Stefan Waldek

Background

About Stefan Waldek

I am a geoscience professional with over 35 years of consulting expertise, specialising in Tailings Management, Hydrogeology, Dams, and Construction Management. After graduating with an Honours Degree in Geology from the University of Stellenbosch, I began my career as a Geologist with the Council of Geosciences before transitioning to Hydrogeology, where I managed groundwater supply programmes, oversaw the installation of 400 to 500 potable abstraction wells utilising various drilling methods, evaluated contaminated sites, and led the design and implementation of South Africa’s first LNAPL vacuum recovery system.In 1998, we relocated to the United Kingdom where I continued to investigate and remediate metal, hydrocarbon, chlorinated solvent, LNAPL, and DNAPL contaminated sites. My remediation background encompasses engineered excavation, soil stabilisation, reactive barriers, enhanced bioremediation, in situ chemical oxidation, air sparging, vacuum enhanced recovery, and multiphase extraction. During this time, I managed the European operations of TRC (formerly RMT International Inc.), delivering health, safety, environmental, remediation, and construction services to industrial and manufacturing clients throughout the UK and Europe.In 2009, we moved to Western Australia, where my focus has been on the design and construction of tailings storage facilities (TSFs), geosynthetic-lined evaporation and effluent ponds, dewatering systems, unlined water-retaining structures, and waste storage facilities or landfills. My recent work includes managing gold, iron ore, copper, and lithium tailings projects and designing advanced geosynthetic containment systems. I currently serve as Engineer of Record for the TSFs at the Talison Greenbushes Lithium mine.