Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining

A seasoned mining engineer with over 20 years of experience, Jo-Anne Dudley is dedicated to transforming the mining industry through strategic innovation and sustainable practices. Currently serving as a non-executive director at Ora Banda Mining Pty Ltd, a Perth-based gold miner, Dudley is known for her ability to navigate complex challenges in mining operations and drive projects towards value creation. Her technical expertise and strategic insight have earned her a place on the BRIMM Board of Directors, where she is committed to fostering collaboration between academia and industry.

Dudley’s extensive background in strategic and long-term mine planning has shaped her approach to tackling industry challenges. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader ecosystem of mining operations, particularly when it comes to issues like tailings facility management and water usage. “It’s easy to think of a tailings facility as a standalone item on a mine site,” Dudley explains. “But really, it’s part of the ecosystem that you’re managing as a mining company. If you’re optimizing your truck fleet, you have to think about how you’re building your tailings facility.” This holistic perspective is what drives Dudley to engage deeply with researchers at BRIMM, helping them to connect their work with real-world applications.

“It’s about bringing industry to the researchers and showing them where the value might be,” she adds. “For example, how a solution developed for tailings management could be integrated into broader mining operations.” 

At BRIMM, Dudley is particularly focused on the practical application of research to improve sustainability in mining. She advocates for a collaborative approach, where industry and academia work together to address global mining challenges. “BRIMM’s role is critical,” she notes. “The value in BRIMM is bringing industry people together with researchers, providing the seed funding for good ideas, and helping those ideas get the support they need to continue developing.”

Dudley’s vision for BRIMM includes a strong emphasis on safety and process optimization, areas where she believes industry experience can significantly benefit academic research. Reflecting on her engagements with UBC’s research teams, she highlights the importance of presenting research in a way that resonates with industry stakeholders. “When you’ve got people from industry coming in, they’ll be looking for safety and process evidence. It’s about helping researchers understand what will be expected on site and how to demonstrate that effectively.”

Committed to advancing the mission of sustainable and responsible mining practices, Dudley’s extensive experience, strategic vision, and dedication to mentoring make her an invaluable asset to BRIMM and the broader mining community. “Ultimately, we want the mining industry to achieve improved sustainability through BRIMM,” she affirms. “That’s why we’re all involved—because we care about making a positive impact on the industry and society.”