Ian Porter

Ian Porter holds the position of Honorary Fellow and Associate Professor at the School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong (2022–present). He is affiliated with the Mining Research Centre and specializes in advanced materials for mining applications, particularly polymer-based liners for mine strata reinforcement. His research integrates experimental and numerical modeling to improve underground mine safety and operational efficiency.

Porter has supervised six PhD candidates focusing on topics such as thin spray-on liners, roadway development simulation, and geotechnical assessment of mine support systems. His work is supported by significant grants from organizations like the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP), addressing challenges in coal mine logistics, alternative confinement systems, and automated mining equipment.

His research interests span mining engineering, rock mechanics, and materials science with a focus on polymer composites for mining applications. Key contributions include developing ToughSkin technologies and optimizing underground mine workflows. He collaborates extensively with industry partners to translate research into practical mining solutions.