Spotlight on Our Team – Pedro Ladeira

At Snowden Optiro, we are proud to highlight the incredible talent and dedication of our team members. Today, we shine the spotlight on Pedro Ladeira, Senior Consultant – Mining Studies. With over 12 years of mining experience, Pedro brings extensive expertise in pit and stope optimisation, scheduling, mining strategy selection, and design. His work spans a diverse range of commodities, including iron ore, phosphate, manganese, gold, niobium, lithium, and copper.

Pedro’s journey in the mining industry began in Brazil, where he gained valuable experience working on open-pit and underground studies, IPCC modeling, and mine planning software implementations. In 2018, he moved to Australia, where he led the Datamine technical team in the Core Business unit until 2023. Pedro joined Snowden Optiro in early 2023, returning to his passion for technical studies. Most recently, he received the Chartered Professional accreditation in Mining from AusIMM, further solidifying his expertise in the field.

Pedro’s Journey in His Own Words

What is your educational background and any degrees or certifications you’ve earned?
“I earned my BEng in Mining Engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) in Brazil. I also hold an MBA in Strategic Management in Mining from BI International in Brazil and am a Chartered Professional in Mining, accredited by AusIMM (MAusIMM CP(Min)) in Australia.”

How did you choose your career path, and what motivated you to pursue it?
“At 17, during my final year of high school, I faced one of the most important decisions of my life: choosing what to study at university. I always knew I wanted to pursue engineering, as I had a deep curiosity about machines and the purpose behind their creation.

In Brazil, students must select their engineering specialisation before starting university. My options ranged from civil, mechanical, electrical, and metallurgy. The decision was overwhelming until a close friend, Eduardo, introduced me to the idea of mining engineering. He explained how mining engineering combined elements of all those disciplines while also offering exciting career opportunities worldwide. His arguments resonated with me, and I decided to take a leap of faith and join him in studying mining engineering.

As fate would have it, we ended up working together for years after graduation. Today, we’re still in the same industry group—me in Australia and Eduardo in Brazil. Thank you, Eduardo, for your guidance and for helping me find a career I’m passionate about!”

Can you highlight some notable milestones or achievements in your professional life?
“One of the most significant milestones in my professional life was moving to Australia. This opportunity opened doors to a wealth of experiences across various commodities and exposure to mining projects from around the globe.

While Brazil is a mining powerhouse, the concentration of companies with operations in Australia or technical service teams based here is remarkable. This new environment profoundly shaped my career, offering me insights and experiences I couldn’t have imagined before.

When it comes to achievements, I believe every project I’ve contributed to—where my work has supported the growth or evolution of a mine—represents the essence of being a mining engineer.

In terms of leadership, expanding and growing Datamine’s team in Australia stands out as a defining moment for me. It’s an achievement that will always hold a special place in my professional journey.”

Is there a particular cause or mission that you feel strongly about?
“I feel strongly about improving the way companies mine their orebodies to create a more sustainable and responsible industry. A key area of focus is transitioning from diesel-powered equipment to electrified solutions that rely on clean energy sources, reducing the carbon footprint of mining operations.

Another important aspect is optimising the utilisation of mineral resources to minimize waste and ensure more efficient recovery. By addressing these areas, we can drive meaningful progress in aligning mining practices with environmental and ethical considerations, ultimately supporting a more sustainable future.”

What are your current goals and aspirations, professionally?
“Professionally, my goals and aspirations revolve around contributing to more sustainable and efficient mining practices. I aim to help improve how companies extract and utilize their mineral resources, with a strong focus on transitioning from diesel to clean energy sources and maximizing resource utilization. My aim is to play an active role in driving positive change within the mining industry.”

We extend our sincere gratitude to Pedro for sharing his experiences and thoughts and wishing him continued success as a Senior Consultant at Snowden Optiro.

If you’d like to connect with Pedro, you can message him here.