Derek Kinakin, M.Sc., P.Geo. (BC, AB, NWT), P.L.Eng. (BC), P.G. (AK), specializes in rock mechanics for slopes, excavations, subsidence, and foundations. He can usually be found developing solutions for clients in the mining sector; often for open pit mines. Derek has been fortunate to gain firsthand experience in the geology of projects and operating mines in central and northwestern British Columbia, northern Alberta, Ontario, Alaska, Nevada, South Carolina, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Madagascar, Eritrea, and Mongolia. He has also provided technical support for projects in other parts of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. He is passionate about the development of new tools and techniques and regularly builds custom data processing and analysis tools using the Python programming language.