Meet Brian Syers, Mine Planning Superintendent at Hermosa! He first joined the team two years ago, when South32 had just begun to take ownership of the mine design and plan from consultants. Since then, the mine planning team has grown exponentially, and a tonne (metric) of value and detail has been added into Hermosa’s mine plan – something Brian is most proud of.
He first heard about Hermosa through friends in the industry, whose excitement piqued his interest, especially given his passion for the challenge of building a mine from the ground up. “It was a gap in experience,” he says—something he hadn’t yet tackled in his career. Before coming to Hermosa, Brian worked on operations and projects in precious metals, base metals, and construction aggregates.
Earlier this month, Brian was promoted to Mine Planning Superintendent, reflecting his dedication in leadership throughout his time at Hermosa. In this new role, Brian now oversees the team responsible for designing and planning how the mine will operate safely and efficiently. His day-to-day involves a mix of technical planning, reviewing data and designs, and collaborating across departments. “I have fun here! My favorite part of mine planning is trying to bring order from chaos. In that process we get to focus on optimizing, adding value, and de-risking to build confidence in the plan,” he explained.
Brian is proud to be part of the mining industry, he says he thinks mining is essential but often misunderstood. “A lot of people don’t really understand how important it is…Being part of mining is directly related to stewardship of the earth and is the beginning of the supply chain.”
For those considering a career in mining, he encourages curiosity and collaboration. “Work with everyone and build as many relationships as possible. If the mine plan is not created collaboratively, it will fail.”
When Brian is not busy with mine planning, you’ll likely find him spending time with his wife and dog, watching movies, spending time outdoors, and his favorite hobby lately, mountain biking.