Mick Brown

BEng (Mining), MAppFin, MAusIMM

Home / About Palaris / Our Team / Mick Brown

Mick is a highly experienced mining studies and technical services manager, holding qualifications in mine engineering and applied finance.

With close to 25 years of experience, he has held senior roles across studies, projects, mine technical services, investment evaluation, and public policy with leading organisations including BHP, Rio Tinto, and Queensland Treasury.

He has been part of leading BHP’s Australian Mines Decarbonisation Program and has developed a breadth and depth of capability in this area. As part of this program, he led a large technical team advancing studies and onsite trials of new technologies including battery electric haul trucks. Mick brings broad multi-commodity expertise and proven leadership capability having a track record of delivering exceptional value to any role by distilling complex challenges into pragmatic solutions.

Expertise

  • Decarbonisation Pathway
  • Mine Strategic Review
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Mining Economics & Asset Valuation
  • Mine Engineering & Optimisation Studies

Track Record

  • At BHP, Mick was Manager, Mines Decarbonisation for Australian operations. Leading a team of 30, he advanced electrification-focused diesel abatement studies and onsite technology trials, delivering BHP’s first battery-electric haul truck and initiating its first electric hydraulic excavator trial.
  • He is a highly experienced Study Manager across the entire mining value chain from equipment selection to growth opportunities, processing, port infrastructure, and tailings studies. He has led projects through all phases, from concept to delivery, in greenfield and brownfield settings across multiple commodities.
  • He served as Investment Evaluation Lead for BHP’s $650+ million Hay Point Port upgrade. He was responsible for probabilistic discounted cash flow modelling, value driver analysis, decision tree evaluation, meeting risk and assurance requirements, and preparing board papers. Under his leadership, the project secured investment approval and was delivered on time and on budget.
  • At Mt Thorley Warkworth Mick led a transformation project, overhauling mine planning processes and extending planning horizons from three months to seven years. He introduced strategic and business planning frameworks and secured over $400 million in equipment and infrastructure investments, boosting annual production from 9 to 12 million tonnes.
  • His mining project expertise is complemented by three years in senior policy roles with Queensland Treasury. As Commercial Director, he led investment programs worth over $400 million, driving more than $2 billion in capital investment and creating 2,000+ jobs.