The highly experienced technical and investment team, has overseen 60+ mine builds and over US$200bn of mining sector transactions, and works in a close and collaborative manner with management teams to deliver optimal results
The Appian Team
ALBERTO DIAZ
Director, Underground Mining
DESCRIPTION
Alberto Diaz is a seasoned mining executive and technical advisor with over two decades of global experience across the mining industry. He specializes in a wide range of commodities, including copper, gold, silver, iron ore, diamonds, lithium, and base metals. He is known for delivering high-impact mining studies, technical evaluations, and strategic operational improvements for leading resource companies worldwide.
Throughout his career, Diaz has advised C-suite executives, board members, and senior site leadership on mining investments, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and crucial operational decisions. His expertise includes strategic advisory, project delivery, and operational strategy, with a proven ability to align business strategies with financial goals to maximize shareholder value. He has extensive experience as a subject matter expert in block cave and sub-level cave mining methods. His global experience spans over a dozen countries, including Australia, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa.
From 2016 to 2025, he was the Director and Principal Mining Engineer at PMD Mining Consulting, where he provided expert guidance for underground and open-pit projects, including feasibility studies and technical reviews. As the Global Practice Lead at Zijin Mining Group, he provides strategic technical leadership for the company’s underground operations, focusing on the development of two world-class block cave mines.
Earlier in his career, he held significant roles at major mining companies such as WorleyParsons, Barrick Gold, Rio Tinto, and BHP Billiton. As the Extraction Level & Planning Superintendent at Rio Tinto Argyle Diamonds, he managed the transition of an open-pit mine to a block cave underground operation. At BHP Billiton, he was part of a team that implemented the world’s first underground wireless firing system, which contributed approximately $30 million in additional revenue and improved production.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining from Universidad Tecnologica de Chile and additional certifications from Harvard Business School and the Australian Institute of Project Management. Alberto is fluent in both English and Spanish.
