Environmental Geochemistry International (EGi) is strengthening the capability of its Perth office in Western Australia with a highly experienced new consultant joining the team. 

Graham Johnson has joined EGi as a Senior Geochemist, bringing more than three decades of experience spanning 28 countries, including 18 years in site operations. 

Graham has a mining and mineral processing engineering degree from the University of British Columbia. He began his career at a copper-lead-zinc mine in Northern Ontario, where he moved from metallurgy into environmental management and acid drainage water treatment. 

“At that first mine, I learned that acid drainage impacts can last for hundreds, if not thousands, of years,” Graham said. Graham grew up on Vancouver Island with a love of the outdoors, so this observation had a large impact on his outlook. 

“That made me want to do everything I could to prevent impacts of ARD (acid rock drainage) and to help companies avoid inadvertently taking on liabilities of that scale.” 

His past roles include group ARD advisor at Placer Dome in Canada and environmental manager at AngloGold Ashanti’s operations in Mali, and he has worked on dozens of other projects worldwide (banner image above is Bayan Airag waste dump in Mongolia). Most recently, he has worked as a private environmental consultant based in Perth and working globally. 

Graham supervising weir construction at Esaase Gold Project, Ghana

Graham has known the EGi team for many years. He first met former managing director Stuart Miller in Vancouver, when Stuart provided some consulting services to Placer Dome. He later worked with the current managing director, Warwick Stewart, at the Porgera Joint Venture in Papua New Guinea and at the Esaase Gold Project in Ghana. 

“Both Stuart and Warwick are experts in their field, and I enjoyed working with them,” Graham said. “When I read up on EGi recently, I was impressed by how much it had grown. There’s a lot of different expertise across the staff now, and I really enjoy working in multidisciplinary teams, both internally and with clients. 

“One of my contributions will be to bring my operations experience to bear on developing ARD management plans that can be practically implemented by mine developers and site operations teams who need to manage ARD risks.” 

Outside of work, Graham’s main recreational activities are water-based, including fishing, snorkelling and diving. He is also restoring a 1980 Mini Moke and a rare 1984 Jeep CJ10 ute (above), one of only 800 made. 

Welcome to the team, Graham.