Byrnecut Team

Photo of Steve Coughlan

Steve Coughlan

Executive Chairman, Byrnecut Group

Steve Coughlan is Executive Chairman of the Byrnecut Group, a private suite of companies headquartered in Perth, Western Australia...

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Steve Coughlan
Executive Chairman, Byrnecut Group

Steve Coughlan is Executive Chairman of the Byrnecut Group, a private suite of companies headquartered in Perth, Western Australia.

One of the original founders of Byrnecut (established in Kalgoorlie in 1987) Steve has overseen the growth of the group, which now has annual turnover of over $AUD 1.5 billion.

Byrnecut Group operates globally, with capabilities including mine design and mine feasibility, long-term mine development and production, shaft sinking, shotcreting, Indigenous training, engineering design, mechanical and electrical engineering services, equipment hire and EPCM mine, civil and structural works.

Qualifications:

  • Dip. Mining Engineering, RMIT (1974)
  • Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Fellow (FAusIMM)
  • WA First Class Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency
  • Mine Manager’s Certificate, Fiji, September 1986
Pat Boniwell

Pat Boniwell

Managing Director, Australia

Pat Boniwell joined Byrnecut after graduating from WASM in 1995...

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Pat Boniwell
Managing Director Australia

Pat Boniwell joined Byrnecut after graduating from WASM in 1995. He has since gained extensive experience in all aspects of underground mine development, production, construction and shaft sinking.

Pat’s experience covers a wide variety of underground operations across all major commodities and mining companies throughout Australia and New Zealand. Managing Director Australia since 2013, he was previously General Manager and Operations Manager.

In addition to holding a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining), he also holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and a First Class Mine Managers Certificate of Competency.

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Greg Jackson

Managing Director, International

With over 35 years’ experience in the mining industry, Greg joined the Byrnecut Group as Managing Director of Byrnecut Offshore in 2016...

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Greg Jackson
Managing Director International

With over 35 years’ experience in the mining industry, Greg Jackson joined the Byrnecut Group as Managing Director of Byrnecut Offshore in 2016.

Greg’s experience is diverse, spanning a broad range of mining methods (open pit and underground) and commodities (including gold, copper, uranium, diamonds, coal, lead and zinc) with major companies, including Rio Tinto and Newcrest Mining.
Greg has had direct operating experience in Australia, North America, Africa and Asia. Responsibilities have included direct management of all facets of operations, along with studies, construction, major project execution, operational readiness, and acquisitions. As testimony to his leadership qualities, he has achieved Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer level.

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Peter Sullivan

Group Director, Finance & Services

Peter Sullivan (B.Comm) joined Byrnecut in January 2000 as Group Financial Controller and Company Secretary...

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Peter Sullivan
Group Director, Finance & Services

Peter Sullivan (B.Comm) joined Byrnecut in January 2000 as Group Financial Controller and Company Secretary. Peter has overall accountability for the group’s finance, payroll, accounts, supply, logistics, treasury, risk, information systems and systems development.

Prior to Byrnecut, Peter was Regional Manager at RSM chartered accountants in the Kalgoorlie office, with a wide range of clients including primary producers, retail, mining, mining contracting, and Native Title. Peter returned to Kalgoorlie from Canberra in 1996 where he had spent the previous 18 years working for the Department of Defence, Office of National Assessment and the Australian Taxation Office.

Photo of David Nancarrow

David Nancarrow

Commercial Director

David Nancarrow is the Group Commercial Director responsible for all commercial and legal functions across the group...

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David Nancarrow
Commercial Director

David Nancarrow is the Group Commercial Director responsible for all commercial and legal functions across the group.

He has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), Masters of Engineering Science and a Bachelor of Laws.

Prior to joining Byrnecut in 2018, he was partner in a global law firm for 10 years.

Before commencing his legal career in 2000, David worked as a civil engineer for a large Australian engineering contractor on several large infrastructure projects throughout Australia.

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Craig Barendrecht

General Manager, Australia

Craig is the General Manager for Byrnecut's Australian operations, with over 19 years’ experience in underground mining. He has a wide range of skills and experience in mine supervision, short and long-term planning, design and scheduling, and project management...

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Craig Barendrecht
General Manager, Byrnecut Australia 

Craig is the General Manager for Byrnecut's Australian operations, with over 19 years’ experience in underground mining. He has a wide range of skills and experience in mine supervision, short and long-term planning, design and scheduling, and project management.

Craig joined Byrnecut in 2006 and has held various site-based roles, including Project Manager in several countries throughout Africa.

In 2012 Craig joined the corporate office, taking on a diverse portfolio, which included estimating, contract management, studies, and Operations Manager roles before being appointed as General Manager of Byrnecut’s international business in 2020. In January 2023, Craig was appointed as General Manager for our Australian operations.

Craig holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from WASM and a First Class Mine Managers Certificate of Competency.

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Francesco Bertagnolio

General Manager, International

Francesco Bertagnolio is the General Manager of Byrnecut International. He has over 15 years’ experience in tunnelling construction, working on major infrastructure projects around the globe, mainly involving tunnel boring machines...

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Francesco Bertagnolio
General Manager Byrnecut

Francesco Bertagnolio is the General Manager of Byrnecut International. He has over 15 years’ experience in tunnelling construction, working on major infrastructure projects around the globe, mainly involving tunnel boring machines.

After graduating in 2002 as a civil engineer in Italy, he joined an internationally renowned Italian tunnelling contractor and started his career underground. Francesco has gained experience in all aspects and facets of project management, from tendering to design and operations of major TBM projects in South America, UAE and Europe.

In 2011, he moved to Australia to take the lead at a corporate level of the growing business in the Australian and New Zealand markets. In 2013, he worked on a joint venture with Byrnecut for the Carrapateena TBM decline feasibility and tender phase, before moving to Norway in 2015 as Commercial Director and Area Manager for the Scandinavian subsidiary based in Oslo.

In 2020, he joined Byrnecut and moved permanently to Western Australia where he was General Manager for Byrnecut's Australian operations. In January 2023, Francesco was appointed as General Manager for our international business.

In addition to a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), Francesco also holds an EMBA from EADA Business School in Barcelona, Spain (2009–2010).

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Dave Kilkenny

General Manager, Raising Australia

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Michelle McAullay

General Manager, BOAB

Michelle was born in Subiaco and raised in Perth, Western Australia. Her Aboriginal heritage is the Yamitji Nanda people, whose lands are located along the Midwest/Gascoyne region...

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Michelle McAullay
General Manager BOAB

Michelle McAullay was born in Subiaco and raised in Perth, Western Australia. Her Aboriginal heritage is the Yamitji Nanda people, whose lands are located along the Midwest/Gascoyne region of Western Australia, extending from Geraldton and Kalbarri through to Shark Bay, and she has family connections in all of these regions.

Michelle has extensive experience within the Indigenous community. As General Manager of BOAB (Building Opportunities for Aboriginal Business), she has maintained her focus on improving quality of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since 2015. As a strong role model, she has implemented comprehensive and successful Indigenous employment programs while also promoting the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.

Michelle has worked at management level in the building and construction and banking and finance industries, and in law firms. She also has experience with both Commonwealth and local government.

Max Woods

Max Woods

Group Plant Asset Manager

Max Woods is the Group Plant Asset Manager. He has mechanical and electrical trade qualifications and holds a Diploma in Maintenance Management from CQU...

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Max Woods
Group Plant Asset Manager

Max Woods is the Group Plant Asset Manager. He has mechanical and electrical trade qualifications and holds a Diploma in Maintenance Management from CQU.

Max joined Byrnecut in 2007 and has over 30 years’ experience in the metalliferous mining sector with both owner-operators and contractors. He has held a number of senior maintenance positions since 2007, with responsibilities covering fixed and mobile plant in both shaft and decline mine applications.

His role encompasses the selection, acquisition and disposal of all capital equipment, and ongoing refinement of the group maintenance strategies and administrative policies. This necessitates close working relationships with all major OEMs and ensures the safest and most productive equipment is made available to Byrnecut projects and employees.