Saturday, February 19, 2011

INDUSTRIAL MINERALS EDITOR TO RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD


SME recognises Editor Mike O’Driscoll’s leadership in the exchange of information with the Chinese industrial minerals sector

In his capacity as Editor of Industrial Minerals, Mike O’Driscoll has been selected as the recipient of the 2011 Hal Williams Hardinge Award for services to the industry. The award, given by the Industrial Minerals and Aggregates Division of the internationally respected Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), will be presented at the SME Annual Meeting in Denver, 27 February-2 March.



The award will be presented at the SME Dinner on the evening of the 2nd March.  The citation reads:

“In recognition of Mr. O’Driscoll’s efforts as editor of Industrial Minerals in supporting technical information exchange and the dissemination of technical and commercial information on industrial minerals throughout the world, and particularly his leadership in the exchange of information with the Chinese IM sector.”

Since its launch in 1967, Industrial Minerals has maintained its extensive coverage of the Chinese minerals market, from supply developments to latest innovations and equipment, consuming trends, as China remains a key influence in global industrial minerals commerce.

Since the mid-2000s Chinese market coverage has intensified as China has undergone significant change and implemented a policy of restricting production and discouraging exports of certain industrial minerals. The situation continues to frustrate western traders and consumers still reliant on key minerals from China, especially in markets where mineral demand is returning.

Mike has been Editor of IM since 1995 and holds a BSc in Geography & Geology and an MSc in Mining Geology from the Camborne School of Mines.  He has 24 years experience in the international mining and minerals industry, specialising in industrial minerals and forecasted the impact the Asia-Pacific region would have on the industry back in the early 1990s.

“From about 1992, I started the drive for more coverage on China – its minerals industry and increasing influence on world markets.  I was not the first at IM to do this, but until the early 1990s there had been little consistent coverage and contact with China. I set about addressing this through various projects.”

Mike has researched, written, and devised editorial and event concepts on all aspects of the industrial minerals mine to market supply chain. He has visited a wide range of mineral supply and end user operations worldwide, meeting senior executives from all key sectors, and has regularly organised, chaired, and presented at many industry conferences.

The Industrial Minerals Editor will be just the fourth British recipient of the award, and its first as a serving editor of an industry publication.

Industry reaction

“Mike’s recognition is well and truly deserved.  He has captained Industrial Minerals magazine to lead its field and maintain the highest journalistic standards.”
Kevin Fountain, Chinese minerals trader and renown China expert, USA.

“I am truly delighted SME’s IM Division has recognised Mike’s contribution to the greater understanding of the industrial minerals global village! He is in a long line of prestigious recipients of the Hal Williams Hardinge Award.  Such recognition is the best statement for the quality of IM and Mike’s leadership of it. It is without doubt the number one award in the western world.”
Gerry Clarke, former Executive Director, Metal Bulletin plc, and former Editor, IM, UK.

“Congratulations on being the recipient of the Hardinge Award and welcome to the club. Mike is a most deserving candidate.”
Bob Freas, industrial minerals consultant, former VP Marketing, Franklin Industrial Minerals, USA.



The Hal Williams Hardinge Award, established in 1958 and funded by the AIME, recognises outstanding achievement which has benefited the field of industrial minerals and aggregates. The achievement so recognised may have been accomplished through writing, teaching, research or administration, resulting in new uses, wider markets, improved management, or through wider dissemination of knowledge.

Industrial Minerals (IM) provides the latest prices, news and analysis on the global supply and demand of non-metallic, non-fuel minerals. Coverage of over 40 minerals from mine to market.

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