Dr. Powlay has 10 years’ experience working and researching as a geotechnical and rock mechanics engineer with a focus on hydraulic fracturing, cave propagation, underground mine mechanics, cave mining studies, monitoring systems, and rock mass classifications. He has worked in Canada, Oman, United Kingdom, and Australia and has first authored numerous journal papers.
Experience Highlights
- Underground geomechanical mine design from conceptual level to operations
- Underground ground support design and monitoring systems design
- Ground support evaluation
- Open Pit geomechanical mine design
- Structural geology and geotechnical site characterization, analysis, and reporting
- Management, oversight and analysis of geotechnical data collection and drilling projects
- Tutorials on Rock Mechanics, Deformable Materials, and Numerical Modelling
Professional Associations
- Member of Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS)
- Member of International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM)
- Member of American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
- Member of Society of Mining Professors (SOMP)
- Member of Engineers Australia (EA)
Education
PhD, Mining Geomechanics and Georesource Engineering – University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia (2025)
Bachelor of Science, Applied Geology – University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom (2011)
