OUR LEADERSHIP

Deepcore Drilling’s commitment to professionalism and industry expertise is reflected within its management team appointments. Leading the team is Scott Tumbridge, a co-founding member and Director.

The supporting management team positions are held by a complement of co-founding members and selectively appointed industry experts, collectively possessing more than 200 years of industry experience.

 
 

Management Team

 

With over 20 years of experience within the Australian mining and drilling industries, Scott has attained premium accomplishments in corporate governance, business development, and operations, creating highly successful “in-demand” business services, deemed by industry figures as a desired place of employment and association.

Scott’s extensive industry expertise enables an insightful advisory and management approach, creating a structured environment committed to productivity, accountability, safety culture, growth innovation, and success.

Scott’s commitment to driving Deepcore Drilling to become an innovative “safety and health-focused” leader has resulted in a large range of innovative projects including start-of-the-art technology with the new MDR700 fleet, the design and delivery of the Deepcore Sound Enclosure, role-specific manual handling training, remote analysis and reporting programs to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disease and injury and driving proactive health promotion projects including Mental Health Awareness training.

“Maintaining a strong industry standard and by supporting the development and wellbeing of our people, will ensure the continued success of Deepcore Drilling as we go further.”

Scott Tumbridge

DIRECTOR

Matt began his drilling career in 2009 and has steadily advanced at Deepcore Drilling. With a strong foundation in supervision and management, Matt now leads the company as General Manager, bringing a wealth of experience across all facets of drilling operations.

Throughout his career, Matt has overseen major multi-rig operations for Teir 1 clients, in diverse and remote regions of Australia and Papua New Guinea. His hands-on experience in these challenging environments has cemented his reputation as a leader in the diamond drilling industry.

As General Manager, Matt is deeply committed to positioning Deepcore Drilling as an industry leader, known for innovation, safety, and high standards. By promoting professionalism, accountability, and a sense of pride across the team, Matt ensures that Deepcore Drilling delivers world-class drilling services with a focus on operational excellence and client satisfaction.

Matt holds an Advanced Diploma in Drilling Management.

Matt Linforth-Brown

General Manager

 
 

Andrew commenced his drilling career in 1987 as a driller’s offsider and has since expanded his experience working up to operational leadership from 2006. Andrew’s work history includes a variety of specialist drilling programs, across both underground and surface operations, working in some of Australia’s harshest drilling conditions across various projects in Victoria, the WA Goldfields, and Queensland.

As manager of special projects, this role allows Andrew to work with lots of different employees and external stakeholders to achieve end goals. Andrew thrives on keeping Deepcore Drilling at the forefront of innovation, proactively seeking solutions to current and future problems.

Andrew is a founding member of Deepcore Drilling and holds a Cert III in drilling operations.

Andrew Stewart

MANAGER – OPERATIONS SPECIAL PROJECTS

Joel’s career in drilling started 18 years ago initially as an Offsider in 2000. Joel joined the team at Deepcore Drilling in 2008 and moved up through the ranks to Driller, Site Supervisor, and now Manager of Operations for Victoria.

Joel’s experience has varied, working in Australia and PNG, on both surface and underground, with experience with a variety of complex drilling programs including Directional, Deep Hole, Exploration, Geotechnical, De-Watering, Gas Intersections, Cave Monitoring, Hydro-fracking and Heli-Portable operations.

When Joel joined Deepcore Drilling he felt part of a company with the same core values as his own. Joel’s love for the industry and passion (or some may call obsession) to succeed, keeps him motivated. Joel is very thankful to be part of the experienced and dedicated team at Deepcore Drilling.

Joel Dubois

manager - operations

Jayden has worked in the mining industry for over ten years, both on mine sites and in dedicated workshop environments. Jayden is in charge of the entire maintenance fleet at Deepcore Drilling, and is responsible for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Jayden takes pride in making sure the Deepcore Drilling fleet is as safe and efficient as possible.

Jayden holds a Certificate III Diesel Fitter qualification.

Jayden Dempster

Manager – Maintenance

 

Kelsey Tilburn serves as Deepcore Drilling’s People and Culture Manager, bringing nearly a decade of experience since joining the company in 2015. Over the years, she has held key roles such as HR Officer, HR Coordinator, and People & Culture Superintendent, consistently using her expertise to support the Deepcore Drilling team and uphold the company's core values of excellence, teamwork, safety, and respect.  

Kelsey’s dedication centres on empowering the people behind Deepcore Drilling, providing them with exceptional support and opportunities for career growth. Her role emphasises implementing impactful initiatives that strengthen company culture while offering high-level HR support to both operational and leadership teams. As a valued member of the management team, Kelsey has helped shape the organisation with her innovative approach, drawing on her deep knowledge, skills, and commitment to the company’s mission.

Kelsey holds a Certificate III in Business Administration, a Diploma in Human Resource Management, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, specialising in Human Resource Management.

Kelsey Tilburn

MANAGER – PEOPLE & CULTURE

Brett has worked in the drilling industry since 2003. He joined Deepcore Drilling in 2005 as a driller and has worked both in Australia and Internationally on multiple sites, both underground and surface. Brett was promoted to supervisor in 2015 and is now superintendent at our largest client site, overseeing the underground operations. 

Brett has a Cert III in Drilling operations, and values teamwork and respect to both the client and direct team around him to get the best outcomes for both businesses.

Brett Russell

SUPERINTENDENT – OPERATIONS

Luke has 14 years of drilling experience after starting his career in the industry with Deepcore in 2007 as an offsider at Bendigo Mine. He has spent a considerable amount of time working across various Victorian gold deposits in both surface and underground environments. 

Luke has successfully supervised multi-rig sites and fosters a positive relationship with our clients through teamwork. Luke enjoys the challenges of deep directional drilling and navigating the technical difficulties associated with parent–sub–hole drill programs. 

Luke holds a Cert III in Drilling Operations, and Cert IV WHS. 

Luke Fitzpatrick

SUPERINTENDENT – operations

 

Hayden started his career in the drilling industry offsiding in 2007. Hayden commenced with Deepcore in 2008 and has worked in both surface and underground environments, throughout VIC, WA, NSW, and QLD. Hayden has extensive experience in specialty areas such as dewatering and deep directional drilling and has progressed in his career to supervising projects since 2016, including oversight for multiple projects, with multiple rigs, across multiple locations.

Hayden pushes beyond the client and industry expectations to drive excellence within Deepcore Drilling. He is solution-driven and has an ongoing improvement mindset.

Hayden holds formal training with a Cert III Drilling Operations and Cert IV TAE and will complement these with future business management education.   

Hayden Russell

SUPERINTENDENT – operations

Will joined Deepcore Drilling in 2018, bringing valuable frontline experience before moving into Health and Safety. As a committed leader, he drives a practical, learning-focused safety culture that prioritises worker insights and real-world conditions to enhance risk management and operational learning.

Will focuses on operational learning, viewing safety as an evolving practice rather than a static set of rules. He approaches incident investigations with a view to uncovering and addressing underlying systemic factors,  always aiming to create meaningful solutions in collaboration with the team. Will also manages return-to-work programs, coordinating with healthcare providers and insurers to support smooth, effective transitions for injured employees.

Will holds a Certificate IV and Diploma in Workplace Health and Safety, is an ICAM Lead Investigator, a qualified Return to Work Coordinator, and a member of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS), advancing towards his certification as an OHS Practitioner (OHSPrac).

Will Verbeek

HSET Coordinator

Ben joined Deepcore Drilling in 2012, starting as a Driller’s Assistant and progressing through roles to become a Driller.

In 2018, Ben transitioned into a safety and training role, focusing on training development, procedural improvements, and managing critical risks. Over the years, Ben has both witnessed and contributed to the company’s growth and commitment to continuous improvement.

Committed to building a welcoming and diverse workplace, Ben works to enhance systems that empower employees, serve clients effectively, and advance a culture of safety across the organisation.

Ben holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE) and a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety (WHS) and is an Associate member of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene.

Benjamin Elliott

HSET Coordinator