Andrew gained a degree in Mineral Processing and a PhD from the Camborne School of Mines in 1985 and 1988 respectively.

He then worked for Johnson Matthey and Billiton as a development metallurgist. Then in 1995 he joined Brook Hunt, which subsequently became part of Wood Mackenzie, as a mining analyst. Andrew focused on costs of production and supply dynamics of gold, lead and zinc and copper before specialising in nickel in 2000.

It was in nickel he found his passion and was the supply side analyst, later becoming director of Nickel Research.

Andrew “retired” in November 2025 and now engages (and indeed is open to!) nickel consulting on an ad-hoc basis.