In June, 2006, an interest was received for an opportunity of an Asian Development Bank (ADB) China Coal Mine Safety Study. Meetings to express interest and a provisional list of School team members were drawn up which included the proposed team leader Jim Galvin, who has much experience in this area and chairs the Australia – China Coal Mine Safety Committee.

In February, 2007 the bid passed the technical and financial reviews and the final decision was subject to further negotiations. Final ADB confirmation was received in late February and it was decided to meet in May in Zhengzhou, the pilot study area, to review and update the work plan and staff schedule for inception.

A final team led by Roy Moreby has been formed for this project. The other members of the team consists of  Mike Katz, School of Mining Engineering, KCMI, Institutional Specialist; Kitty Kahn, Outside Consultant, Social and Poverty Impact Specialist; Tony Owen, currently Curtin University, Economic Specialist; Peter Chong, Outside Consultant, currently with KPMG, Financial Specialist; David Laurence, School of Mining Engineering, Environmental Specialist and Duncan Chalmers, School of Mining Engineering, Training Specialist. The team will meet with their full Chinese team counterparts at the end of May 2007. The New South Global, as the UNSW contractor, is led by John Arneil with Cynthia Grant as the Study Project manager.