Wayne Hartley

Chief Executive Officer

Wayne has been part of the Emergency Management Industry for over 30 years, from the beginnings as a fire-fighter through to senior management, CEO and Chief Commissioner of the State's Fire Services. Wayne has been a director on the Board of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority and the Queensland Ambulance Service. He has also been Chairman of the Fire Protection Contractors Registration Board and National Community Safety Committee to AFAC.

Wayne joined QMRS in February 2002 as the State Manager and has been instrumental in organisational reform and service delivery to the Coal Industry in Queensland. Wayne has been a key figure in emergency management in the fire and mines rescue organisations. He is Secretary to the QMRS Board of Directors and his present role at QMRS is the Chief Executive Officer. 

Clive Hanrahan

Operations Manager – GAG Operations, specialising in Fire Fighting and currently QMRS spokesperson on Inertisation and Fire Operations. Equipment, Service and Maintenance Systems.

Clive’s mines rescue career began in July 1998 and subsequently joined QMRS in December 2003 as an Operational Manager. The 10 years experience of both open cut and underground mining brings knowledge and experience in mine emergency response and safety management to mines rescue. Clive’s responsibilities include the management, training and Inertisation Operations with the GAG Inertisation Unit including system development and competency of Mines Rescue Team members. Clive’s experience includes mining, workplace health and safety, Mines Rescue Team member, mines rescue training, auxiliary fire officer, risk management and rope rescue training and instructing. Clive’s qualifications include health and safety, Instructing, risk management, systems auditor, firefighting, training officer.

Mark Freeman

Operations Manager – Mine Emergency Management System Training, specialising in Open Cut Competencies and Team Member training.

Mark’s mines rescue career began in 1984 at the Collinsville Station and subsequently joined QMRS in November 2005.

The 28 years’ experience in underground coal mining combined with substantial mines rescue experience, Mark offers an abundance of experience and knowledge of emergency response and health and safety management to QMRS. Mark’s responsibilities include the training and deployment of the Mine Emergency Management System (MEMS) as well as open cut training systems.

Mark’s experience includes plant operations and mines rescue systems, including auxiliary Fire Officer with the QFRS, vertical rescue training and operations as well as principle Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus Director.

Geoff Nugent

Operations Manager – Mine Rescue Operations and specialising in gases and ventilation.

Geoff’s Mines Rescue career began in 1995 and subsequently joined QMRS in October 2006. The 18 years experience in mining and substantial achievements in mines rescue and gas drainage and ventilation brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to QMRS. Geoff’s responsibilities include QMRS’ operational systems, deployment and support and including ventilation systems. Geoff’s experience also includes plant operations, firefighting, environmental monitoring, hazard management plans, risk management, industry health and safety
systems, and emergency response and recovery systems.

Geoff’s qualifications also include plant operations, surveying, training, accident investigation, Deputy Certificate, Cert 4 coal operations, ICAM and currently finalizing Ventilation Officer Qualifications, risk management systems auditor.

Cole Klease

Operations Manager – Training / OH & S

Cole proudly possesses 32 years’ experience within the mining industry, 28 of which as an active team member before joining QMRS as a full time employee in 2007.

Cole brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to QMRS due to his numerous mines rescue deployments throughout his career.  Upon joining QMRS, Cole took charge of the OHS&E portfolio which involved writing a new Safety Management Plan, developing internal auditing processes and developing/reviewing our safe work procedures.  Cole has also gained varying experience as a district assessor in the planning, co-ordinating and assessing of Mines Rescue competitions over the past many years.

His supervisory positions during his career include: Deputy, shift supervisor, production coordinator at a major mining operation in the Bowen Basin and was also the Rescue Coordinator for approximately 12 years at that particular operation.  His qualifications include: Deputies Certificate, Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, Certificate IV in Front Line Management, Business Excellence Qualifications, Accident Investigation, ICAM, Training and Assessment, Senior First Aid and he is currently studying to gain his diploma in Environmental Sustainability.

Ray Smith

Operations Manager – Equipment

From team member, to team captain, to district assessor and now chief assessor, Ray’s involvement with and passion for Mines Rescue quickly saw him acknowledged for his enthusiasm, commitment and competence, resulting in his recent appointment as Operations Manager with Queensland Mines Rescue Service. 

With over 13 years in the coal industry beginning at Newlands Coal in 1998 and continuing with Oaky Creek Coal from 2002-2011, his roles and duties have included Fire Officer, Shot-firer, S.S.H.R. and Mines Rescue Coordinator.   Ray’s competencies include deputy qualifications, training and assessment, and occupational first aid.  

Ray brings youth, vision, and an enthusiastic approach to strengthen and deliver the principles, purposes and pride that QMRS stands for.

Andy Neville

Senior Training Officer

Andy commenced his employment in the coal industry at New Hope Colliery (Underground), in Ipswich in 1985. He spent 2 years at New Hope before moving onto Central Colliery in 1987. It was during his time at Central Colliery which Andy joined QMRS as an active team member in 1989.

North Goonyella was Andy’s lengthiest position, remaining there from 1993 through to 2010. While he was at North Goonyella, Andy worked as a Miner Driver, Deputy, SSHR and Occupational First Aider.

Andy was employed as a Deputy at Pike River, NZ for 4 months during 2010 however he left to join QMRS 2 weeks before the November mining disaster. Being in the first team to respond from Qld, and meeting many friends affected by the disaster, has kept him committed to the cause of safe mining and rescue capability.

He has achieved a number of qualifications over his career including SSHR, Deputy, ICAM, Occupational First Aid and also an Associate Diploma in Coal Mine Engineering.

After many years of involvement as an active team member and competitor, Andy has acquired a variety of skills, abilities and knowledge surrounding all aspects of Mines Rescue and as such, has recently been engaged as a Senior Training Officer for QMRS.

Jason Andrews-Reid

Senior Training Officer

During the early 90’s, Jason was firstly introduced to the sector of rescue services by participation of the Victorian CFA and the SES Alpine Search and Rescue and as such, his interests in this field guided him to mines Recue many years later. 

His involvement with QMRS originated as a dedicated team member five and half years ago at Anglo Coal’s Grasstree Mine.  During his time of employment at Grasstree, Jason gained a number of skills and industry knowledge through a variety of roles which included shot firing, miner driver, shift medic and also as an underground supervisor. 

Jason has shown great commitment and has proceeded with enthusiasm which has strengthened his own abilities and knowledge base in all aspects of Mines Rescue.  Jason has embraced the responsibilities as Vice Captain at a national level of competition and in turn has acquired highly regarded experience which he will be able to pass onto other members though his recent appointment with QMRS as a Senior Trainer. 

Jason possesses Certificate II as an Emergency Medical Technician, Certificate IV in Engineering, (post trade) and he is currently studying to achieve his Deputy ticket. 

 Darren Prince

Training Officer

Darren’s career in the mining industry began at Moura Mine in 1984, employed as an apprentice Diesel Fitter where he worked in both open cut and underground operations. 

After the completion of his apprenticeship, he gained many years hands-on experience as a tradesman before moving onto Moura No. 2 Underground, and then later onto Crinum Mine in 1994. 

While at Crinum Mine, Darren was involved with development, longwall and outbye areas.  It was during his time spent at Crinum which Darren kicked off his career with QMRS as an active team member in 1994.  Over the course of the following years, Darren has been enthusiastically included with numerous competitions initially as a team member, vice captain and then onto team captain.  He also has gained invaluable experience, notable skills and a steadfast commitment due to deployments on active operations. 

Darren has recently embarked on a new course of his career by joining the team at QMRS as one of our dedicated and reliable training officers.  In this position, Darren is able to pass on many years of personal experience to training members and ensure quality of training is kept at its utmost.  Darren is currently studying to complete his deputy’s ticket.