Pru Freeman’s public service contribution widely acknowledged.
Pru’s extensive career culminated in the role of Deputy Executive Director Mineral Resources and lead Exploration Regulator for South Australia. The Department for Energy and Mining (and its precursors) and the South Australian mineral and energy resources industry benefited from her leadership and regulatory and technical expertise. Pru retired in September 2021 after 33 years of public service.
Pru Freeman discussing the Accelerated Discovery Initiative for Discovery Day 2020.
In acknowledging Pru’s work, the Minister for Energy and Mining, the Hon Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP, said, ‘From both opposition and government, I admired and appreciated your friendly, open and direct way of sharing quality and relevant information.’
South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) CEO, Rebecca Knol, said, ‘Throughout her career Pru has been a passionate advocate for “opening up” South Australia, with her development of exploration incentives creating genuine impetus for exploration activity in this state.’
Minotaur Exploration Non-Executive Director, Tony Belperio, thanked Pru for her dedicated and professional approach, both as a Regional Geology colleague [within the department] and on behalf of the exploration community.
Close colleagues paid tribute to Pru’s integrity as a decision-maker and her trailblazing being a role model for women and for co-authorship of exploration co-funding initiatives which were replicated nationally. She was an early advocate for digitising geoscience, which has evolved to the current South Australian Resources Information Gateway, SARIG. Pru was the departmental representative for collaborative work with the Commonwealth defence agencies on the Woomera Prohibited Area Coexistence Framework. Pru is held in high regard by state and federal defence representatives.
Pru’s early years in the public service included time within the Geological Survey of South Australia where she co-published mapping and specialised in remote sensing and image processing work, and a supported period of tenure working for a gold explorer.
Pru remains passionate about geoscience and mineral exploration and her significant contribution has been to the benefit of South Australia. Later this year Pru will undertake Space Exploration studies at the University of Adelaide.
– October 2021
