As chief executive of New York listed Bond International Gold, the World’s 10th largest gold miner at the time, he had executive responsibility for its worldwide operations, including construction, operations and then joint venturing the Superpit at Kalgoorlie with Homestake Mining. Later Mr Birchmore joined with a partner to list St Barbara Mines, which became a successful WA gold producer. Mr. Birchmore was a founding member of the Argyle joint venture, which became the World’s largest diamond mine and established the first independent marketing arrangements through Antwerp and recently chaired United Minerals Corporation NL through a scheme of arrangement with BHP Billiton in which UMC’s interests were acquired to merge their iron ore tonnage with BHP Billiton’s Area C. Listing Mermaid Marine with a partner, the company built supply bases and a vessel fleet, which now operates at the forefront of WA’s booming oil and gas services industry. Mr Birchmore has also been involved in public service including as chair of Albany and Fremantle Ports, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
