We are delighted to host the inaugural Rio Tinto Lecture in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering on Thursday 21 March 2019.

All are welcome to join us for a lecture on Exploration in Rio Tinto, presented by Ken Tainton.

12pm: Lecture, RSM 1.47
1pm: Lunch and Networking, RSM 3.01 D

About our speaker

Ken Tainton is the Exploration Director for Africa and Eurasia, based in Reading. In this role he is responsible for multi-commodity exploration programmes in Southern and Central Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.  The Africa Eurasia team is currently active in seven countries, undertaking generation and testing of exploration targets for copper, iron ore and mineral sands.  Ken also acts as the commodity liaison with Rio Tinto Energy and Minerals.

Ken joined Rio Tinto Diamonds as Global Laboratory Manager in 2007.  Prior to joining Rio Tinto, Ken was Technical Services Manager for De Beers Exploration. He has held leadership, technical management and service delivery roles based in South Africa, Brazil, Australia, Singapore and the UK. 

Ken holds a BSc (Hons) in Geology from the University of Natal in South Africa and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. 

Rio Tinto Scholarship

Rio Tinto generously supports undergraduate students in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering through the Rio Tinto Scholarship. 

The Rio Tinto Scholarship provides support for students who are nationals of Chile, China, Mongolia or South Africa and demonstrate exceptional academic merit or potential. Find out more about the Rio Tinto Scholarship for Geology and Geophysics and about Rio Tinto careers.