Jacob Orbell, General Manager Resources and Energy

MAusIMM • GAICD • BEng (Mining)

Jacob is a mining executive with an extensive background in mining engineering and senior management. He has broad knowledge of the mining and natural resources industry and has more than two decades of experience across coal and metalliferous mines, development projects and energy markets.

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About Jacob

Having led multi-disciplinary teams on many projects throughout his career, Jacob is highly skilled in contract development and management, project management and environmental management. Jacob is also experienced in technical mine design, scheduling and feasibility studies.

Appointed to lead Xenith’s Resources and Energy practice in 2022, Jacob contributes strategic and technical leadership to resource companies at all levels and is well regarded as a trusted strategic adviser.

Jacob is responsible for four Xenith teams in Brisbane and three teams in the Hunter Valley, ensuring performance, delivery and quality standards are maintained.

Before joining Xenith, Jacob was General Manager Mining at Stanwell Corporation, along with previous roles in engineering and operations at QER, and mining houses BHP and Rio Tinto.

Skills and expertise

  • Contract tendering and management: Development of contracting strategy, tendering, contract negotiation and management, contractor transition planning/execution.
  • Energy markets: Strong background, including power station fuel supply and transition planning for coal fired generators.
  • Strategy: Development and implementation at operational and corporate levels.
  • Stakeholder relations: Management of relationships and negotiation with stakeholders.
  • Leadership, project management and development: Leading multi-disciplinary teams in project design, evaluation and implementation, from minor projects to significant mine extensions, including due diligence and operational reviews.
  • Strategic mine planning: Identification of key value drivers, capability analysis and strategy development.
  • Pre-feasibility studies: Managing study teams to develop and assess project options.
  • Environment: Development and management of compliance systems and programs for operations.
  • Financial: Development of detailed cost models, Budget and LOM schedule generation and reporting.

Career highlights

  • Strategy development and delivery of two extensions of Meandu Mine to reduce stripping ratios and lower energy costs for the Tarong Power Stations.
  • Delivery of a 7.5% step change in wash plant yield and in-pit coal recovery at Meandu Mine via the implementation of a series of operating and capital projects supported by a focus on continuous improvement.
  • Supplier negotiations, funding approvals and contracts for the purchase of an ultra-class fleet, additional ancillary equipment and infrastructure modifications at Meandu Mine.
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