Earth Systems Personnel

Nigel Murphy, M. Env. Sc., MEIANZ, CEnvP

Principal Environmental Scientist

Summary

Nigel Murphy is a Director of Earth Systems and Earth Systems Lao. He has over 20 years of experience as an environmental and earth scientist. In addition to specialist technical skills in environmental science, Mr Murphy has extensive experience in interdisciplinary environmental assessments and management for private sector, government, aid and development projects.

Education and Affiliations

  • Bachelor of Science Honours (Earth Sciences) - Monash University, 1984
  • Master of Environmental Science - Monash University, 1992
  • National Councillor, Environment Institute of Australia
  • Director, Environment Business Australia
  • Certified Environmental Practitioner Executive Board Chair

Countries of Work Experience

Australia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, India, Fiji, China, New Zealand, Philippines, Vanuatu, Argentina, Senegal, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia

Professional History

1993 to date Principal Environmental Scientist and Director, Earth Systems

1985 to 1993 Geologist and Environmental Scientist, CRA (Rio Tinto) Exploration Pty Ltd.

Fields of Special Competence

Environmental project management; environmental management and impact assessment of natural resource development; environmental geoscience and geochemistry; management of acid drainage; mining and the environment; geomorphology; environmental monitoring; environmental data management; environmental management systems; water resource and catchment management; water quality.

Representative Experience

Mr. Murphy's recent roles and projects include:

  • Project Director and specialist consultant for the Phu Kham Copper-Gold Project Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.
  • Project Director and specialist consultant for the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project (Lao PDR) Baseline Study and Physical Cultural Resources survey.
  • Project Director and specialist consultant for a United Nations GEF facility funded project preparing environmental datasets for eastern China, eastern Mongolia and Siberia as part of the TumenNET Strategic Action Program.
  • Project Director and specialist consultant to assist with Environmental and Social Issues Management and Capacity Building for the Sepon Gold Mine.The World Bank funded this project.
  • Specialist consultant and Project Director in the preparation of the Sepon Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Xeset 2 ESIA in Lao PDR.
  • Key external consultant in the development, review and revision of environmental guidelines and codes of practice for a number of resource sector clients.
  • Benchmarking study and environmental data review of all managed sites for an international mining group.
  • Assessment of the likelihood of environmental impact on Bunga Creek from a proposed airfield development near Lakes Entrance, Victoria. Expert evidence was provided to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
  • Specialist assistance in the preparation of the Environmental Management Overview Strategy (EMOS) and review of the Draft EIS for the proposed major zinc mining development, Century Zinc in north-west Queensland.
  • Specialist environmental input in the development of a desktop mapping computing software system, EarthMap, which provides increased environmental functionality to MapInfo.
  • Environmental assessments and baseline studies for a number of mining and mineral exploration projects in the Asia-Pacific region, including PNG, Laos, Indonesia, Argentina.
  • Benchmarking study and environmental data review of all managed sites for an international mining group

Selected Publications

Murphy, N.C., & Gray D. R., 1992. East-directed overthrusting in the Melbourne Zone, Lachlan Fold Belt. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 39.

Murphy, N. C., Taylor, J. R. and Leake, M. J., 1999, Coming to terms with acid drainage. Proceedings of the "State of the Art in Mining Environmental Management", Manilla, Philippines, August, 1999.

Taylor, J. R., Waring C. L., Murphy, N. C. and Leake, M. J., 1997. An overview of ARD management and treatment options, including recent advances. Proceedings of the 3rd AMD Conference, Darwin, Australia.

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