McKay Drilling is a WA based drilling company specialising in all areas of Reverse Circulation, Hydro and Diamond Drilling. We exist to deliver high-end drilling services to the exploration and mining industries. We strive to achieve this by supplying our clients with;
Security
Assuring quality through strong foundations and mature processes.
Growth
Partnering to create opportunities for internal and external business developments.
Solutions
Delivering diverse, innovative and technical solutions.
Established in 1990, McKay Drilling has extensive regional experience and has operated in most states and territories throughout Australia, as well as extending operations internationally to South America. In partnership with a strong focus on continuous improvement the company holds four ISO standards, AS/NZS ISO 9001 – Quality, OHSAS ISO 45001 – Health & Safety, AS/NZS ISO 14001 – Environment & ISO 55001 – Asset Management. These ISO certifications demonstrate the robust processes McKay Drilling have in place which capture the skills and knowledge of our people, and help us to continue to develop industry leading standards across all aspects of our business.
McKay Drilling prides itself on having the best people, with a focus on continual growth and development in innovation and technology, while upholding a safe work environment for all people, equipment and the environment.
We pride ourselves on achieving excellence by operating in line with our company values:
People
We recognise that the success of our business is directly linked to our people. We emphasise the importance of engaged leaders, teams, and individuals in achieving excellent performance. We focus on clear expectations of our people and their leaders, and align these expectations with the values of the company.
Accountability
We accept our individual and team responsibilities and we rise to meet our commitments. We take responsibility for our performance in all of our decisions and actions.
Innovation
We promote an innovative culture and attitude. We promote a pioneering spirit that values ideas and seizes opportunities whereby the willingness to challenge and change is imbedded in the company’s culture.
Performance
We shall perform better than our competitors. Performance is not about the results we achieve but how we achieve them.
Our Team
JOHN ROSS (JR) DAVIES
VP OPERATIONS – AUSTRALASIA
Mr. Davies has worked in the drilling industry continuously since 1989 after completing mechanical and engineering studies in Perth, Western Australia. He has held various field and management positions in several different countries globally gathering hands on knowledge of a very diverse range of drilling services. Initially starting with Pontil Pty Ltd before it was acquired by Major Drilling in 1996; his most recent position with Major Drilling was Regional General Manager – Asia.
AARON EARL
GENERAL MANAGER
Aaron commenced his career in the drilling industry in 2002 with North West Drilling which was subsequently purchase by Boart Longyear in 2006. He worked for Northwest Drilling / Boart Longyear for 12 years, climbing his way up the ranks through hard work and an eye for detail, eventually reaching the position of Western Australian Operations Manager responsible for over 100 Drill Rigs covering Underground, RC, Water Well, Sonic and Diamond Drilling. Aaron joined McKay Drilling in 2014 in the position of Operations Manager and has been managing the McKay Drilling fleet, along with a strong operations support team, to ensure optimum performance and a safe working environment. In 2019 Aaron was appointed General Manager.
CHAD MCKAY
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Chad commenced his career in the drilling industry in 2009 after completing his Diesel Mechanic’s trade. Chad started working for McKay Drilling as a mechanic before moving into a driller’s offsider role on RC rigs. He quickly progressed through to drilling where he spent the majority of time working on remote exploration sites throughout Australia but also spent extensive time in the iron ore sector working for blue-chip clients. He moved into a supervisor’s role in Brazil, managing McKay Drilling’s international operation, before moving into an Operations Superintendent role back in Australia in 2015. Chad has since managed multiple rigs across a large variety of clients, as well as managing the Brazil Operation. He remains engaged in innovations and the mechanical aspect of the business. He prides himself on providing a high level of technical expertise and support to the field crews and our clients, with a strong focus on safety and field leadership. Chad now manages the McKay Drilling operations division.
ROB POLLARD
FLEET & ASSET MANAGER
Rob commenced working in the drilling industry in 1998 with NorthWest Drilling where he worked for 9 years, first as a boilermaker/welder and then moved his way up into the Workshop Manager role. Since 2006 Rob has demonstrated and proven his leadership abilities in Manager roles with such companies as Boart Longyear, Schramm/Airdrill and Foraco Australia before joining McKay Drilling in 2014. Rob confidently leads the Perth based Workshop team, where he is responsible for all maintenance, engineering and rebuild projects for the McKay Drilling fleet.
MICHAEL CARBONE
FINANCE CONTROLLER
Michael is a CPA and Commercial Business Partner with over 20 years’ experience in the Mining Services and Technology Industries. Prior to joining McKay Drilling, Michael held several senior finance roles with large multi-national entities, being responsible for Finance and Corporate Accounting obligations, and well as extensive project management and corporate integrations. During a stable and successful tenure at Layne Christensen Company, Michael progressed through the ranks before being appointed as Mineral Drilling Division Controller.  Michael is a passionate leader with strong technical skills reflected in continued job progression and successful work achievements. Applying his mature business acumen and dedicated work ethic, Michael supports the corporate and regulatory obligations at McKay Drilling.
KAY SELEM
HR ADVISOR
Kay commenced her career in Human Resources over 20 years ago specialising in retail. She holds a Bachelor in Commerce, majoring in Project Management in Human Resources and a Diploma in Finance. Working in various industries throughout her career from retail, construction, logistics and security, with a focus on building culture in teams. Kay joined McKay Drilling February 2023 and supports the business with all our HR needs.
DAVID HAY
HSEQ MANAGER
Dave has been in the drilling industry for over 10 years with extensive experience in offshore oil and gas. Dave has a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety also holds a NEBOSH International Technical Certificate in Oil & Gas Operational Safety. Dave has vast technical experience in building safety cases, bowtie analysis, risk analysis and mitigation and he is an extremely competent investigator qualified in over five root cause investigation techniques. Dave has an excellent client focus and manages teams with a collaborative and consultative manner that ensures buy in. Dave’s techniques and approach with safety ensures a strong culture shift and maintains positive behaviors. Dave leads a team of Field Advisors and Training Advisors that support the operations who collectively ensure a proactive approach to safety.
Our Company Policies
Work, Health & Safety Policy
This Policy Statement represents our commitment to promote the highest industry standards of health and safety in our workplaces, using ISO 45001 as a benchmark.
We recognise our moral and legal responsibilities but we also understand that being a leader in our industry extends to developing a culture of health and safety, and that this culture relies on health and safety being respected by all McKay Drilling staff and others who may interact or engage with our operations.
Specific objectives under this Policy are to:
• Train, educate and mentor our staff and other personnel under our management about the obligations, responsibilities and standards required to maintain a safety-first culture
• Define responsibilities and procedures to comply with all relevant health and safety Legislation and Regulations and other requirements to which we subscribe relating to our health and safety hazards, as applicable in our workplace, state and country
• Actively participate in the identification and control of workplace hazards and risks
• Reduce the incidence and costs, both personal and financial, of occupational injury and illness
• Monitor and continually improve health and safety performance in order to achieve a LTIFR of zero
• Establish, monitor and review other measurable goals and targets to ensure continual improvement aimed at the elimination of workplace injury and illness
• Openly communicate this Policy to all interested stakeholders
• Maintain certification to ISO 45001
• Foster a culture where all McKay Drilling employees are committed to, complying with, and enhancing our systems and procedures. This will continually improve our effectiveness, the success of our integrated management system and overall client satisfaction.
• Commit to consult and collaborate with workers and encourage them to participate in matters related to health and safety within the organisation.
Environmental Policy
This Policy Statement represents our commitment to conduct in our operations in order to minimise adverse changes to the environment, in accordance with the requirements of law and our clients.
The very nature of our activities means we have a significant interaction with the natural environment, and we use AS/NZS ISO 14001 as a benchmark to assist us comply with our legal, moral and contractual obligations and to minimise the environmental impacts of our activities.
Specific objectives under this Policy are to:
• Train, educate and mentor our staff and other personnel under our management about the obligations, responsibilities and standards required to maintain an environmentally-responsible culture
• Define responsibilities and procedures to comply with and fulfil all relevant environmental Legislation and Regulations and other compliance obligations and requirements to which we subscribe relating to our environmental aspects, as applicable in our workplace, state and country
• Actively participate in the identification and control of workplace hazards and risks and the impacts of our activities in relation to the environment
• Reduce the incidence and costs, both personal and financial, of environmental damage
• Monitor and continually improve environmental performance in order to achieve zero damage;
• Establish, monitor and review other measurable goals and targets to ensure continual improvement, protection of the environment and the prevention of pollution
• Openly communicate this Policy to all interested stakeholders including the general public
• Maintain certification to AS/NZS ISO 14001
• Foster a culture where all McKay Drilling employees are committed to, complying with, and enhancing our systems and procedures. This will continually improve our effectiveness, the success of our integrated management system and overall client satisfaction.
Asset Management Policy
This Policy Statement represents our commitment to using compliant, safe, capable and well-maintained drilling rigs and supporting plant and equipment, thereby maximising drill rig availability and minimising unplanned downtime.
We use ISO 55001 as a benchmark to achieve this goal and as a tool to maximise the value of our plant and equipment through a comprehensive planned maintenance program.
Specific objectives under this Policy are our commitments to:
• Train, educate and mentor our staff and other personnel under our management about the obligations, responsibilities and standards required to achieve an asset management system which will benefit all stakeholders in our business
• Provide the necessary resources to deliver our asset management principles, and define responsibilities and procedures to comply with all relevant OEM Manuals, O&M Manuals, Australian Standards, Codes of Practice, Guidance Notes, Legislation, Regulations and any other requirements applicable to our drilling plant and equipment
• Remain leaders in our industry in terms of drill rig operational innovation
• Quantify the benefits of our asset management program and the return on our investment by spending it effectively
• Control, record and analyse planned, unplanned and opportunity maintenance activities
• Measure, report on and continually improve assets and asset management performance
• Establish, monitor and review other measurable goals and targets to ensure continual improvement of our asset management performance using a defined decision model and guidelines when making decisions about assets
• Openly communicate this Policy to all interested stakeholders
• Maintain certification to ISO 55001
• Progressively expand our asset management program to the entire acquisition to disposal lifecycle and to include other categories of assets owned by McKay Drilling.
• Foster a culture where all McKay Drilling employees are committed to, complying with, and enhancing our systems and procedures. This will continually improve our effectiveness, the success of our integrated management system and overall client satisfaction.
Quality Policy
This Policy Statement represents our commitment to comply with all contractual and other stakeholder applicable requirements, thereby ensuring absolute client satisfaction with the quality of the drilling services performed by assuring the integrity, accuracy and traceability of drill samples produced.
We use AS/NZS ISO 9001 as a benchmark to achieve this goal and as a tool to support our strategic direction, increase our efficiency and effectiveness, and further differentiate ourselves from our competitors. We operate in a highly competitive market and we understand that it is difficult to attract and retain a client but it is much easier to lose a client.
Specific objectives under this Policy are to:
• Train, educate and mentor our staff and other personnel under our management about the obligations, responsibilities and standards required to achieve total contractual compliance and a client-focused culture
• Define responsibilities and procedures to comply with all relevant Australian Standards, Codes of Practice, Guidance Notes, Legislation and Regulations applicable in our workplace, state and country
• Remain leaders in our industry in terms of best drilling practice and innovation
• Undertake a structured approach where regular monitoring of processes result in the continual improvement of our services and of our integrated management system
• Foster a culture where all McKay Drilling employees are committed to, complying with, and enhancing our systems and procedures. This will continually improve our effectiveness, the success of our integrated management system and overall client satisfaction
• Establish, monitor and review measurable quality objectives to continually improve our reputation and our ability to deliver drilling services in full accordance with client requirements and expectations
• Maintain certification to AS/NZS ISO 9001.
CLIENTS WHO TRUST US
