Awards

2009 winner - Christopher Fleming

In recognition of his research and development leadership in the development of carbon-in-pulp and resin-in-pulp technology in gold extraction, the Hannah, Augment and Platsol processes, for his role in the development of Lakefield Research to the globally significant enterprise SGS Minerals Services and for his overall contributions to the development of extractive metallurgy

Chris Fleming has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and has spent much of his career in research management; the first 16 years with Mintek in South Africa and the last 19 with Lakefield Research in Canada. He has authored or co-authored 74 technical publications, been awarded 14 patents and contributed to several technical books on various aspects of extractive metallurgy. Chris has directed research teams and consulted to industry for a great many hydrometallurgical projects and operations, particularly relating to gold leaching and recovery. Many industrial flowsheets and gold operations have benefited from his work. He emigrated with his family to Canada in 1990 to join Lakefield Research, and has been intimately associated with the global expansion and ~ 10 fold growth of the company over the last 15 years. He became General Manager of Lakefield Research in 1992 and Chief Operating Officer when the company was privatized in 1995, through a management buyout from Lakefield's former owners, Falconbridge. After the acquistion of Lakefield Research Limited by SGS in 2002, Chris took on the role of Executive Vice President, Global Metallurgy, with technical responsibility for SGS Lakefield's world wide metallurgical business. Chris retired from SGS management at the end of 2008, but is continuing with the company in the role of Senior Metallurgical Consultant, based in Lakefield.