Dave Dunn has 19 years of experience in process operations and supervision in mining refineries. He has expertise in areas including beneficiation, evaporation, filtration, and chemical handling. Dunn is highly safety-focused and has experience managing teams and shutdowns. He brings skills in plant operations, maintenance, quality control, and developing relationships. Dunn holds relevant qualifications and high-risk licenses.
1. DAVE DUNN M: 0438 727 634 E: davedunn73@gmail.com
Process Operator / Technician / Supervisor
Expertise Safety Leadership
A highly successful, committed and knowledgeable Process Technician, Operator and Supervisor with 19 years
experience within the mining sector, including Bauxite/ Alumina, Nickel, and Phosphate, working in various
refineries including beneficiation plants, sulphuric acid / chemical handling, evaporation, security filtration,
ammonia, granulation and more). I am an advocate and champion of the zero harm policy, having witnessed
fatalities, I am resolutely motivated to step up and ensure the safety of all teams I work with. I bring expertise in
quality control, maintenance and operating processes and have advanced knowledge of equipment used in
continuous processing plants. I am valued for my communication skills and my ability to develop positive rapport
and relationships with people of all levels and backgrounds, due to my friendly, positive and approachable nature .
I enjoy being constantly challenged and am always willing to step up and take control when needed.
Key Capabilities
Trade Skills
Expertise in Process Operation of continuous processing plants in mining refineries, including:
o Beneficiation (crushing and milling), Evaporation, heat exchangers, security filtration, sulphuric
and phosphoric fertiliser plants, pumps, water treatment, granulation,
Operate and maintain plant and equipment, including:
o Pumps, valves, filters, heat exchangers, crushers, conveyor’s, screens, drum scrubbers, cyclones
and mobile plant operation (bob cats, forklifts, EWP etc)
Chemical manufacturing and hazardous materials handling and storage– sulphuric, caustic, nitric acid,
bromide, phosphoric acid
Control room experience - DCS, Yokagawa systems
Shut Down Coordinator and isolating plant and equipment
Health and Safety Champion – WHS Rep, Emergency response and actively reducing risks
Fault finding and diagnosis of plant and equipment
Maintenance scheduling, planning and prioritising (using SAP and Ellipse)
Crane operator and rigger – 10 years exp operating slewing / non slewing cranes up to 60T.
Issuing work permits
Quality Control
Professional skills
Time Management, organisation, scheduling and planning
Leadership and supervisory skills – 10 years experience managing teams up to 8.
Committed to high standards and quality work
Excellent listener and fast and effective learner
Energetic, reliable and trustworthy
Proactive and high level of initiative
Passionate about Training and mentoring others - completing my cert IV in Training & Assessment
Well respected and trusted team member willing to work collaboratively with others.
Qualifications
Certificate III in Metalliferous Mining Operations (Processing)
Certificate III in Process Plant Operations
Currently completing Cert IV in Training and Assessment and Cert IV in Workplace Health and Safety
HR Driver’s Licence
C Class Drivers Licence
Tickets
Bobcat
2. Elevated work Platform
Bridge and Gantry Crane
High Risk Tickets
Forklift
Non-Slewing Mobile Crane
60 Tonne Mobile Slewing Crane
Rigger/Dogman
Additional Training and Certifications
2IC on Shift
Emergency Rescue Team Member
Operate Breathing Apparatus (Open Circuit)
First Response to Fire Incidents
Fire Control and Emergency Rescue
Hazardous Materials 2.16
Miniwarn – Advanced User Training
SAP Essentials
Competent to Assist SSE
Confined Space – Authorised Person
Recipient Gas Reading
JSEA ,STI & Permit To Work
Permit to work Issuer
Switchboard Rescue
Working at Heights
Workplace Inspections
Six Sigma – Yellow Belt
Employment History
Gove Alumina Refinery Northern Territory July 2006 – 2014
Process Technician / Relief Supervisor
(+ Shut Down Coordinator, WHS Rep and Emergency Response Team member)
Rio Tinto Alcan, Gove, NT was a complex site consisting of a bauxite mine, alumina refinery, power station and
shipping port. I worked as Process Technician (shift work) in various areas of the Refinery, (including Heat
Exchangers and Evaporation, Sulphuric Acid and Security Filtration). I was highly regarded for my ability to increase
productivity, safety and plant efficiencies. I frequently undertook the role of Supervisor over the last 6 years, where I
managed a team of 8 process technicians across all areas of the refinery, and acted as the “go between” to
coordinate activities across the plants. The refinery was closed by Rio Tinto in 2014 and my position was made
redundant. Responsibilities included:
Operate and maintain equipment including: pumps, valves, heat exchanges, Kelly filters.
Control room – operating and running the beneficiation plant
Running / operating heat exchangers and evaporation plant
Inspections, fault finding and diagnosis of plant and equipment in all areas
Ensuring continued productivity through proactive maintenance techniques.
Completing incident reports and reporting environmental spills as required.
Isolating plant equipment safely to be worked on by maintenance personnel.
Issuing work permits for damaged and isolated machinery.
Supervisor – running pre start meetings, prioritising workloads, ensuring safety etc
Security filtration –operating Kelly filters, isolating, bringing them on/ offline, change outs.
Quality control of all processes in my areas
Process sulphuric acid (from 90% acid to 70%), pumping it to various areas of the refinery clean heat
exchangers and other equipment.
Using Ellipse system to order parts and equipment.
Training and development of unskilled operators to high standards
Emergency Response Team Member and Health and Safety Representative
Driving / Operating Cranes and Rigging as required
Completing JSEA’s, RTHA’s, take fives etc and actively reduce risks and promote safety.
Achievements:
3. Worked as Shut Down Coordinator, in various areas (evaporation, beneficiation etc) where I successfully
ran many shutdowns with no incidents or harm to people or equipment. I communicated with all parties
and supervisors involved, scheduling and planning activities and resources and overseeing the shutdown
procedures to ensure no / minimal delays.
Performed the role of Health and Safety Rep for 3 years and was also a Emergency Response Team
Member for 7 years (responding to fires, caustic injuries, fatalities and serious incidents across site and in
the local community, such as house fires etc)
Successfully performed the role of Step up supervisor for 6 years, managing 7-8 process technicians
across the refinery, reporting back to the SPC (Supervisor Process Control)
Initiative - Implemented and sourced plastic chains to block off areas, rather than using tape, which was
expensive and not re useable, and installed signage in Security Filtration to ensure all staff where aware of
what was going on and the risks and procedures to follow
Maintained an excellent health and Safety record for self and team
Developed excellent rapport with teams across site (known as the “go between” person)
Phosphate Hill Queensland - Western Mining Corporation (now Incitec) July 2006 - 2000
Process Technician / Relief Supervisor
Phosphate Hill Mine, 300kms south of Mt Isa, consists of an integrated open cut mine and processing facility, c for
domestic and export markets. The production facility includes ammonia, sulphuric acid, phosphoric ac id, granulation
and beneficiation plants. I joined the operation in the start up phase, after it was constructed in 1999. I was
responsible for assisting with the development of operational, safety and process improvements during this time,
working as a Process Technician in the Beneficiation Plant (crushing and milling) and also as Step up supervisor,
responsible for managing 4 Process Technicians. Responsibilities included:
Supervisor duties – Running Pre start, production and maintenance meetings, scheduling and prioritising
workloads, allocating resources to meet changing needs etc.
Operate and maintain the equipment in my area such as crushers, conveyor’s, screens, drum scrubbers,
cyclones and thickeners.
Ensuring continued productivity through proactive maintenance techniques.
Diligent inspections of plant and equipment.
Reporting and documenting environmental spills, hazards and risks
Managed the Tailings Dam (water storage/recycling) – changing valves, repairs, ensuring efficiency and
checking for obstructions and risks (wildlife etc).
Training and development of unskilled operators in the field to the competences needed to work safely
and unsupervised.
Isolating plant equipment safely to be worked on by maintenance personnel.
Issuing work permits for damaged and isolated machinery.
Safety processes – JSEA’s, RTHA’s
Part of the Emergency Response Team.
Using SAP to order parts and maintenance sceduling
Ordering and maintaining parts and equipment.
Driving / Operating Cranes and Rigging
Achievements:
Selected to complete the Leadership program- “Success through people” – where I gained valuable skills
in how to Interact with managers, deal with difficult situations, maximise teamwork and collaboration,
promote ideas from staff, achieve targets and general management and supervisory skills
In 2003, I was deployed to Mt Isa with a colleague, for a shutdown maintenance project. We took all
equipment with us to set up and manage the medical centre in the sulphuric acid plant. I managed and
4. oversaw all confined spaces, ensuring everyone followed correct procedures, were correctly trained,
auditing knowledge and responded to all sulphuric acid burns and incidents, including performing first
aid and minor procedures (such as eye irrigation etc) and referring to local hospitals as needed.
Because the plant didn’t start until 2000 when I started, there was a lot of scope to improve operations,
processes and procedures. For example, the sulphuric acid was very hard to remove from the concrete
floor, so I spearheaded a move to install a polyurethane plastic floor, which made removing the acid
easier and saved significant time, resources and improved safety.
1996 – 2000
Crane Driver/Rigger
Transfield Maintenance at QNI Refinery
Working as a Crane Diver and Rigger at the QNI Nickel refinery, I gained valuable insight and knowledge into the
refinery process and operations. I worked shifts and gained valuable experience on shutdowns and across various
areas of the refinery, as detailed below:
Care and maintenance of crane and rigging equipment.
Mobile and Fixed Plant maintenance.
Operating of mobile equipment up to and including 60 tonne crane, Elevated work platform and forklift.
Trades assistant to Fitters/Boilermakers.
Shutdown and Shift work.
Achievements
Ensured seamless and organised shutdown operations within the refinery
Successfully trained and improved the skills of operators and junior staff in crane driving, safety aspects of
the roles, risks
Referees
Karl Keeley
Dayshift Supervisor – Security Filtration
Rio Tinto Gove
0425 357 592
Mick Asplin
Crew Shift Supervisor
Rio Tinto Gove Operations
M: 0429 978 823
Rob McDonald
Production Coordinator – Redside Ferrosilt
Rio Tinto Gove
M: 0439 898 508