Underground Backfill Operators' Networker
29th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings
31 May–2 June 2027 | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Underground Backfill Operators’ Networker
Venue: To be advised
Date: Monday 31 May 2027
Time: To be advised
Dean Harty, Louis-Philippe Gelinas and Dr Ryan Veenstra invite you to an informal networker with your peers and invited guests to discuss shared learnings for underground backfill operators.
Join us for an informal, off-site networker to bring the industry together over great food, proper conversation, and drinks.
Express your interest in attending
Facilitators
Louis-Philippe Gelinas
Principal Mining Backfill Engineer, Agnico Eagle, 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.
Dean Harty
Operations Specialist Paste, Northern Star Resources Limited, Australia
Dean is the technical and operational lead for Northern Star’s cemented paste backfill operations, supporting existing operations and leading the design and commissioning of new projects. With 14 years involvement in paste fill as a consultant, designer, project engineer, superintendent, contractor and operator, he has a wide breadth of experience from high level scoping to nut and bolt operational detail. He brings the operators’ perspective to the holistic paste fill system, specialising in the design and implementation of robust underground reticulation systems. He has an advanced diploma in mechanical engineering and is an associate member of the Institute of Engineers, Australia.
Dr Ryan Veenstra
Principal Specialist Backfill, Gold Fields Australia, 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.
