About Us
The Vision
The mining sector is one of the world’s largest industry segments, comprising an estimated 11.5% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Nearly every country on earth has a mining industry of some form, yet there is no consistent, internationally recognized, set of agreed performance measures and standards for the industry. This has resulted in inefficiencies in financing, investing, regulating or otherwise engaging with mining sector proponents and stakeholders.
Almost every state, territory and provincial government around the world regulates the industry under different standards making any understanding of mining industry operations very difficult for outsiders. Mining firms can invest anywhere, yet stakeholders often have no understanding of whether mining firms are applying leading practices, are operating to lower standards or cutting corners.
Mining Standards International (“MSI”) seeks to meet this market gap, providing assurance and ratings advisory services on mining company performance for the benefit of investors, regulators, mining firms and other stakeholders.
Robert Milbourne, Managing Director
MSI was founded by Robert Milbourne in 2015 to address the global challenge in transparency and accountability in the mining sector. Joined by senior industry professionals with over 100 years of mining experience, MSI has a team of professionals with expertise in geology, mineral processing, governance, finance, social impact and certification systems.
Our Board
Dr. Tony Filmer
Tony has more than 40 years of experience as one of the world’s preeminent technical leaders in mineral processing and extraction. Tony completed his doctorate in Extractive Metallurgy in 1978, and has advised most of the world’s leading mining firms to establish mineral processing best practices, including as Director of Global Best Practice for Vale, Managing Director for Rio Tinto, and an extensive history of senior executive and advisory roles for other mining firms.
Prof. Gareth Evans AC
The Hon Gareth Evans AC QC FASSA FAIIA has been Chancellor of the Australian National University since January 2010. He was a Cabinet Minister in the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments from 1983-96, in the posts of Attorney General, Minister for Resources and Energy, Minister for Transport and Communications and – from 1988-96 – Foreign Minister. During his 21 years in Australian politics he was Leader of the Government in the Senate (1993-96) and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives (1996-98). From 2000 to 2009 he was President and CEO of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, the independent global conflict prevention and resolution organisation.
Greg Vickery
Immediate past Chairman of the Standing Committee of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Greg has been awarded one of the highest national honours, the Order of Australia (AO), for his distinguished work in law and humanitarian affairs. His practice as a lawyer has included decades of experience in the mining sector, and in government aid and development, including managing a multi-year advisory team to support the government of Indonesia to improve economic governance.
Douglas Ritchie
Doug’s has spent over thirty years in senior executive roles at Rio Tinto, including as a member of its Executive Committee and CEO of Rio Tinto’s Energy business and Group Executive of Strategy. He has in depth leadership experience in exploration, project development, energy, aluminum and industrial minerals. He is a director of Interlate, and was recently Executive Director Jinchuan Group International Resources, one of the world’s leading nickel miners, and among the largest mining firms in China and Chairman of UniQuest, the main commercialization vehicle of the University of Queensland.
Dr. Doug McTaggart
Chairman of the Council of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, member of the Council of the Australian National University, and recent Chairman of the Public Service Commission, has a 40 year history of academic and institutional leadership with respect to financial markets and funds management. He served for 15 years as CEO of Queensland’s sovereign wealth fund, Queensland Investment Corporation, which has over A$70 billion dollars under management. Doug has a PHD in economics from the University of Chicago, and served as professor of Economics at Bond University.