Michael P. Davies portrait

Michael P. Davies

Senior Advisor Tailings & Mine Waste Teck Resources Ltd.

Biography

Dr. Michael Davies is currently a senior advisor for Teck Resources, Canada’s largest diversified mining company. Michael joined Teck in early 2012 as their Vice-President, Environment and in late 2017 transitioned as part of a phased retirement to a senior advisory role. His current role involves assisting in Teck’s technical pursuits, providing internal review and leading Teck’s tailings governance program, guiding specific input on mine waste research and development, and in developing talent. In addition to his corporate mining experience, prior to joining Teck Michael had over 25 years of consulting experience. Over that combined career, he has worked on all stages of mining projects from advanced exploration through decommissioning and reclamation. He has worked on more than 100 tailings facilities and has contributed to and/or facilitated more than 30 multidisciplinary risk assessments for mining and other projects. In addition to tailings projects, he is experienced in mine waste management, soil mechanics, geomechanics, environmental permitting and management, mine water management and engineering geology. He has also served on several review boards.

In addition to his professional industry activities, Michael has always had a passion for talent development and education. Starting with teaching assistant assignments in the 1980s, he has provided lectures at universities around the world (including many at UBC starting in 1992), been invited speaker at many student nights in many of those same countries and has been a review member for several masters and doctoral thesis candidates in North America, Australia and in Chile.

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 1999
  • M.A.Sc., Civil Engineering (Geotechnical), University of British Columbia, 1988
  • B.A.Sc., Gold Medal, Geological Engineering, University of British Columbia, 1985
  • Geological Sciences in Exploration, University of British Columbia, 1979-1982

Professional Employment History

  • Teck Resources Ltd., Vice-President Environment 2012-2017, Senior Advisor, Tailings & Mine Waste 2017 – present
  • AGRA (then AMEC, now WOOD), Principal Engineer, 1998-2012, Vice-President Mining, 2006-2012
  • Klohn Leonoff / Klohn Crippen Consultants, Project Engineer to Manager Mining, 1988-1998
  • GeoPacific/ConeTec Investigations, Engineer, 1985-1988
  • NSERC, Graduate Research Engineer, 1985-1986
  • GoldPac Investments, Project Trainee Geologist, 1983-1984

Technical Review Boards

  • Nueva Unión Project, Chile, Teck/Goldcorp Joint Venture, 2017-present
  • Toromocho Project, Peru, Chinalco, 2008-2012
  • Highland Valley Copper, Canada, Teck Resources, 2009-2012
  • Porgera Mine Waste Management, Papua New Guinea, Placer Dome/Barrick, 2004-2010
  • Freeport McMoran – Global Facilities (North and South America), 2011-2012
  • Kinross – Global Tailings Facilities (North and South America), 2008-2011

Current Professional Association Activity (as of 2020)

  • Chair, Mining Association of Canada Tailings Working Group
  • Chair, International Council on Mining & Metals Tailings Working Group
  • Board Chair, International Network for Acid Prevention
  • Appointed Member, Mining Association of Canada Tailings Task Force
  • Appointed Advisor, UN, ICMM, PRI Global Tailings Standard
  • Appointed Member, Engineers & Geoscientists of British Columbia, Professional Practice Review Task Force

Publications & Presentations

  • Author or co-author of more than 60 journal papers, book chapters and/or conference papers on mine waste geotechnics, risk management, tailings management, foundation design, environmental management and related topics
  • Author of the original publication on the Potential Problem Analyses qualitative risk assessment procedure (1999)
  • Author of the British Columbia Mines Ministry’s “Tailings Dam Inspection Manual” (2002)

UBC is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm people (Musqueam; which means 'People of the River Grass') and Syilx Okanagan Nation. The land has always been a place of learning for the Musqueam and Syilx peoples, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history and traditions from one generation to the next.

UBC Crest The official logo of the University of British Columbia. Arrow An arrow indicating direction. Arrow in Circle An arrow indicating direction. Caret An arrowhead indicating direction. E-commerce Cart A shopping cart. Time A clock. Chats Two speech clouds. Facebook The logo for the Facebook social media service. Social Media The globe is the default icon for a social media platform. TikTok The logo for the TikTok social media platform. Calendar Location Home A house in silhouette. Information The letter 'i' in a circle. Instagram The logo for the Instagram social media service. Linkedin The logo for the LinkedIn social media service. Location Pin A map location pin. Mail An envelope. Telephone An antique telephone. Play A media play button. Search A magnifying glass. Arrow indicating share action A directional arrow. Speech Bubble A speech bubble. Star An outline of a star. Twitter The logo for the Twitter social media service. Urgent Message An exclamation mark in a speech bubble. User A silhouette of a person. Vimeo The logo for the Vimeo video sharing service. Youtube The logo for the YouTube video sharing service. Future of work A logo for the Future of Work category. Inclusive leadership A logo for the Inclusive leadership category. Planetary health A logo for the Planetary health category. Solutions for people A logo for the Solutions for people category. Thriving cities A logo for the Thriving cities category. University for future A logo for the University for future category.