Researcher biography
Claire is an international expert in mine water and environmental management who has applied her academic and technical knowledge to influence the mining industry's environmental performance. She has held several positions in research and consulting, and worked with mining companies in Australia, Africa, Chile and Canada to address issues related to water and sustainable development, documenting and implementing best practices. She gained extensive experience in the mining sector at Anglo American from 2011 to 2018, where she provided technical expertise on all topics related to environmental and water management, in Australia and Canada. She has led new approaches to improve planning for mine closure, including a review of closure plans for De Beers operations in Canada.
In her current role, she seeks to promote environmental excellence throughout the mining cycle, based on capacity building and targeted research programs on water and environmental management, integrated closure planning and beneficial post mining land uses. Claire is part of the newly formed Leading for High Reliability Centre at the University of Queensland, a collaboration between the Sustainable Minerals Institute, the School of Psychology and the Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership.
Publications
Book Chapter
Cote, Claire M., Cummings, Jason, Moran, Chris J. and Ringwood, Kristina (2012). Water accounting in mining and minerals processing. Water accounting: international approaches to policy and decision-making. (pp. 91-105) edited by Jayne M. Godfrey and Keryn Chalmers. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9781849807500.00014
Journal Articles
Howe, Layla, Cote, Claire and Johnston, Susan (2025). Applying High Reliability Organisation theory to guide implementation of the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management (GISTM). Business Strategy and the Environment bse.70427. doi: 10.1002/bse.70427
Lèbre, Eléonore, Czarnota, Karol, Walsh, Stuart D.C., Haynes, Marcus, Ufer, Natasha, Sonter, Laura J., Sreekar, Rachakonda, Bolz, Pascal, Bulovic, Nevenka, Côte, Claire, Kunz, Nadja C., Micklethwaite, Steven, Northey, Stephen A., Rochford, Louisa M., Schodde, Richard, Seligmann, Benjamin and Sturman, Kathryn (2025). ESG mapping of the Australian mining sector – The state of play on mobilising spatial datasets for decision making. Resources Policy, 105 105592, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105592
Sun, Zhongbo, Zhao, Yixin, Bolz, Pascal, Côte, Claire and Ren, Jiandong (2025). A multimethod GIS-based framework for site selection of underground pumped storage power stations using closing coal mines: a case study of the Shanxi province, China. Renewable Energy, 243 122521, 122521. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122521
Howe, Layla, Johnston, Susan and Côte, Claire (2024). How Reliable Is Environmental Management in Mining? Learnings Through Analysis of Sustainability Reports. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 32 (2), 2664-2680. doi: 10.1002/csr.3085
Robertson, Jacqui, Côte, Claire and Stevens, Shona (2024). Examining reported company commitments to water stewardship: Working beyond the mine?. Resources Policy, 96 105193. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.105193
Worden, Sandy, Svobodova, Kamila, Côte, Claire and Bolz, Pascal (2024). Regional post-mining land use assessment: an interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach. Resources Policy, 89 104680, 104680. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104680
Howe, Layla, Johnston, Susan and Côte, Claire (2023). Mining-related environmental disasters: A High Reliability Organisation (HRO) perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 417 137965, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137965
Lèbre, Éléonore, Stringer, Martin, Svobodova, Kamila, Owen, John R., Kemp, Deanna, Côte, Claire, Arratia-Solar, Andrea and Valenta, Rick K. (2020). The social and environmental complexities of extracting energy transition metals. Nature Communications, 11 (1) 4823, 4823. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18661-9
Franks, Daniel M., Boger, David V., Côte, Claire M. and Mulligan, David R. (2011). Sustainable development principles for the disposal of mining and mineral processing wastes. Resources policy, 36 (2), 114-122. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2010.12.001
Cote, Claire M., Moran, Chris, Christopher James Hedemann and Koch, Christian (2010). Systems modelling for effective mine water management. Environmental Modelling and Software, 25 (12), 1664-1671. doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2010.06.012
Kemp, Deanna, Bond, Carol J., Franks, Daniel M. and Cote, Claire (2010). Mining, water and human rights: Making the connection. Journal of Cleaner Production, 18 (15), 1553-1562. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.06.008
Barrett, D, Moran, C and Cote, C (2010). A method for estimating the potential trading of worked water among multiple mines. Mine Water and the Environment, 29 (2), 92-98. doi: 10.1007/s10230-010-0110-8
Cote, Claire M., Moran, Chris, Cummings, Jason and Ringwood, Kristina (2009). Developing a water accounting framework for the Australian minerals industry. Mining Technology, 118 (3-4), 162-176. doi: 10.1179/174328610X12682159814948
Cote, C. M., Moran, C. J. and Hedemann, C. J. (2007). Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Salt Management Strategies at Mine Sites Using a Systems Model. Mine Water and the Environment, 26 (4), 229-236. doi: 10.1007/s10230-007-0016-2
Moran, C. J., Cote, C. M. and McIntosh, J. G. (2006). Northern Bowen Basin Water and Salt Management Practices. Queensland Government Mining Journal, 56-58.
Cote, C. M., Bristow, K. L., Charlesworth, P. B., Cook, F. J. and Thorburn, P. J. (2003). Analysis of soil wetting and solute transport in subsurface trickle irrigation. Irrigation Science, 22 (3-4), 143-156. doi: 10.1007/s00271-003-0080-8
Cook, F. J., Thorburn, P. J., Bristow, K. L. and Cote, C. M. (2003). Infiltration from surface and buried point sources: The average wetting water content. Water Resources Research, 39 (12), TNN 3.1-TNN 3.7. doi: 10.1029/2003WR002554
Cote, C. M., Bristow, K. L. and Ross, P. J. (2000). Increasing the efficiency of solute leaching: impacts of flow interruption with drainage of the "preferential flow paths". Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 43 (3-4), 191-209. doi: 10.1016/S0169-7722(00)00087-5
Cote, C. M., Bristow, K. L. and Ross, P. J. (1999). Quantifying the influence of intra-aggregate concentration gradients on solute transport. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 63 (4), 759-767.
Conference Papers
Rochford, Louisa M., Bolz, Pascal, Samper, Agnes, Bulovic, Nevenka, Edraki, Mansour, McIntyre, Neil and Cote, Claire (2025). Australian Water Atlas for Resource Extraction (AWARE), Pilot project. CRC TiME Annual Forum 2025, Darwin, NT, Australia, 26-27 August 2025.
Côte, Claire Madeleine, Bolz, Pascal, Pagliero, Liliana, Shaygan, Mandana, Edraki, Mansour and Erskine, Peter (2023). Developing a regional data catalogue to support the technical assessment of post-mining land use. AusIMM Life of Mine Conference 2023, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2-4 August 2023. Carlton, VIC, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Worden, Sandy, Svobodova, Kamila and Cote, Claire (2023). Shifting post-mining land use planning from mine site to regional scale. AusIMM Life of Mine Conference 2023, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2-4 August 2023.
Micklethwaite, S., Verster, I., Seligmann, B.J., Antonio, C., Hilden, M., Hernandez-Santin, L., Ghoreishi-Madiseh, S.A., Kuyuk, A., Kalantari, H.B., Sasmito, A.P., Cote, C., Ziemski, M., Car, M., Lamb, A., Erskine, P., Runge, K. and Valenta, R.K. (2023). Complex Orebodies Analysis: A Multidisciplinary Application to the Izok Lake Corridor Project in the Canadian Arctic. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: 26th World Mining Congress.
Ringwood, K, Douglas, B., Cote, C, Harold, M, McIntyre, N and Butcher, M (2016). Water stewardship – a practical handbook for operations.. 5th International Congress on Water Management in Mining., Santiago Chile, 18-20 May 2016. Chile: Gecamin.
Cote, Claire M., Moran, Chris J. and Acosta, Orlanda J. (2010). Progressing towards sustainability: From water efficiency to water effectiveness at the Collahuasi Mine. Water in Mining - 2nd International Congress on Water Management in the Mining Industry (WIM 2010), Santiago, Chile, 9-11 June 2010. Santiago, Chile: Gecamin.
Moran, C. J., Barrett, D. J. and Cote, C. M. (2009). A statistic analytical method to assess the potential for worked water sharing between. International Mine Water Conference 2009, Pretoria, South Africa, 19 - 23 October 2009. South Africa: Water Institute of South Africa.
Moran, Chris, Damian Barrett and Cote, Claire M. (2009). A statistical analytical method to assess the potential for worked water sharing between mines. International Mine Water Conference 2009, Pretoria, South Africa, 18th - 23rd October 2009. Pretoria, South Africa: Water Institute of Southern Africa.
Cote, Claire M. and Moran, Chris (2009). A water accounting framework for the Australian minerals industry. 4th International Conference on Sustainable Development Indicators in the Minerals Industry (SDIMI 2009), Gold Coast, Australia, 6-8 July 2009. Carlton, Vic., Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Barrett, D. J., Cote, C. and Moran, C. J. (2009). A statistical analytical method to assess the potential for worked water sharing between mines. International Mine Water Conference 2009, Pretoria, South Africa, 19 - 23 October, 2009. Sydney, NS, Canada: International Mine Water Association (IMWA).
Cote, Claire M., Moran, Chris, Cummings, Jason and Ringwood, Kristina (2009). Developing a water accounting framework for the Australian minerals industry. Water in Mining 2009, Perth, 15 - 17 September 2009. Carlton, Victoria: Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy.
Franks, D., Boger, D., Cote, C. and Mulligan, D. (2009). Stable, inert and contained: mine waste disposal and the sustainable development agenda. First International Seminar on Environmental Issues in the Mining Industry, Santiago, Chile, 30 September - 2 October 2009. Santiago, Chile: Gecamin.
Vink, Sue, Cote, Claire and Moran, Chris (2008). Water and salt management in Bowen Basin Coal mines. Water in Mining 2008: International Congress on Water Management in the Mining Industry, Santiago, Chile, 9-11 July 2008. Santiago, Chile: GECAMIN.
Cote, C. M. and Moran, C. J. (2008). A systems modelling approach to manage mine discharge risk to rivers. 11th International RiverSymposium, Brisbane, Australia, 1-4 September 2008. International WaterCentre.
Cote, C. M., Moran, C. J. and Hedemann, C. J. (2007). Evaluating the costs and benefits of mine sites salt management strategies using a systems model. IMWA Symposium 2007; Water in Mining Environments, Cagliari, Italy, 27th - 31st May 2007. Italy: Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra.
Cote, C. M., Moran, C. J., Hedemann, C. J., Davis, A. H., Silvester, N., Koch, C. and Tollari, C. P. D. (2006). Systems modelling for water management in mining and minerals - Bowen Basin coal. Water in Mining 2006, Sofitel Hotel, Brisbane, 14-16 November, 2006. Carlton, VIC, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Department Technical Report
Côte, Claire Madeleine, Holloway, Edward, Dunlop, Jason and Chrystal, Robynne A. (2023). Leading practice approaches to
select post-mining land uses for
residual mine voids. Office of the Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner, Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Data Collection
Micklethwaite, Steven, Verster, Lizette, Antonio, Christian, Ziemski, Marcin, Hilden, Marco, Ghoreishi-Madiseh, Ali, Kuyuk, Ali, Kalantari, Hossein, Sasmito, Agus, Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Erskine, Peter, Cote, Claire, Lebre, Eleanor and Seligman, Benjamin (2022). Data relating to the Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project (Izok-Dataroom-UQ). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/9a95ed5
Research Reports
Claire Madeleine Côte, Pascal Bolz and Jacqui Robertson (2025). Renewable energy as post-mining land use. Brisbane, Queensland: ACARP.
Cote, Claire, Montaufier, Jean-Charles, Herreman, Kevin, Allenbach, Michel, Mardhel, Vincent, Dupaigne, Timothée and Jinakoa, Nora (2024). STRATÉGIE ET PERFORMANCE DES PLANS DE GESTION DES EAUX SUR MINE EN NOUVELLE-CALÉDONIE. Nouméa, New Caledonia: CNRT Nickel et son Environnement.
Côte, Claire Madeleine, Asmussen, Pascal and Gentle, C (2022). Dynamically transforming environmental assessment through a shared analytics framework: Bowen Basin case study. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: CRC TiME.
Côte, Claire Madeleine, Zavala Garcia, Consuelo, Chrystal, Robynne and Asmussen, Pascal (2022). Integration of biophysical aspects in mine closure planning. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: CRC TiME.
Chrystal, Robynne , Asmussen, Pascal and Côte, Claire (2022). Technical Guidelines: Erosion and Sediment Control in Mining
. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Beer, Andrew, Haslam-McKenzie, F, Weller, S, Davies, A, Côte, Claire Madeleine, Ziemski, Marcin, Holmes, K and Keenan, Julia C. (2022). Post-mining land uses. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: CRC TiME.
Côte, Claire Madeleine and Stevens, S (2022). Synthesis Report to the Department of Environment and Science. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute .
Chrystal, Robynne , Côte, Claire, Asmussen, Pascal and Shaygan, Mandana (2021). Erosion and sediment control framework for Queensland Mines. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Chrystal, Robynne , Cöte, Claire and Genova, Paulina (2021). Review of current water accounting at Kenmare’s Moma Titanium Minerals Mine: Pilivili Site. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland .
Worden, Sandy, Côte, Claire, Svobodova, Kamila, Arratia-Solar, Andrea, Everingham, Jo-Anne, Asmussen, Pascal, Edraki, Mansour and Erskine, Peter (2021). Baseline works for mine rehabilitation and closure collaboration project. Brisbane, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/6c92886
Côte, Claire Madeleine, Garcia Zavala, Consuelo and McIntyre, Neil (2021). A Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project: Final Report 3 - Water Assessment. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Cook, P.G., Black, S., Cote, C., Kahe, M.S., Linge, K., Oldham, C., Ordens, C., McIntyre, N., Simmons, C. and Wallis, I. (2021). Hydrological and geochemical processes and closure options for below water table open pit mines: Final report Project 3.3. Adelaide, Australia: CRC TiME.
Miraldo Ordens, Carlos, Kahe, Maryam and Cote, Claire (2021). Review of the Åknes hydrogeology project report and calculations. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: UQ.
Côte, Claire Madeleine, Everingham, Jo-Anne, Svobodova, Kamila, Worden, Sandy, Asmussen, Pascal, Shaygan, Mandana, Paz, Anat, Pagliero, Liliana, Edraki, Mansour and Erskine, Peter (2020). Moranbah post-mining land use collaborative project - Baseline Works. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Miraldo Ordens, Carlos and Cote, Claire (2020). H2S Study and Mitigation Assessment. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Franks, Daniel, Bainton, Nick, Head, Brian, Côte, Claire, Erskine, Peter, Fidelman, Pedro, Kemp, Deanna and Flomenhoft, Gary (2020). Strategic issues and opportunities for the acquisition of thermal coal mining assets for managed closure. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Vink, Suzanna M. and Côte, Claire Madeleine (2020). Review of water valuation methods and application to the proposed Central Region Water Network. . Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Bourke, Pam, Corder, Glen, Cote, Claire, Edraki, Mansour, Littleboy, Anna, Mackenzie, Sarah, McIntyre, Neil, Miraldo Ordens, Carlos, Pagliero, Liliana and Vink, Sue (2020). Agua y relaves una mirada de futuro estrategia de gestión hídrica y de relaves det 2050. Santiago, Chile: SMI ICE Chile.
Cote, C., Moran, C., Gozzard, E., Craven, A. and Shih, J. (2008). Understanding leading practice in water management. Project Number: C16035 Brisbane, QLD, Australia: ACARP (Australian Coal Industry Research Program).