John joined the Group in 2010 to take lead responsibility for developing and conceiving earth resource business opportunities. He holds a PhD in geology from Trinity College, University of Dublin and has spent most of his working career in the Geological Survey of Ireland, where he has served as senior manager with responsibility for various operational programmes, including minerals, land mapping and, most recently, CCS activities. He has (co-)authored many academic papers and, earlier in his career, worked as a gold mine geologist and in gold, uranium and base metal exploration in various parts of Canada.