Nationality: Canadian

Education
B.Sc. Civil Engineering, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, 1966
Ph.D. Engineering (Rock Mechanics), University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, 1977

Affiliations
Canadian Geotechnical Society
Canadian Institute of Mining
Engineering Institute of Canada
Association of Engineering Geologists

Registrations
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia
Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario

Specialization

• geotechnical engineering
• environmental engineering
• pit slope engineering
• risk analysis
• audit and review
• expert testimony
• tailings dam design
• mine waste management
• geochemical characterization and ARD (AMD) Control
• environmental liability assessment
• mine closure plan development

Experience

1994 - present

Principal, Robertson GeoConsultants Inc. (Canada & USA)
Responsible for technical and corporate guidance and development of a mining, geotechnical and environmental engineering international practice.

Directly responsible for a wide range of mining, geotechnical and environmental engineering projects for the mining industry and government clients, including site investigations and foundation design, rock mechanics and soil slope stability for open pit mines; design of a wide variety of tailings impoundments; waste dump investigations and designs, including acid rock drainage (ARD) evaluations, control and mine closure plan development. Performed numerous dam safety inspections and environmental liability assessments for tailings and water dams, mine waste dumps and mining properties. Served as an expert witness for a number of court cases including insurance claims. Served as senior Arbitrator in an American Arbitration Association adjudication. Served on a number of Boards of Review, Advisory Panels, and as the Chairman of the Board of Studies for the Geological Engineering Program at the University of British Columbia (Associate Professor Status). Gave a number of courses on acid mine drainage control, mine closure and mining geotechnics to government (US EPA) and industry institutions.

Projects have been undertaken in Canada, the USA, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, the Czech Republic, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Guatemala, Australia, Philippines, Vietnam, South Africa, Mali, Namibia and Irian Jaya.

1977 - 1994

Principal, Steffen Robertson and Kirsten (Canada) Inc.
Responsible for technical and corporate guidance and development, mainly in the field of mining geotechnics and environmental engineering. Directly responsible for site investigation and specialist foundation designs; rock mechanics and soil slope stability for open pit mines; design of tailings impoundments for uranium, gold, copper and molybdenum tailings; waste dump investigation and designs; coordination of multiple disciplinary geotechnical projects in Canada, the United States, Norway, Sweden, UK, France, Germany, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia Philippines, Chile and Brazil. Senior authored a number of technical guides for acid rock drainage control, uranium tailings manuals, and mine closure guidelines.

1973 - 1977

Principal, Steffen Robertson and Kirsten (South Africa)
Responsible for Soil Mechanics Division guidance and development. Directly responsible for numerous site investigations for township, industrial and mining developments. Specialized in foundation design including piled foundations and lateral support systems, stability analyses for slopes in soil and rock for mines and civil structures, and design and management of tailings impoundments.

1969 - 1973

Chief Engineer, Frankipile (S.A.) Ltd. (South Africa)
Duties and experience included the design of piled and special foundations, supervision of piling contracts and conducting site investigations for townships, high-rise structures, roads, railway routes and bridges.

1968

Research Officer, De Beers Consolidated Mines (South Africa)
Responsible for aspects of rock slope stability studies.

Other Recognition
Dr. Robertson has participated in a number of review boards for projects, companies, regulatory agencies and institutions. As a result of his professional activities, Dr. Robertson or the organizations he worked for received a number of industry awards.