Reflecting on 30 years at acQuire: A Q&A with Paul Whelan

Paul Whelan, Project Specialist at acQuire, brings four decades of experience in working in the mining and resources industry. Over the years, he’s played a key role in shaping acQuire from its early days as Metech into the global business it is today.  

To celebrate his 30-year milestone, we sat down with Paul Whelan to reflect on his journey, what he’s learned and where he sees the industry heading. 

Paul, what has your journey at acQuire looked like so far? 

I joined Metech, the precursor company to what we now know as acQuire, in 1995. At the time, I had a decade of experience in mining, resource evaluation and exploration geology and had just made the move from Melbourne to Perth to join a small team of less than ten. 

My first role involved supporting, training and implementing solutions through the Asia Pacific region using the old Mintec’s MineSight software. While working and travelling the region with this software, we quickly realised that the fundamental drilling data used to create resource models and mine plans was often poorly managed. That discovery was the seed of what would become acQuire’s Geoscientific Information Management (GIM) solution — and ultimately, the acQuire brand we know today. 

That opportunity led to my next chapter: moving to North America with my family to open the Calgary office. Not long after settling in, my family also welcomed twin boys into the world. 

The past two decades have been a blur of watching my family grow and building and growing the acQuire team alongside it. I have travelled to mine sites all over the continent – scoping, implementing, training, selling our software and supporting our customers. 

My career has taken various directions, but I’ve always felt connected to the people I work with. I strongly believe in our “People, Process and Technology” mantra – it aligns with how I work and operate. Great technology is only valuable if it’s used effectively by people to support what they do. 

I feel incredibly fortunate to have had these opportunities and experiences, and grateful to have shared them with all the people I have chosen to be around. 

What has been the most rewarding part of your roles at acQuire over the years?  

What I feel most proud of is being able to surround myself with an amazing bunch of people who I know will continue to grow and build our reputation. Helping to establish and build acQuire Canada is one of my greatest professional legacies. We’ve built a strong presence in North America that has greatly enhanced the influence of acQuire.  

I am also immensely proud of the Nova Network. This global network of expertise has created opportunities for a large number of people, several of whom were once acQuire employees. 

I’ve had the most incredible opportunities to travel to some very weird and wonderful places around the world thanks to this work. 

I’ve taken boat rides to Sumbawa Island, enjoyed picturesque drives through the South Island of New Zealand, travelled across China and along the Ghanian coast and into the jungle. I’ve seen bears in Northern Ontario and baboons along the streets of Phalaborwa in South Africa and even visited Santa Claus’ village in the Arctic Circle in Finland. Seeing Chilean cowboys (huasos) competing in a rodeo in the wine regions near Valparaiso was also a special memory. 

Paul in Vancouver, Canada, in early 2025.

More than anything, I feel grateful for the lifelong friendships I’ve made along the way and the support and guidance I’ve received from so many people over the years. 

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the industry? 

For a long time, humans have searched for natural resources hidden under the earth’s surface. While the speed and methods we use to extract, interpret, and define these resources have evolved, the fundamentals remain the same. A geologist’s interpretation is still key, perhaps even more so today with the volume and types of data that we now work with. Here’s an article I wrote back in 2017 about industry’s evolution and what the future of technology in economic resource development might look like. 

What’s one key lesson you’ve learned over the years that has stayed with you throughout your career?  

I hope I have learned to be a conscious leader – someone that doesn’t get attached to opinions and ideas because I’ve learned the best solutions come from collaboration and compromise.  

Another lesson that I have learned, especially in software development, is patience. The best things take time. 

Lastly, and this applies both to work and life: be courteous. It goes a long way. 

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in information management today? 

Absorb everything you can. Share your ideas – there’s always something better that can be done so speak up. And make sure the company you choose to work for aligns with your values.  

Looking ahead, what are you most excited or hopeful about for the future of acQuire in the industry? 

I’m really excited about the new technologies we are building, as well as those we’ve recently brought into the business. That’s not to say that our foundation technology isn’t still doing amazing things. It absolutely is. 

Seeing the evolution of our business into a multi-product, multi-disciplined software company has been inspiring. It’s taken a combination of hard work, good leadership and good luck to create a portfolio of solutions that support our collective purpose. 

I get a real sense of accomplishment when we can provide people with a better solution and ultimately give them back more of their time to apply to more meaningful pursuits.  

And your future? 

I’m a practical person—I love to build, repair, and renovate things. Having more time to do that is the goal. One day, I’ll retire and hopefully find a holiday home in France with my wife.  

To learn more about the people behind acQuire, check out the life page on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquire-technology-solutions/life/