Lance Martin, founding Deputy Chair of GEMSA NT, trained as a boilermaker in the early 1970’s and entered the mining industry as a drillers offsider at the Beverly Uranium Project (SA) in 1976. Lance was fascinated by the complexity of mineral drilling and progressed up the ranks of his craft in the many facets of the industry. He developed skills in mud, rotary air, diamond, and reverse circulation drilling, completing works such as artesian bores, mine dewatering and monitoring, 1.2 metre diameter bulk core sampling and installing deep extensometer piezometers.

Lance arrived in the NT in 1990 as Manager of Thompson Drilling’s Pine Creek blast hole operations in 1990, and concurrently ran a successful mineral exploration company as well as serving on the Pine Creek Community Government Council through to 1994. With the cessation of operations in Pine Creek Lance took a different path taking on the role of Sales Manager at Geminex (a successful safety, geological and drilling supply company in Darwin) and eventually purchased the company in 1998.During his time at Geminex, Lance was a board member of the Totally Workwear Group, trained as a Quality Assurance Auditor and assisted drilling and exploration companies with the supply of consumables and drilling methodology when needed. Following the sale of Geminex to Wesfarmers in 2009, Lance spent time doing QA Audits, assisting local businesses with submitting tenders, and writing company policy documents in the areas of safety and management.

Lance founded Practical Safety Australia in 2014 out of an emerging need for a local supply base for drilling and exploration consumables. This business has been growing steadily for the past few years through companies happy to support local suppliers, and Lance is always keen to assist wherever he can.

Lance has served as President of Pine Creek Pistol Club, Vice President of Darwin RSL Social Club and Chair of the Drillers Qualification Advisory Committee, of which he remains a Committee member. Lance is a Life member Minerals Council of Australia, a Class 3 licenced Water Well Driller, a Certified Quality Assurance Auditor, a recipient of Australia Day Honours and a proud NT Resident.