Ashton Gobbo

Senior Project Manager

Maestro Digital Mine

I was born and raised 10 minutes from the Big Nickel and both my grandfathers worked in the mines. I had no idea the importance that mining has on the economy and the vast number of products that would not exist without the valuable minerals we extract from the ground. As a Mechatronics Systems engineering graduate, I wanted to contribute to the industry my hometown was founded upon. Mining has been shifting towards Industry 4.0 and with this digital transformation the door has been opened for a whole new set of products and applications. This excited me to use my engineering skills to develop new equipment that could revolutionize mining operations, to increase production and most importantly the safety of the workers.

Besides the fact that I love solving problems and working in a team, the direct impact that my job has on the mining industry is astounding. I am part of a small, but highly efficient and effective team that directly contributes to the two points I stated earlier, production and safety in mines. At Maestro Digital Mine we are on the forefront of the digital transformation and I have had the privilege of writing code for the Vigilante AQS - an IoT device used to measure critical data to improve safety for miners - and the Plexus PowerNet – the First gigabit network that provides power and data over coax cable – a revolutionary product to reduce CAPEX and increase production. Anytime you get to be a part of something that is the first of its kind you feel greatly honoured. I have also had the opportunity to go underground at some of the most innovative mines and experience the environment firsthand. It is truly incredible, and I wish everybody could experience the shear magnitude and complexity of these underground mines.

Underground mines are simply breathtaking. If you are involved in the mining industry hopefully you will be lucky enough to visit a mine and see how large and intricate the operations are. Working in the mining sector, I am part of one of the most pivotal industries for the global economy and it is a profound honour to be a small part in global economic success.