Joe Atkinson: Co-Founder & Principal Consultant

Joe Atkinson is a highly experienced mining technology specialist and the co-founder of MTS. With a career spanning over 18 years in the global mining industry, Joe has established himself as a leading expert in bridging the gap between complex mining data and operational excellence.

Prior to co-founding MTS with Tom Jordan, Joe was one of the original Cat MineStar implementation team members during his time at Caterpillar Inc. Following this, he spent time with First Quantum Minerals, where he spearheaded the deployment of mining technology at their Kansanshi operation in Zambia.

Joe specialises in helping mining operations maximise the return on their technology investments. His work focuses on:

• Operational Optimisation: Streamlining load-and-haul cycles and improving pit-to-port efficiency.

• Asset Health & Maintenance: Leveraging machine data to transition mines from reactive to predictive maintenance strategies. Joe has a long history of helping mines harness their rich asset health data to improve reliability.

• Change Management: Ensuring that on-site teams—from dispatchers to senior management—are fully equipped to adopt and utilize new technologies effectively.

Joe founded MTS with the mission of making mining technology less complicated. He is dedicated to turning underutilised "big data" into actionable insights that drive measurable improvements in safety, productivity, and sustainability. Under his leadership, MTS has expanded its reach to support over 50 operations worldwide, providing both bespoke consultancy and innovative software tools like the Haul Road Explorer (HRE).

Joe is a frequent contributor to industry discourse, often sharing insights via the MTS blog on topics such as the future of autonomous mining and the importance of data integrity. He is known for his pragmatic, results-driven approach to mining consultancy.