George holds a Science Degree in Metallurgy from UNSW, Sydney and has been prominent in the minerals and coal industries in Australia and overseas for over 55 years, including having part owned and operated three export coking coal mines in Australia since establishing his own companies over 40 years ago.
Among his many achievements are being President of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (The AusIMM) in 1995 – they led development of the JORC and VALMIN Codes. George was Chairman of the Energy Council of Australia (from 1993 to 2006) and was Chairman of Standards Australia, which covered all minerals, including mineral sands. He was Chairman of ASX listed SAI Global Limited, an international certification company, from listing in 2003 until 2008. He was awarded the Gold Medal in 2011 by the Mineral Industry Consultants Association (4th awarded since 1982). George is currently Executive Chairman of the Australian Mining Association.
During his Science Degree he did vocational employment on a mineral sand treatment plant at Byron Bay in northern NSW and later was involved on another beach sand project on Stradbroke Island in southern Queensland. He has been very active in coal preparation (was International Chairman of the Coal Preparation Congress from 1973-76) involving use of spirals, shaking tables and magnetic separators as used in mineral sands treatment. George has been active in Bangladesh since 2012, including visiting a few different mineral sands sites and holding multiple discussions with various Government Officials about developing a mineral sands industry in the country.
He has been Chairman and Director of both public and private coal companies, in Australia and overseas.
He runs his own trading and consulting businesses, principally through Edwards Global Services Pty Ltd in Australia, serving the coal, minerals, energy and other industries worldwide. He is a Competent Person to do JORC and VALMIN Code work for coal. He’s had over 100 major clients worldwide and has authored some 150 talks, articles and presentations in Australia and in 14 countries overseas.