A Short MICA History

MICA’s Origin

2011 will be the 30th anniversary year for the Mineral Industry Consultants Association (MICA).

MICA began as a society within the Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (AusIMM) and as such remains the AusIMM’s oldest Society.  It was originally founded in1981 and its initial Board comprised of eight elected members: RD Butler, CW Marshall AO, D J McGary, SS Pullar, JK Sturgess, D Svenson, M Ward and Dr B K Welch, plus two members representing the Council of The Institute: D C Tennent and Dr D O Zimmerman. C.W. Marshall was the first Chairman.

A list of all MICA chairmen since inauguration is tabulated below.

The first MICA Board of Management for the year 1981 comprised of:

8 elected members

1. R D Butler
2. C W Marshall AO
3. D J McGary
4. S S Pullar
5. J K Sturgess
6. D Svenson
7. M Ward
8. Dr B K Welch

Representing the Council of The Institute:

1. D C Tennent
2. Dr D O Zimmerman

MICA's Objectives

MICA is the professional association of consultants, primarily (but not necessarily) based in Australasia to provide technical advisory services to the mineral industry both within Australasia, and worldwide. The Society is a sub-group of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), a non-profit organisation funded by its members’ annual subscriptions. It was founded in 1981 as a society of theAusIMM and administered by a Board of eight directors, elected by the members. It was incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1984 of New South Wales on 18 November 2002 and deincorporated in 2010 as part of becoming a Society of the AusIMM.

The role of the Society is to ensure that the needs of members, the profession and the business community are maintained and protected. The framework of the Society is intended to protect and support these interests, whilst ensuring its members gain appropriate recognition on a professional basis.

Member consultants supply a wide range of specialist mineral-related services. The Web Register lists 89 different specialisations offered by members, some of which are, mine planning and design, to resource and reserve estimation, geo-statistics, independent expert valuations, project appraisals, exploration planning and management, metallurgy, environmental planning and management, expert witness, arbitration and mediation, etc.

The principle objectives of MICA - The Consultants Society of the AusIMM are:

• To provide a service to those persons or organisations requiring competent, reputable, reliable and unbiased professional advice in the mineral, extractive and resource related Industries.
• To protect its members from the actions of persons or organisations that might erode its standards of professional conduct and/or the ability of its members to consult.
• To maintain a Register of its members.
• To act for members in matters of common concern.
• To promote the interests of its members by maintaining and enhancing their status.
• To work with kindred organizations on matters of mutual interest and to enhance the public standing of the profession.
• To undertake on behalf of its members such commercial or financial activities that are for the benefit of the membership.

The MICA combined Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting was held Tuesday 6 October at the York Conference Centre, The Bowlers Club of NSW, 95-99 York St, Sydney.  At the meeting, four important resolutions were put to the members and approved by a majority of 66:2, as follows:

1. Making MICA a Society of the AusIMM: That MICA Inc. be converted to a Society of the AusIMM.
2. Voluntary cancellation of incorporation: That MICA Inc. make application to have the incorporation of the association cancelled.
3. Amendment of the Rules: That the Rules of the Association be amended to reflect the change from an incorporated association to a society of the AusIMM.
4. Disposal of assets of MICA Inc.: That the assets of MICA Inc. be donated to MICA - The Consultants Society of the AusIMM.