Hi, I’m
KURIA GINBOI
Lae,Papua New Guinea
Summary
A versatile geotechnical professional with a strong focus on safety and quality, known for delivering reliable and dependable results. Demonstrates expertise in geotechnical investigation, report writing, and hazard identification, complemented by proficiency in geotechnical software and instrumentation. A natural leader committed to mentoring graduates and fostering professional development, while consistently achieving targets both independently and as part of a team. Career goals include advancing ground improvement techniques and enhancing slope stability assessments to drive innovation in geotechnical design.
Overview
13
years of professional experience
2018
years of post-secondary education
1
Certification
Work history
New Porgera Limited (NPL) – Porgera Gold Mine
Mine Geotechnical Engineer – Open Pit
2025.08 - 2026.02 (6 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Conducted daily pit inspections covering 100% of active mining areas, ensuring compliance with geotechnical design and safety standards.
- Reduced geotechnical non-conformance incidents by ~15% within 6 months through proactive monitoring and reporting.
- Utilized appropriate geotechnical software including Rocscience, ShapeMetrix, geotechnical mapping tools, and drone photogrammetry for accurate data collection and analysis.
Newmont Corporation – Lihir Open Pit, Papua New Guinea
Mine Geotechnical Engineer
2022.04 - 2025.08 (3 education.years_Label & 4 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Conducted field inspections and monitoring programs, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices in geotechnical engineering.
- Increased reliability of pit wall systems with rigorous design reviews and thorough engineering assessments.
- Developed innovative solutions for dealing with problematic soils such as argillic or colluvium, safeguarding mine operations from potential failures related to these issues.
- Performed comprehensive risk assessments regarding potential slope failures or landslides, implementing effective mitigation measures to safeguard project investments and protect mine personnel safety.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop integrated solutions addressing complex geotechnical challenges.
- Managed subsurface investigations to provide accurate data for geotechnical analyses, minimizing risks during project execution.
- Identified and resolved potential slope failure issues through visual inspections and monitoring data review.
Newcrest Mining Limited – Lihir Open Pit, Papua New Guinea
Mine Geologist
2020.03 - 2022.04 (2 education.years_Label & 1 education.month_Label)
Job overview
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives, applying innovative solutions to optimize geological workflows and enhance overall operational efficiency.
- Strengthened reconciliation processes, tracking and analyzing production data to identify trends and variances affecting mine performance.
- Promoted safe work practices, participating in safety meetings and always adhering to company policies and procedures.
- Improved mine planning efficiency with timely provision of accurate geological information to engineering teams.
- Delivered reliable orebody modeling, utilizing cutting-edge 3D visualization software for increased precision in resource estimations.
- Collaborated effectively with multidisciplinary teams, ensuring seamless integration of geology into overall mine operations.
- Reduced operational costs by implementing efficient grade control strategies in collaboration with the production team.
- Supervised geology interns while completing site suitability studies over course of their studies.
Newcrest Mining Limited – Lihir Open Pit, Papua New Guinea
Project Geologist
2018.03 - 2020.04 (2 education.years_Label & 1 education.month_Label)
Job overview
- Oversaw sample collection and handling, ensuring correct sampling techniques and preventing overlap with drill hole samples for faster assay turnaround.
- Implemented QAQC protocols on assay results, improving data reliability by 20% and reducing re-assay costs.
- Collaborated with mine planning teams to synchronize drilling activities with short- and medium-term production plans, minimizing operational delays.
- Improved drilling schedule efficiency by 10%, reducing idle rig time and associated costs.
- Updated resource models promptly for integration into mine planning, ensuring accurate and timely data flow.
- Conducted field inspections and risk assessments to verify drill pattern setup compliance with safety standards.
- Maintained zero Lost Time Injuries (LTI) during drilling campaigns through proactive hazard identification and mitigation.
ExxonMobil PNG Limited – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Graduate Management Trainee
2013.11 - 2015.04 (1 education.year_Label & 5 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Developed management skills by participating in cross-functional projects and collaborating with various departments.
- Expanded industry knowledge by attending workshops, seminars, and conferences related to the field of management traineeship.
- Cultivated professional relationships with mentors and supervisors for ongoing career development guidance throughout the trainee program.
- Presented findings to senior management for informed decision-making regarding business strategies and growth opportunities.
- Served as an effective liaison between various departments while working on collaborative projects during the graduate management trainee program.
University of Papua New Guinea – Port Moresby
Tutor – Foundation Year Physics
2013.03 - 2013.11 (8 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Provided homework assistance using specific curriculum and materials.
- Supported students with helpful study habits and exam strategies.
- Provided one-on-one tutoring sessions, tailoring instruction to meet the specific needs of each student while promoting independent learning skills.
- Conducted regular assessments to monitor student progress and adjust teaching methods accordingly.
Education
Hokkaido UniversitySapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Master of Natural History Science from Geophysics (Global Seismology)
University overview
Thesis title: Inter-event phase speed analysis for regional surface wave tomography: Application to the southwestern Pacific
University of Papua New GuineaPort Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Bachelor of Science from Geophysics
Skills
- Reliable and Dependable – delivers on time as and when required
- Target Driven – a great team player; can also thrive independently
- Attention to Detail – ensure high quality work is produced
- Mentor – assist with professional development of graduates
- Geotechnical investigation
- Geotechnical report writing
- Geohazard identification
- Geotechnical process interpretation
- Versatile – easy transition into different roles
- Safety Focused – safety before production
- Natural Leader – responsible for own career development
- Ground improvement techniques
- Geotechnical instrumentation
- Geotechnical software proficiency
- Slope stability assessment
- Geotechnical design
Certification
- Stability Modelling of Slopes and Excavations with RocScience Tools Training - 30 May - 1 June 2023
- IBIS User Basics Training - May 2022
- GroundProbe's Advanced SSR Data Analysis Training - June 2024
LANGUAGE
English - Full Professional
Tok Pisin (Pidgin) - Native or Bilingual
Japanese - Limited Working
REFERENCES
- Kaipale, Pano, Superintendent – Mine Geotechnical Services, Kaipale.Pano@newmont.com, (+675) 986 5654, (+675) 7092 0906, Newmont Corporation, Lihir Operations
- David, Amean, Superintendent - Mine Production, David.Amean@newmont.com, (+675) 7390 7796, Newmont Corporation, Lihir Operations
INTERESTS
Hands-on Problem Solving: Enjoy working with tools and equipment to repair, maintain, and improve systems., Active Outdoor Exploration: Pursue hobbies that combine physical activity with nature, fostering resilience and adaptability., Creative Crafting & DIY Projects: Skilled in designing and building practical solutions through innovative, hands-on projects.
Accomplishments
- Radar based monitoring whilst remediation of the major PH17 Slip at Lihir
- Collaborated with the Lihir Geotech team in the installation and deployment of 3 site based seismic monitoring stations.
Timeline
Mine Geotechnical Engineer – Open Pit
New Porgera Limited (NPL) – Porgera Gold Mine
2025.08 - 2026.02 (6 education.months_Label)
Mine Geotechnical Engineer
Newmont Corporation – Lihir Open Pit, Papua New Guinea
2022.04 - 2025.08 (3 education.years_Label & 4 education.months_Label)
Mine Geologist
Newcrest Mining Limited – Lihir Open Pit, Papua New Guinea
2020.03 - 2022.04 (2 education.years_Label & 1 education.month_Label)
Project Geologist
Newcrest Mining Limited – Lihir Open Pit, Papua New Guinea
2018.03 - 2020.04 (2 education.years_Label & 1 education.month_Label)
Graduate Management Trainee
ExxonMobil PNG Limited – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
2013.11 - 2015.04 (1 education.year_Label & 5 education.months_Label)
Tutor – Foundation Year Physics
University of Papua New Guinea – Port Moresby
2013.03 - 2013.11 (8 education.months_Label)
University of Papua New Guinea
Bachelor of Science from Geophysics
2013.04
Hokkaido University
Master of Natural History Science from Geophysics (Global Seismology)
2017.09