Associated Event
28th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings
14–16 April 2026 InterContinental Lisbon | Lisbon, Portugal
Mine Backfill Design and Operation Workshop
12-13 April 2026 | Évora Room, InterContinental Lisbon | Lisbon, Portugal
Introduction
Choosing the right type of backfill is very project specific; constraints such as schedule, cash flow, source materials and regional skills all impact the choice of backfill type and source.
The successful implementation of a backfill system is dependent on a number of factors. A fundamental understanding of the material properties and geomechanics, balanced process engineering and
hydraulic design, safe placement strategies and cost-effective operational
management planning are all important in order for backfill to do its job – support the mining cycle at the lowest cost possible.
The workshop consists of a combination of technical lectures, case studies, and practical laboratory demonstrations.
Objectives
The main objective of the workshop is to assist mining operations with the
principles of mine backfill design and the lessons learned on other mine operations throughout the world. Participants will gain an appreciation of the requirements for designing and operating a safe, cost-effective and reliable backfill system.
The workshop objectives are to:
- Introduce the fundamental concepts of geomechanics and material properties;
- Examine the various elements that go into engineering a backfill system, including testing, plant and process design, reticulation and barricades;
- Relate to operational aspects of a backfill system, including quality assurance, cost reduction, operational management plans, risk control and new technology.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to participate in practical testing activities.
Who should attend?
The course is designed for all professionals involved in backfill applications,
including:
- Mining and geotechnical engineers
- Chemical and mineral processing engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Operational staff
- Project and/or study managers
- Business decision-makers
- Government legislators and policy makers
This workshop runs for two days, however attendees have the option to attend day one only. Attendees must attend day one at the InterContinental Lisbon, to be able to attend day two at the University of Lisbon.
Program*
*Program subject to change.
Presenters
Leslie Correia
Senior Engineer
Paterson & Cooke, Canada
Leslie is a senior chemical engineer at Paterson & Cooke. He is the global backfill lead who brings international expertise from mining in the Americas and Africa, integrating tailings management and backfill technologies.
Andrea Diaz
Senior Process Engineer
WSP, Canada
Andrea has worked with WSP for the last 15 years on a variety of backfill plant design projects including paste backfill, cemented rockfill, and cemented hydraulic fill as well as reclamation operations. These projects have varied from scoping studies to detailed engineering, both in the office and onsite.
David Dussiaume
Principal Mechanical Engineer
WSP, Canada
David is presently a principal engineer with WSP and has 18 years of experience in the design of mine infrastructure and mine backfill systems. David has successfully designed and commissioned numerous backfill systems, globally Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Freeport’s Grasberg Mine and HZL’s Rampara Agucha Mine, to highlight a few.
Louis-Philippe Gelinas
Principal Mining Backfill Engineer
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, Canada
Louis-Philippe is a principal mining backfill engineer specialising in cemented paste and cemented rockfill backfill design, optimisation, and operational performance. With over a decade of experience in underground mining, he has led major technical initiatives focused on improving backfill reliability, rheology control, and long-term geomechanical stability. His work bridges field operations and applied research, helping mines integrate data-driven decision-making into backfill systems. He is passionate about advancing backfill practices to support safer and more efficient mining operations.
Chris Lee
Fellow
WSP, Canada
Chris is a professional mechanical and mining engineer with over 28 years of experience in domestic (Canadian) and international mining projects, with a focus on backfill, dewatered tailings systems and mine infrastructure.
Glenn MacGregor
General Manager of Sales
Imatech / ArmorPIPE, Australia
Glenn has been working in heavy industry for more than 30 years. Since 2005, his focus has been the development and supply of pipe systems for mine backfill and shotcrete transportation and he has worked on projects in Europe, north and central America, Africa and Australia and as such, has become a recognised member of the global backfill community. This work has also included pioneering ArmorSCAN™ backfill pipe surveying services to enable maintainable backfill borehole systems.
Dr Angus Paterson
Director
Paterson & Cooke, South Africa
Dr Angus Paterson is the managing director of the Cape Town office of Paterson & Cooke, having founded the company together with Dr Robert Cooke in 1991. Angus completed his civil engineering degree at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, in 1984 and completed his PhD in 1991. His research work focussed on the flow behaviour of high concentration non-Newtonian backfill slurries, and this remains a core interest of his.
He is a registered professional engineer and is actively involved in engineering projects as well as providing hydraulic oversight and expertise on a wide range of slurry pipeline applications. He regularly presents courses on slurry pipeline technology and deep mine backfilling.
Bernardt van der Spuy
Senior Engineer
Paterson & Cooke, South Africa
Bernardt is an experienced mechanical engineer with a strong exposure to backfill systems design and operations. He has extensive, international backfill experience which includes plant design, reticulation systems design, underground placement and backfill operations from conceptual phase to construction and commissioning.
Dr Ryan Veenstra
Principal Specialist Backfill
Gold Fields Australia
Ryan is a principal backfill specialist, providing technical and operational expertise and leadership for Gold Fields underground operations and projects. Over the last 20 years, he has been involved in backfill as an academic, consultant, and industry engineer (both in operations and corporate spaces). His expertise and experience cover the entire backfill system with a particular speciality in backfill geomechanics. He has a geological engineering degree from the University of Waterloo and holds a PhD in civil engineering from the University of Toronto.