Ted Bassett has worked for more than forty years in the global mining and metals industry with projects ranging from an open-pit operation in post-communist Kyrgyzstan to the scandal-racked Bre-X goldmine in Busang, Indonesia. He's witnessed numerous instances of senseless risk-taking and reputation-ruining blunders from project managers who simply weren't prepared enough for the job. Finally, prompted by his family and armed with dozens of case studies gleaned from his own personal experiences, Ted sat down with fellow engineer Jim Cooke and journalist Jennifer Parks to document these true stories-and provide a helpful resource that goes beyond a sterile textbook.
With chapters such as "On Being Principled," "Dodging Bullets," and "Safety and the Law," How to Build a Project: Things They Don't Teach chronicles Bassett and his family as they travel from the mountains of central Asia to the mines of South Australia. In these dramatic narratives, Bassett navigates sticky foreign politics, budget constraints, and executive temper tantrums in his demanding career...all while his daughter's cancer battle unfolds.
Filled with practical advice and keen insights, this book is an essential reference tool for engineers and managers seeking to gain an edge in their profession.
About the Author: Ted Bassett graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering before going on to earn a master's of science. He has forty-one years of experience in the mining and metals industry and currently operates a small consulting company. He also sits on the board of directors of Noront Resources Ltd., a junior mining company.
Jim Cooke graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a BSCME. He spent most of his career in offshore oil and gas exploration and on production projects at home and overseas. He lives in Kelowna, British Columbia, with his wife and a family of thirteen.
Jennifer Parks is a freelance journalist and creative writer. A former Sun Media reporter and honors cultural studies graduate of McGill University, she is also the author of Canada's Arctic Sovereignty: Resources, Climate, and Conflict. Parks lives in Kelowna, British Columbia, with her husband and two cats.
