Hernán Cifuentes is currently a Principal Engineer at ATC Williams, Australia. He brings two decades of combined professional experience working for the mining industry, consulting firms, and academic research. His global experience includes working with a broad range of tailings in various parts of the world. He has significant exposure leading multidisciplinary teams in mining operations, developing engineering projects and studies, mostly in complex mining environments. Further, he has been responsible for the largest tailings operation facility in the world (Escondida Mine – BHP) and for providing technical advice and peer review.

Hernán’s academic research experience focused on conducting studies to improve tailings operational conditions, developing and supporting the  implementation of new tailings technologies and emerging practices to enhance the safety and sustainability of tailings facilities at a large scale and his studies have been published in international tailings and mine waste proceedings.

Hernán is currently a Chartered and Registered Professional Civil Engineer in Australia and is recognised as a Professional Engineer within the APEC economy.

He completed a M.Sc. in Civil Engineering with a Post Graduate Diploma in Geological Engineering in Chile and a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering at The University of Queensland, Australia.