OUR LEADERSHIP

Deepcore Drilling’s commitment to professionalism and industry expertise is reflected within its management team appointments. Leading the team is Scott Tumbridge, a co-founding member and Director.

The supporting management team positions are held by a complement of co-founding members and selectively appointed industry experts, collectively possessing more than 200 years of industry experience.

 
 

Management Team

 

With over 20 years of experience within the Australian mining and drilling industries, Scott has attained premium accomplishments in corporate governance, business development, and operations, creating highly successful “in-demand” business services, deemed by industry figures as a desired place of employment and association.

Scott’s extensive industry expertise enables an insightful advisory and management approach, creating a structured environment committed to productivity, accountability, safety culture, growth innovation, and success.

Scott’s commitment to driving Deepcore Drilling to become an innovative “safety and health-focused” leader has resulted in a large range of innovative projects including start-of-the-art technology with the new MDR700 fleet, the design and delivery of the Deepcore Sound Enclosure, role-specific manual handling training, remote analysis and reporting programs to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disease and injury and driving proactive health promotion projects including Mental Health Awareness training.

“Maintaining a strong industry standard and by supporting the development and wellbeing of our people, will ensure the continued success of Deepcore Drilling as we go further.”

Scott Tumbridge

DIRECTOR

Don started his career as an offsider in 2004 in Stawell Victoria. Since then, Don has sought various opportunities to progress his career through drilling in Western Australia, then moving to Deepcore in 2010 in a more strategic, leadership focused role building the strong foundations needed in HSE, Training, and Operations Management. Don is now CEO of Deepcore Australia.

Don seeks opportunities to lead a range of initiatives that drive innovation. Don believes that it is not just our clients, but the wider community who benefit from the success of Deepcore Drilling initiatives. Some highlights in recent times have been the design and construction of a fully enclosed Acoustic Drilling enclosure, underground directional drilling in Melbourne CBD and drilling at the iconic Snowy Hydro 2.0 project.

Leading innovation safely, with a strong supportive culture is what drives Don to succeed. He is passionate about pushing Deepcore Drilling to be the industry leading experts in diamond drilling. Don further recognises the wider involvement that Deepcore Drilling plays in the community supporting local where-ever possible.

Don’s drive and commitment to making Deepcore go further supports the business its vision to be the industry leading experts in diamond drilling.

Don has a range of nationally recognised formal qualifications in the areas of Drilling, OHS, Human resources, management and leadership, accounting, and workplace training.

Don Macdonald

Chief Executive OfficeR

 
 

Matt has been with Deepcore Drilling since in 2009, commencing as a Driller’s Offsider, moving his way up the ranks through his career. Matt has worked in NSW, VIC, QLD, and Papua New Guinea working as both driller and supervising multi-rig sites, in both surface and underground environments.

As General Manager: Operations, Matt is passionate about driving Deepcore Drilling to be seen as an industry leader in diamond drilling.

Matt consistently promotes excellence through safety, accountability, upholding standards, encourages pride and accountability throughout the Deepcore Drilling team, partnering with our valued clients to deliver world-class drilling services.

Matt Linforth-Brown

General Manager

Pete is a highly experienced and qualified safety professional. His 20 years+’ of safety leadership spans multiple industry types from mining, aviation, energy, stevedoring, and diamond drilling. Pete’s work has taken him all over Australia. Pete oversaw projects that included legislated prescribed risks, high risk work, remote work, high-reliability organisations, and identifying and managing risks in emerging industries. 

Pete has championed a range of recognised safety initiatives, positively influenced operational leaders, implemented ISO standards, and ensured appropriate change management principals are enacted, to name a few. Pete’s experience is coupled with formal qualifications including a diploma in OH&S and many other nationally-recognised safety related training courses. He brings a superior level of field-based experience and operational knowledge to our team, to support our operations as we continue to expand.

Pete’s commitment to OH&S is driven by his genuine passion for the health, safety and wellbeing of others. His strategic mission is to drive a safe and inclusive culture, focusing on communication, education, inclusion and information, to support effective safe-work practices, at all levels. 

 Pete believe the Key to HSE cultural success is communication:
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” – Nelson Mandela

Peter Cameron

General Manager – HSET

Andrew commenced his drilling career in 1987 as a driller’s offsider and has since expanded his experience working up to operational leadership from 2006. Andrew’s work history includes a variety of specialist drilling programs, across both underground and surface operations, working in some of Australia’s harshest drilling conditions across various projects in Victoria, the WA Goldfields, and Queensland.

As manager of special projects, this role allows Andrew to work with lots of different employees and external stakeholders to achieve end goals. Andrew thrives on keeping Deepcore Drilling at the forefront of innovation, proactively seeking solutions to current and future problems.

Andrew is a founding member of Deepcore Drilling and holds a Cert III in drilling operations.

Andrew Stewart

MANAGER – OPERATIONS SPECIAL PROJECTS

 

Joel’s career in drilling started 18 years ago initially as an Offsider in 2000. Joel joined the team at Deepcore Drilling in 2008 and moved up through the ranks to Driller, Site Supervisor, and now Manager of Operations for Victoria.

Joel’s experience has varied, working in Australia and PNG, on both surface and underground, with experience with a variety of complex drilling programs including Directional, Deep Hole, Exploration, Geotechnical, De-Watering, Gas Intersections, Cave Monitoring, Hydro-fracking and Heli-Portable operations.

When Joel joined Deepcore Drilling he felt part of a company with the same core values as his own. Joel’s love for the industry and passion (or some may call obsession) to succeed, keeps him motivated. Joel is very thankful to be part of the experienced and dedicated team at Deepcore Drilling.

Joel Dubois

OPERATIONS manager

Rodney has over 30 years of experience in the drilling industry, and has worked on numerous projects both surface and underground throughout Australia and as an ex-pat in Papua New Guinea. Rodney is an experienced supervisor for both surface and underground operations and has worked with multiple clients on various commodities. Rodney is a long-term employee of Deepcore and contributed significantly to shaping Deepcore Drilling into what it is today.

Rodney holds a Cert III in Drilling Operations.

Rodney Hall

Manager – OPERATIONS NSW

Jayden has worked in the mining industry for over ten years, both on mine sites and in dedicated workshop environments. Jayden is in charge of the entire maintenance fleet at Deepcore Drilling, and is responsible for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Jayden takes pride in making sure the Deepcore Drilling fleet is as safe and efficient as possible.

Jayden holds a Certificate III Diesel Fitter qualification.

Jayden Dempster

Manager – Maintenance

 

Brett has worked in the drilling industry since 2003. He joined Deepcore Drilling in 2005 as a driller and has worked both in Australia and Internationally on multiple sites, both underground and surface. Brett was promoted to supervisor in 2015 and is now superintendent at our largest client site, overseeing the underground operations. 

Brett has a Cert III in Drilling operations, and values teamwork and respect to both the client and direct team around him to get the best outcomes for both businesses.

Brett Russell

SUPERINTENDENT – OPERATIONS

Kelsey is Deepcore Drilling’s People and Culture Superintendent. Kelsey commenced with the company in 2015 and has held a variety of roles and responsibilities including Office Administrator, HR Officer, and HR Coordinator. Kelsey passionately seeks to use her experience and education to support the Deepcore Drilling team and contribute to the company values: excellence, teamwork, safety, and respect.

Kelsey focuses on the people that make up Deepcore Drilling, providing them with a high level of support and helping them to go further in their careers. A key focus of her position is to implement exciting initiatives that will improve company culture, whilst providing high-level HR support to operational and leadership teams. 

Kelsey is an integral member of the management team and has helped to shape the company with her fresh and innovative approach through her knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for Deepcore Drilling’s values.

Kelsey holds a Cert III in Business Administration and a Diploma in Human Resource Management.

Kelsey Tilburn

SUPERINTENDENT – PEOPLE & CULTURE

Luke has 14 years of drilling experience after starting his career in the industry with Deepcore in 2007 as an offsider at Bendigo Mine. He has spent a considerable amount of time working across various Victorian gold deposits in both surface and underground environments. 

Luke has successfully supervised multi-rig sites and fosters a positive relationship with our clients through teamwork. Luke enjoys the challenges of deep directional drilling and navigating the technical difficulties associated with parent–sub–hole drill programs. 

Luke holds a Cert III in Drilling Operations, and Cert IV WHS. 

Luke Fitzpatrick

SUPERINTENDENT – Operations

 

Hayden started his career in the drilling industry offsiding in 2007. Hayden commenced with Deepcore in 2008 and has worked in both surface and underground environments, throughout VIC, WA, NSW, and QLD. Hayden has extensive experience in specialty areas such as dewatering and deep directional drilling and has progressed in his career to supervising projects since 2016, including oversight for multiple projects, with multiple rigs, across multiple locations.

Hayden pushes beyond the client and industry expectations to drive excellence within Deepcore Drilling. He is solution-driven and has an ongoing improvement mindset.

Hayden holds formal training with a Cert III Drilling Operations and Cert IV TAE and will complement these with future business management education.   

Hayden Russell

SUPERINTENDENT – operations

Dona commenced her career in the Drilling/Mining industry in 2003, in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, after a successful ‘former life’ in media.

Since this time, Dona has undertaken various roles, including leading major mining project ramp ups, process improvement and delivery projects and strategic diversity activities for some of the largest mining houses and contractors (drilling, minerals and coal projects), across Australia, Asia-Pac and Africa. 

Dona has been privileged to be involved in various industry groups and initiatives, including acting as a long-term Mentor/Coach to support the development of women in mining in Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland.

Dona’s passion is leading innovation and team culture. Dona’s role with Deepcore allows her to build and strengthen ‘team’ culture and support project delivery, whilst driving and developing innovative projects, partnering with clients and industry organisations.

“At Deepcore, we have a strong foundation of teamwork and a supportive culture. It is our goal to be the best at what we do and continuously strive for excellence and innovation, as we continue to go further.”

Dona Carter

Superintendent – Special Projects

Trevor has worked with Deepcore Drilling since 2008 after leaving the construction industry. Trevor started out as an offsider and quickly progressed to driller, working in a range of environments and locations, including surface and underground, Vic, Tas, NSW, and QLD.

Trevor enjoys working with new and inexperienced offsiders to help them develop the competencies required over time to become a competent driller. Trevor contributes to Deepcore Drilling’s excellence as he has a keen eye for detail and making sure proper process occurs throughout the operation.

Trevor couples his experience with various formal training including Cert IV in Drilling, Cert IV in WHS, Cert IV TAE, Cert IV in Construction management, and Cert III in Carpentry and joinery.

Trevor Leech

SUPERINTENDENT – TRAINING