Independent Metallurgical Operations Pty Ltd (IMO) has been providing operations and consulting services to the Australian and global mining industry since 1998. IMO is privately owned by two directors, Steve McGhee and Dave Symons. Steve and Dave are both professional metallurgists with over 20 years experience each and take a keen interest in all IMO projects from both a technical and commercial point of view.

IMO operations provides metallurgical specialists directly to mine sites whilst the consulting business offers technical teams to develop process options for developing projects and solutions for optimising existing ore treatment plants. Based in West Perth our experienced team of professionals is ready to service client needs from sample selection, sighter testwork and mineralogy, through scoping, feasibility and design to commissioning and operations.

Both Dave and Steve are available to IMO's project teams for advice and general consulting. The result is a well organized team that tailors metallurgical solutions to clients’ specific project, operational and corporate needs.

Directors

Steve McGhee

Steve has over 20 years of experience in metallurgy including operations, engineering, laboratory management and marketing. He is responsible for business development and process consulting and has held the role of Director of IMO since 1998.

Steve’s background is operations management, laboratory management, marketing and project work. Steve has held operational and management roles in gold, nickel and uranium sites. He moved into laboratory management as Manager of WA and NT for Normet Pty Ltd in the late ‘80’s. During the ‘90’s Steve held Senior Process Engineer and Marketing Manager roles at Signet Engineering, where he was involved in an array of studies and projects in Australia, Asia and South America. In 1999 Steve became the Managing Director of Independent Metallurgical Laboratories (IML), a role which he held until the laboratory side of the business was sold, and he now maintains the role of Director of IMO.

Steve’s diverse experience has allowed him to carry out projects and operations roles throughout Australia and overseas including Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Romania and the Philippines.

Dave Symons

Dave has over 20 years experience in metallurgy including mineral processing operations, metallurgical management and metallurgical services. From 1998, Dave has held the role of Managing Director of IMO, where he has been intimately involved in the day to day operations of the company and all its clients and projects.

Dave has carried out operations management, project work and consulting on gold and copper projects throughout Australia and overseas including Indonesia, Philippines, Kazakhstan and Fiji. He was previously a director of Manila Mining’s gold/copper mine in the Philippines.

During the ‘90’s Dave worked as a consulting metallurgist at numerous sites, with particular focus on gold commissioning, debottlenecking and design for various companies in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. During the ‘80’s Dave worked as a metallurgist in operating sites and laboratories in the gold, lead, zinc and copper industries. Dave’s experience in testwork scoping, management, projects, operations and contracts gives him a unique whole project life-cycle perspective to assist clients to achieve the best outcome at every stage of their project.