15 December 2022

Two leading figures from the Pike River recovery effort have been chosen to join the New Zealand Mining Board of Examiners.

Mark Pizey and Kevin (Dinghy) Pattinson are the new appointees chosen by WorkSafe to join the Board. Bernie O’Leary and Brian Bouzaid have been reappointed, taking the Board membership to 11 in total.

The Board was established as a specific response to the Royal Commission into the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy. It advises WorkSafe on competencies, examines applicants, and issues and renews certificates of competence, among other functions.

“Board members bring a wealth of skills, experience and knowledge of the extractive sector, as well as a passion for health and safety. We are grateful to add the combined expertise of these four experts to the Board,” said WorkSafe’s chief executive Phil Parkes.

WorkSafe thanks two long-serving Board members, Marianne Rogers and Dave Stewart, for their commitment and involvement since 2016. Their departure allows the mix of skills on the Board to be reviewed and adjusted to meet requirements, and new appointees chosen.

The Board of Examiners’ appointees begin their three-year terms this month, and the Board will next meet in February 2023.

Read more about the NZ Mining Board of Examiners

Biographies

Mark Pizey is currently the chief executive of Central Plains Water Ltd, a multimillion-dollar irrigation scheme in Canterbury. Prior to this, he was WorkSafe’s chief inspector (extractives) from 2016-2018.

Mark was also the general manager for Solid Energy’s Pike River re-entry project from 2012-2016. He was responsible for the overall management of the project to recover forensic evidence and assist with ongoing investigations.

Kevin (Dinghy) Pattinson was the chief operating officer of the Pike River Recovery Agency. He managed operational elements of the Pike River re-entry work programme and was responsible for compliance with statutory health and safety requirements.

Dinghy has over four decades of underground mining experience, most recently in underground metalliferous mining. He has been active with the New Zealand Mines Rescue Service for over 30 years, with roles including Brigadesman, Site Manager and Board member. He holds several certificates of competence, including Site Senior Executive and First Class Mine Manager.