New Queensland Chief Inspector of Coal Mines appointed

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson today announced the appointment of Mr Gavin Taylor as Queensland’s new Chief Inspector of Coal Mines.

Mr Wilson said Mr Taylor brought considerable international and Australian experience to the position, particularly in longwall operations and in mine management.

“This is a key appointment in the ongoing development of the Mines Inspectorate, and will help take it into the 21st century,” he said.

“Mr Taylor will be working closely with mine operators, unions, those in allied industries and the department to further develop continuous improvements in health and safety for all who work in the state’s booming coal industry,” Mr Wilson said.

He will take up his appointment on 21 January 2008.

Mr Wilson said Mr Taylor’s extensive experience would be an asset to the industry in Queensland.

Born into a coal mining family in central Scotland, Mr Taylor immigrated with his family to Wollongong at the age of 14.

On completion of his high school education, he joined Australian Iron and Steel (Southern Collieries) in November 1967 as a cadet and worked at three of their operations as he completed his tertiary education and gained his statutory qualifications.

After reaching the position of deputy and undermanager for Southern Collieries in New South Wales, from 1977 Mr Taylor headed overseas to gain experience in longwall mining.

He joined Gullick Dobson in England, a leading longwall equipment manufacturer, and worked in many of the coal mining countries of the world, including the North Americas and the Far East.

After rising to the position of Export Sales Manager, in 1988 he relocated to the United States as Vice President Sales and Service for the company.

He then joined Atlantic Richfield in the USA, eventually relocating to their new Gordonstone Mine near Emerald, Queensland in 1991 where he was responsible for the purchase of their new longwall systems.

After a short time at Gordonstone, Mr Taylor joined BHP at their new Crinum Mine in central Queensland, where he was registered Mine Manager for most of his appointment. In 2001, he returned to Wollongong, New South Wales, as Mine Manager of West Cliff Colliery.

Gavin Taylor is currently general manager of Centennial Coal’s southern operations in New South Wales.

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