ABOUT GWANDA CONSULTING
The short version
Brian Gerrell is a metallurgical engineer with more than 40 years of experience across gold, silver, copper, uranium, phosphates, rare earths, aluminium, lithium and many other commodities, spanning plant operations, process optimisation, flowsheet development, testwork, pilot and demonstration plants, engineering from concept to final design, commissioning, ramp-up and operational troubleshooting. He has held senior technical and management roles at Rio Tinto, AngloGold and Harmony Gold, and has worked on projects across Australia and internationally.
He is a member of the AusIMM and the SME.
Why independent?
After four decades working inside some of the world's major mining companies and on projects globally, Brian established Gwanda Consulting to do the work he does best, without the constraints that come with large organisations.
Working independently means no internal politics, no competing priorities, and no divided loyalties. When Brian takes on an engagement, his sole obligation is to the client — to understand their situation clearly, assess it honestly, and give them advice they can actually use, even when it isn't what they were hoping to hear.
It also means he can engage across the full scope of a problem — from the technical detail to the commercial implications to the human dynamics of a project team — without being confined to a narrow brief.
How Brian works
Clients consistently describe working with Brian as straightforward. He gets into the problem quickly, asks the right questions, and becomes part of the team rather than an external voice commenting from a distance. He buys into the client's vision and works to protect it — whether that means challenging a flowsheet, navigating a difficult conversation with an engineering contractor, or helping a board understand what the technical picture really means for their investment.
He is direct, practical, and honest — including when the honest answer is uncomfortable. In his experience, that is usually when it matters most.
Career snapshot
40+ years in metallurgical engineering and mineral processing
Senior technical and management roles at Rio Tinto, AngloGold and Harmony Gold
Projects spanning Australia, Africa, Asia and the Americas
Commodities including gold, silver, copper, uranium, rare earths, phosphates, lithium, aluminium and more
Member of the AusIMM and of the SME