In this episode of InspectTech, guest host Michelle Wright talks with Todd Houlahan, Director of International Mining at Evident. In this discussion, Todd shares his expertise on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing and its applications in the mining NDT industry. Listen in as Todd shares about challenges and opportunities he’s faced in the industry and his views on how XRF has evolved in the mining industry, from mineral exploration to the laboratory.

Todd Houlahan graduated from the University of Newcastle, Australia in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in applied science (environmental) with a major in soils and hydrology. He then worked for 7 years as a contaminated land consultant in Australia and the UK with various companies before being introduced to handheld XRF in 2000 while remediating a Pb contaminated site in Sydney. From 2000–2004, he worked for a distributor of XRF analyzers in Australia and used handheld XRF as a consultant, a contractor, and in sales capacities on numerous geochem projects. From 2004–2008, Todd worked directly for a major XRF technology manufacturer and was integral in the mass introduction of modern X-ray tube-based units to the exploration and mining sector, supporting distributors and customers in the EMEA region. Since 2008, Todd has been the Director of International Mining at Evident and is now based out of Hertfordshire in the UK. For the past 22 years, he has dedicated his career to portable XRF (pXRF) applications in the minerals industry. His passion is best practice application of the technology, customer training, and unique and innovative pXRF applications.