Dom Calandro, Marmota Energy managing director

Q. What was your first job after
graduating from university?
A. I grew up in Adelaide and I studied geophysics at Flinders University. After graduating, I worked as a field assistant before starting on a contract with the South Australia Geological Survey. At the Geological Survey I was fortunate to be a part of the pioneering South Australia Exploration Initiative (SAEI). I then went on to manage successive exploration initiative programs where I was responsible for the design and implementation of more than one million line kilometres of airborne geophysical surveys. I also designed and oversaw the acquisition of other large-scale geophysical surveys including ground gravity and airborne electromagnetic. It was these surveys that gave good insight into what mineral riches have been preserved beneath South Australia’s cover, offering many prospective geophysical targets for drill testing. The work resulted in further exploration across South Australia, which has led to some of the more recent major discoveries that we have seen in the region. During my tenure with SAEI, my brief grew to include the management of the Survey’s geoscientific data and database systems, where I also oversaw the development of the first online geoscience data delivery system: a hugely innovative development. The system was the first of its kind at the time, and set a standard that was then followed by the Federal Government and all other state governments for online data delivery to the mining and exploration industry.
Q. How did you become involved
with Marmota Energy?
A. In 2007, I was appointed managing director of Marmota Energy, where we have developed a very prospective portfolio of projects across the uranium, copper-gold and iron ore spaces. This includes: the discovery of mineable grades of uranium at Marmota’s Junction Dam uranium project near the Honeymoon uranium mine; discovery of significant copper-gold mineralisation at Marmota’s Melton project on the Northern Yorke Peninsula; and the discovery of hematite iron at the Western Spur project.
Q. What goals are you focussed on
achieving with Marmota?
A. The current focus for Marmota is the development of Junction Dam. Late in 2011, we announced a maiden inferred resource which we plan to grow while progressing the deposit to field leach trial status, which is a big step toward production. In parallel to this, we intend to continue exploration on a second uranium project which has delivered mineable grades of uranium from drilling and to define a resource. We will also be working on definition of a maiden iron resource at Western Spur and further definition of the zone of copper mineralisation at our Melton copper project on the Yorke Peninsula, here in South Australia. Through this strategy the goal is to build Marmota’s market cap to a level that better reflects the value of the projects we have in our portfolio.
Q. What is the best advice you have
received and who gave it to you?
A. I was once told that ‘you are only as good as team that works with you’, which is something I value significantly at Marmota Energy. We have a highly accomplished board and a committed exploration team that have enabled the development of a strong and prospective project portfolio.
The exploration skills capabilities at Marmota offer a flexibility to our exploration programs that enables us to successfully apply exploration programs to a variety of commodities. Marmota’s organisational culture is one that is collegic [sic], fostering a strong commitment by the staff to the goals of the company.
Q. How do you maintain a balance
between work and life?
A. Maintaining a balance between  work and family is one of the continuing challenges that most people face. The resources industry in particular, I believe, has found this issue a difficult one to manage. Fortunately, I believe there have been significant improvements, particularly in the past 10 years.
I myself have a young family who keep me grounded, and I try to participate in sports that offer a good positive outlet to relax while at the same time being good for me.