Fortescue Operations Improvement Manager Dr. Rob Solomon has been appointed to the newly created role of Professor of Practice in Mining Automation and Data Analysis at WASM, leading a range of research initiatives and shaping undergraduate curriculum to drive the application of data science in mining. In his current role with Fortescue, Solomon leads a team looking into the operational efficiency of the company’s autonomous mining operations using data sets and advanced analytics.

“The Australian resources sector is already among the most innovative in the world and through this partnership with Curtin University, we look forward to building a pipeline of job-ready graduates who are ready to challenge the status quo and help guarantee the long-term success of our industry,” said Fortescue Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Gaines. Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Cordery said the Mining Automation Professor of Practice will be integral to embedding WASM’s new future- focused curriculum.

“Dr. Solomon brings a wealth of practical experience in operations, impressive academic credentials and a passion for ensuring that new technologies deliver a sustainable industry future. His appointment will see us better able to deliver both content and teaching in mining automation and data analytics,” Professor Cordery said. “The School’s mining and mining engineering courses are already considered among the world’s very best (ranking second in the world by subject) and we are confident Dr. Solomon’s input as Professor of Practice in Mining Automation and Data Analysis will see us continue to be global leaders in those fields.