Nico Viljoen

Nico Viljoen is an accomplished engineering professional with extensive experience in geomechanics and rock engineering, specializing in hard rock underground mining. Currently serving as the Chief Underground Geomechanical Engineer at Freeport-McMoRan since February 2023, Nico supports the Indonesian subsidiary's strategic planning. Previously, as Principal Rock Engineer at Evolution Mining, responsibilities included overseeing the Red Lake Rock Engineering group and evaluating underground designs. During a twelve-year tenure at SRK Consulting, various roles encompassed operational support, geomechanical investigations, and strategic planning for multiple mining projects in Canada, South America, Africa, and the United Kingdom. Nico began a career at Anglo Platinum as a Shaft Rock Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining from the University of Pretoria.