the work at Sukhoi Log, including management of the mining portions of the PFS and conversion of the estimated 65Moz gold Mineral Resource into an Ore Reserve estimate of 40Moz gold. His approach was instrumental in helping us to select the plant throughput rate, mining rate and subsequent cutoff grade. His management of mining consultants and guidance on dealing with all modifying factors, including historic data issues, enabled preparation of a project design with reduced risk and improved economics. I was very happy with the outcomes of his work.”

    Sergey Lobov, VP Mineral Resources, 2021. PJSC Polyus Gold – World’s 5th Largest Gold Producer

  • Independent Competent Person’s Report on Mineral Assets of PJSC Polyus

    “Mark Chesher provided the independent CPR for Polyus assets used in the prospectus for listing on the LSE in 2017. His cooperative approach to working with the Polyus technical experts on strategic planning for each asset provided significant improvements and resulting in reliable life-of-mine plans for our planned increases to production. This gave our investors confidence as Polyus moved from producing 1.9Moz gold in 2016 to 2.8Moz in 2020. We were happy with the results Mark achieved and he continued to manage preparation of our Resource and Reserve reports, contribute to strategic planning and take responsibility for annual updates to the Ore Reserve estimates, culminating in the December 2020 Ore Reserve estimate of 1.7Bt grading 1.9g/t for 104Moz of gold.”

    Sergey Lobov, VP Mineral Resources, 2021. PJSC Polyus Gold – World’s 5th Largest Gold Producer

  • Natalka Gold Mine Operational Efficiency

    “During initial stages of development, the Natalka Gold Mine suffered higher than expected dilution and negative resource reconciliations. Working with the resource modellers on site for six months and overseeing a pilot testwork programme, Mark showed invaluable knowledge and insight on identifying opportunities for improvement in operational practices to reduce the dilution and ore loss. He then led development of a mining model, which incorporated dilution and ore loss with more realistic parameters. Using this model and Mark’s approach to strategic planning, we were able to effectively consider the available options for Natalka and select the mine plan that best met our objectives. We were then able to update our life-of-mine plan for Natalka and Mark reported Ore Reserve estimates as Competent Person according to the JORC Code. We were pleased with the outcomes of this project and engaged Mark to prepare the overall Competent Person’s report for the listing of PJSC Polyus shares on LSE in 2017.

    Sergey Lobov, VP Mineral Resources, 2016. PJSC Polyus Gold – World’s 5th Largest Gold Producer