Peter Lynch (mining engineer)


Peter Lynch was an Australian mining engineer.

Career

Lynch was born in Caringbah, New South Wales, the second child of Dr Gilbert Lynch and wife Judy. He attended local Catholic schools, then studied mining engineering at the University of New South Wales, graduating in 1988. After moving to Queensland to work on coal projects for BHP Billiton, he met his wife Laura, a geologist. The couple had three children.
In 1995, he was appointed Mine Manager of Mount Isa Mines' Oaky North Underground Mine, a poorly-performing mine, which he turned into a profitable venture within three years. MIM then appointed him general manager of Lead Zinc Development and by 2002 he was the managing director of Australian Premium Coals Pty Ltd..
Lynch left MIM to work with Gallipoli Mining, then was involved in the set-up of Galilee Basin coal giant Waratah Coal in 2006. He was President and CEO for several years, but, citing family reasons, left in 2010, shortly after the buyout of the company by Clive Palmer.
In 2009, Lynch set up a mining exploration company, Cokal Ltd., the company has four exploratory projects in Kalimantan, Indonesia and has signed a joint agreement with Tanzoz Resources to develop metallurgical coal exploration in Tanzania.
He also held an interest in several property developments including Evans Head AirPark, a residential air park development for people who own private planes.

Death

Lynch died with his girlfriend, Endah Cakrawati, on 26 January 2017 when his private plane, a Grumman G-73 Mallard, crashed into the Swan River during Australia Day celebrations in Perth. The City of Perth Skyworks fireworks display was subsequently cancelled.