The Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference (AEGC2025) brings together global leaders and innovators across exploration, energy, geophysics and sustainability.

Under the theme Exploring innovation for a sustainable future, AEGC2025 will present the latest technical insights and practical applications shaping the resources industry now and into the future.

With the event just weeks away, there’s still an opportunity to register across multiple categories, including student, member and day passes, making it accessible for professionals at all stages of their careers.

• • Conference Registration https://2025.aegc.com.au/registration/
  • Download the PDF Program https://2025.aegc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/250821_AEGC-2025-Program-Outline.pdf
  • AEGC Networking Breakfast – Direct Booking Link: https://2025.aegc.com.au/networking-breakfast/

Program snapshot:

• September 8: Registration, exhibitor move-in and welcome reception
• September 9 – 11: Full technical program, keynote and plenary sessions, oral and poster presentations, plus networking and social events

Program highlights include:

• Globally recognised keynote and plenary speakers such as BHP (ASX: BHP) principal geoscientist Dr Cam McCuaig, Western Mining Services principal Dr Jon Hronsky OAM and Chevron lower carbon geology advisor Ms. Ishtar Barranco, alongside more than 20 other influential geoscience experts.
• Deep-dive technical sessions covering mineral exploration case studies, basin evolution, geophysics across multiple industries, carbon storage, critical minerals and machine learning in geoscience.
• Oral and poster presentations from leading researchers and industry professionals worldwide, offering cutting-edge perspectives on seismic processing, greenfield exploration and the energy transition.
• A dedicated Poster Happy Hour (September 9), designed to encourage informal discussion and collaboration.

Professional development opportunities
AEGC2025 goes beyond the main program, offering a series of short courses and field trips for participants looking to expand their expertise in areas such as:

• Petrophysics for geoscientists
• Seismic interpretation for mineral exploration
• Geostatistics and resource estimation
• Machine learning applications in geoscience
• Near surface geophysics and energy transition

Networking and industry connections
Delegates can look forward to a variety of networking opportunities including:

• Welcome reception
• AEGC networking breakfast and panel — What We Miss When We Don’t Look Deeper? Exploring Bias in Data, AI and Humans — facilitated by Elemental Insight director Dr Heidi Pass and joined by WA Data Science Innovation Hub director Alex Jenkins and Ms. Ishtar Barranco.
• Poster happy hour sessions
• Official conference dinner
• Dedicated early-career geoscientist events

AEGC2025 is a joint initiative of ASEG, PESA and AIG, designed to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration between geoscientists, researchers and industry leaders globally.

For more details and to view the full program, visit www.2025.aegc.com.au

To register for this event, please visit https://2025.aegc.com.au/registration/

The post AEGC2025 program and keynotes announced appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

To Be Held in Brisbane in First Ever Australian Event

26 – 29 JUNE 2023

For the first time in over sixty years one of the world’s most prestigious international mining events will be held in Australia for the first time and will feature a host of international representatives from some of the world’s leading resource economies who will meet to discuss the very latest research, technologies, challenges and innovations in the resources sector.

The 26th World Mining Congress (WMC) will be held in Brisbane at the City’s Convention and Exhibition Centre from Monday 26 – 29 June 2023 and is being presented by Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO, and supported by government, industry, and academia.

Inaugurated and first held in Poland in 1958, the congress has set the scene for international agreements and high-level discussions that have influenced mining practices and the resource industry globally for decades.

The normally triennial event, which has been held in a slew of eastern European capitals since its inception, alongside countries such as the UK, US, Mexico, India, Peru, Sweden, Canada, Brazil and China, was last held in Kazakhstan in 2018 and is returning this year after a COVID-19 induced delay.

The program includes 15 plenary speakers and over 300 technical discussions segmented through 13 core streams and three symposiums.

A total of 15,000m2 of exhibition space will welcome a wide range of national and international exhibitors and the event will attract around 3000 delegates from almost seventy countries worldwide.

The overarching theme of this year’s first ever Australian congress is Resourcing Tomorrow:

Creating Value for Society and will examine the world’s future economic and social dependence on resources and consider issues like environmental sustainability, climate change, digital transformation, disruptive technologies, and future workforces.

Event organisers say that themes will be addressed in plenary and concurrent sessions, special interest group meetings, workshops and discussion panels.

The focus is on active participation, giving attendees opportunities to present and participate in important discussions on the major current and future issues and challenges facing mining and resources across the globe.

This structure will allow delegates to take ‘deep dives’ into the latest developments and new research in these specific areas.

These parallel streams will be interspersed with joint-stream and plenary sessions where delegates come together to explore nexus issues.

The Congress will explain and explore how technology is transforming the sustainable production of minerals and fuels creating value that continues to lift significant segments of the world’s population out of poverty and contributes in an essential manner to an improved way of life.

Discussion streams being presented at the Congress include:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Critical Minerals
• Environmental Sustainability
• Geosciences and Discovery
• Mining, Science and Engineering
• Processing and Refining
• Technology and Operations
• Autonomous Systems
• Decarbonisation
• Future Workforce and Education
• Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• New Mining Frontiers
• Social Performance and Governance

Three pre-congress symposiums will commence on Monday and include a wide range of discussions with thought leaders on Mine Closure and Post Mining Transitions, Sustainable Construction Materials and Minerals Policy and Governance for the New Economy.

The Sustainable Constructions symposia will continue on the Tuesday and Wednesday and the Minerals Policy and Governance for the New Economy symposia concluding on the Tuesday.

Event organisers say that day registration, rather than booking for the full three-day program may now be possible and that attendees from across the globe who are unable to make the event can register for virtual attendance where videos of each session will be posted and made available online for up to six months post the congress.

Attendees at the event will also be able to access the online video sessions so that presentations missed on any given day can be viewed at a later time.

For more information, to view the full congress program and to register as an attendee or virtual attendee go to: wmc2023.org

Exclusive Interview with Dr. Charlie Sartain and Emeritus Professor Mike Hood from the WMC 2023 Australian National Organising Committee.

In what has been a two-year labour of love for the WMC 2023 board and certainly for Dr Charlie Sartain – Chairman of the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s Advisory Board at The University of Queensland – and Chair, Sponsorship & Exhibition Committee for the WMC, bringing the event to Australia with all its complexity for the first time has been both an enormous task yet one that brings with it considerable satisfaction.

Despite Australia’s significant mining sector and the fact that some of the world’s biggest mining companies are headquartered here, it may come as a surprise to some that this is the first time the WMC has been held in the country.

And to some extent it remains an enigma.

“It is one of the really remarkable things that when I was invited to join the committee a couple of years ago it was unbelievable that it had never been held in Australia, given Australia’s role and profile in the mining industry,” Dr. Sartain acknowledged.

“So, Dr. Hua Guo, the congress chair and research director for sustainable mining technologies at the CSIRO was personally instrumental in the decision to host the event in Australia alongside the CSIRO which has also been very helpful.“

Professor Mike Hood, a former tenured academic at UC, Berkeley and Emeritus Professor at the University of Queensland’s School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering and Chair of the program committee for the WMC agrees.

“It is amazing actually that the congress has been running since the 1950’s and this is the first time it has been held in Australia,“ he said.

“Dr. Hua Guo has been going to these congress meetings for the last ten or so years and he lobbied on behalf of the CSIRO for it to come to Australia with the CSIRO as the host, and was (fortunately) successful.“

And what shape will the event take for its first time in Australia?

“This year’s program is quite complex because we have got plenaries on each day from a range of speakers and thirteen different streams or topic areas so I set up a committee for each of those streams,” Professor Hood added.

“In addition, we have three symposiums running on the day before the congress starts that allow us to delve into more detail that we can in a conference.”

According to Dr. Sartain, because it is the first time the congress has come to Australia it has given the organising committee.

“Close to seventy different countries will be represented at the event and around 3000 delegates”, he said.

“It is such a broad cross section of global representation and the other feature of it is the range of sponsors attracted to the event which is indicative of the level of interest and the role they want to play at the congress.

“One of the things we were looking to do with the plenary speeches, where we have very high profile and high impact people presenting, was to deliberately set themes and sub-themes for each given day and as the congress planning evolved, it became evident that it is occurring at a time of a rapidly decarbonising world and it is about creating value for society and delivering against sustainability goals.

“A congress like this can talk about these issues from a global perspective.”

Congress Themes

With the astonishing breadth and scope of topics being discussed at the congress, it is the theme of a circular economy that puts people, the environment and production at its centre, while incorporating zero harm and emissions, including harnessing the power of digital transformation, that lies at the heart of all the varying streams of discussion.

Decarbonisation of not just the mining sector, but also society more broadly will feature and the role that mining can play will be analysed.

“The world is at a transition point as companies commit to net zero targets and the world is going to change in a big way in terms of energy production so we have a speaker from the international energy agency for example who will talk about the vast increases in metal and minerals needed to build the wind turbines and solar plants etc,” Professor Hood said.

“Questions we are going to ask include:

where is this stuff going to come from and what does it mean to build sustainable mines that benefit society as a whole and not just mining communities?”

Symposiums

A range of symposia are being held commencing from Monday which will provide a range of fascinating deep-dive discussions.

The Minerals Policy and Governance for the New Economy symposium will look at the relationship between government and industry and seek to make it a closer one in order to improve access to critical minerals.

According to Professor Hood, the International Energy Agency has made the point that the world needs five times more copper than is presently being produced and new deposits are yet to be found.

“It generally takes between five to ten years to locate a deposit, another five years or so to get from permit to production and by this time it could be mid-century if the traditional (exploration and governance) path is followed,” he said.

“So there needs to be a much tighter relationship between government and industry to Professor Mike Hood, University of Queensland’s School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering and Chair of the program committee for the WMC be able to accelerate that permit process, which also incorporates the discovery process via new technology, but done in a sustainable way.”

Another symposium, titled Sustainable Construction Materials will look at sustainable construction commodities with a focus on producing the sand and gravel needed for cement construction.

Because the deposits for both sand and gravel are depleted, and the demand for cement particularly in developing countries continues to rise, the need for how production can meet these needs will be explored.

According to Dr. Sartain, this intersects with economic opportunity and sustainability aims.

“This is where we can see the influence of sustainable development goals coming in and, in order to do that in developing countries, there is a huge potential for small to medium sized enterprises to bring themselves and their communities out of poverty and be part of the economy delivering sustainable construction,” he said.

A third symposium, titled Mine Closure and Post Mining Transitions, will look at rehabilitation from an indigenous perspective, how to absorb mine site closures into the idea of the circular economy and the regulatory policies which might enable it.

“It heavily engages with indigenous communities but also looks at areas like the Bowen Basin and the Hunter Valley and as we transition away from coal and eventually gas, these mining areas are going to close and what are we going to do with them?“ Professor Hood said.

“We don’t want to see the similar examples that we saw in the UK, where I come from, where they (government and industry) just closed the coal mines down and forgot about them which resulted in severe social destruction for decades after the Thatcher area.

“You can do it much better when you plan ahead for closure and incorporate questions such as: what are we going to do with the workforce? what new industries can we produce in those areas, etc?

“There are possibilities to open up discussions with authorities and regulators on the potential further uses of the land post-closure, so that it is not necessarily closing and shutting the gate and locking it away, but looking at ways to integrate activities within the circular economy”, Dr Sartain added.

“For example, there is potential for the waste products from mine sites to be either used for alternative construction materials in building or construction or to further utilise the materials via new technologies to extract minerals, including critical minerals to further into the renewable economy.

“These are the sorts of concepts being discussed in various countries around the world and this is the type of congress and symposium where you can talk openly about that.

“When you have government representatives from around the world attending a symposium such as this it may result in changes to policy as well.”

The post 26th World Mining Congress appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

The NSW Government continues to drive investment and promote NSW as the preferred destination for investing in critical minerals and high-tech metals, bringing projects and key investors together in Sydney following the release of the NSW Mining Investor Register.

Fifteen investment-ready minerals projects, an increase of four from last year, are seeking capital or offtake agreements.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for resources Paul Toole said a strong focus was on critical minerals and high-tech metals projects, which are in high demand globally.

“I was pleased to announce the investor register at the Critical Minerals Investment Showcase and connect large numbers of mining sector investors with investment ready projects and today we continue that by welcoming mining delegates from around the world for the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC),” Mr Toole said.

“NSW has globally significant deposits for a number of critical minerals and the State is well positioned to meet increasing demand.

“We’re experiencing an ‘exploration boom’ in NSW, and these positive trends are expected to translate to significant growth in the mining sector and it goes to show now is a great time to invest in NSW.”

Mr Toole said exploration and mining were critical to the ongoing success of the State’s economy.

“Our thriving mining and exploration industry contributes billions in economic activity, tens of thousands of jobs and is the lifeblood of many of our regional communities,” Mr Toole said.

“The NSW Government is intent on driving investment to ensure a valuable, viable and sustainable mining sector into the future.”

IMARC opens in Sydney on Wednesday morning, with NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole to deliver the keynote address.

The NSW Mining Investor Register was developed in consultation with industry. It is distributed worldwide through NSW and Commonwealth Government investment networks and is translated into Japanese and Korean.

View the register at regional.nsw.gov.au/mining-investor-register

The post NSW government register highlights investment-ready mining projects appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

A greener future will require more mining than ever before, meaning collaboration and the adoption of new technologies across the industry’s entire value chain is no longer an option, but a necessity.
This will be among the key challenges being addressed by industry leaders and innovators at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney this November.
According to key players in Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS), who will be speaking at the forum, there’s an urgent need for the industry to dramatically increase their uptake of sustainable technologies.
AspenTech Vice President and General Manager of Metals and Mining Jeannette McGill says not being at the cutting edge of available technology can be risky for mining companies.
“Technology is mandatory as it underwrites the future for mines, especially the ones mining lower grade metals. It’s these technologies that are going to allow us to mine and process more efficiently and allow us to have less impact on the environment.
“We can be more robust in how we push out the technologies into the market but the constraints are around a skills base to absorb it, but also the adoption of technologies doesn’t come without a cost,” Ms. McGill said.
Paul Berkovic, Chief Commercial Officer at I4 Mining by Rayven, agrees initially some technologies are hard to adopt but will eventually have an extremely significant impact on productivity, safety and in meeting demand for critical minerals vital to future energy solutions, including solar panels and wind farms.
“Competitively, it will be unavoidable, but there will also be huge environmental benefits to the adoption of this technology which consumers should understand because mining is not going anywhere. It’s a really important part of our economy but how do we make it a more friendly part of the economy than it currently is perceived as?” Mr. Berkovic said.
Ethically conscious consumers are one of the major driving forces behind the mining sector’s transition according to METS Ignited General Manager Kylah Morrison, who says they are more influential on the industry than ever before thanks to the pressure they put on end user manufacturers.
“You’re seeing a lot of those end users which maybe had two or three steps before the raw materials got to them, starting to have to take responsibility for what those interim steps are and make them more secure, so we’re seeing miners have a more direct relationships with end users.” Ms. Morrison said.
“Fortunately, with data and computing power, we can offer that transparency. Apple, for example, could say to the consumer who’s purchasing an iPhone or an iPad, we know for sure that we we’re providing a carbon neutral or carbon low carbon product,” she added.
With that community influence in mind, it’s also the responsibility of mining companies around the world to ensure they are engaging these technologies in a thoughtful way, rather than making reactionary decisions to engage in short-term solutions that may not be manageable in the future.
“The mining space has been at the vanguard of technology to a certain extent. It’s had self-driving vehicles and all sorts for 20-30 years now, but what is happening now is a whole lot of these new novel technologies are coming out but they’re being adopted in a sort of a point and shoot manner,” said Mr Berkovic.
IMARC Conference Director Sherene Asnasyous says with such a diverse cross section of the mining and resources industry attending, the event is a unique opportunity for collaboration to address evolving challenges such as this.
“IMARC will shine a spotlight on the role the METS sector is taking in driving the global energy transition, how it is bringing innovation to the exploration and development of new future-facing resources, and how it is helping balance the needs of the developed and the developing world, as well as local communities and environments, in the resource transition.
At its core, IMARC creates a global conversation and is all about the business of mining and resources,
providing extensive opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing and cross-sector engagement to help drive a smarter, more productive industry of the future.

The post Industry leaders to discuss a sustainable increase in mining at IMARC appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

The exhibition and accompanying Seminar Series sponsored by Komatsu are set to showcase the industry’s leading innovations, trends and products, with over 290 exhibitors across three sold-out pavilions, an expanded outdoor area and 20 seminar sessions held over the 3-day event.

Exhibition Director Samantha Martin says the excitement is building, and the flood of pre-registrations received shows the Bowen Basin’s enthusiasm for building the future.

“Our team has been in Mackay building exhibition pavilions for a few weeks now, through all kinds of weather conditions, and we can’t wait for everyone to see a QME that is much bigger than they probably remember.”

“We’re expecting a crowd, so the biggest thing I could urge attendees to do is to register before next week! If you have not registered yet, it’s not too late do so. You’ll be able to register on site but with pre-registration, you can skip the line and walk straight into the expo.”

“Early visitor registration statistics show that exponential technology is a key area of interest, both in the exhibition and in the seminar series. In a sign of the times, 22% of attendees are also interested in low emissions technology, and 13% are looking to learn about ESG,” said Ms Martin.

When it comes to product categories, engineering products and services tops the ‘most exciting’ list, followed by automation and control equipment. There will be plenty of both on display, with the exhibitor roster including Hastings Deering, Komatsu, Mastermyne, RYCO Hydraulics, Volvo Penta, ABB Australia and Fulton Hogan.

Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane will be launching the event at the QME Opening Party, sponsored by Hastings Deering. Mr Macfarlane says the exhibition is an important landmark and opportunity for the Queensland mining industry to collaborate and show a united front.

“It’s been several years since our industry was able to gather together on a large scale to share knowledge and new technology. We’re proud to join with QME as an industry partner to help unite the industry and showcase the Queensland mining sector as global leaders.”

Pre-registrations close soon, although the exhibition and seminar series remains free to access with on-site registration available on the day. Those planning to attend are urged to register now  for free at www.qmeexpo.com.au.

About QME

For over 29 years the Queensland Mining & Engineering Expo (QME) has been at the heart of the mining sector in Mackay. Returning to the Mackay Showgrounds from 19 to 21 July 2022, QME will be the ultimate showcase of supplier innovation and excellence and will illustrate the world class capabilities of Mackay and the broader Central Queensland region.

QME is a key place for the industry to come together to be inspired, innovate and connect over three days. In one of the world’s most dynamic industries, QME has maintained its relevance and importance within the mining sector. QME is the event you simply cannot miss.

The post 6 DAYS TO GO: A SNEAK PEEK AT QME 2022 appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

The free sessions feature networking opportunities, a light breakfast and presentations, followed by a bus transfer to the main QME event. Registrations for QME and the breakfast sessions are free, with organisers encouraging attendees to register ASAP.

Resources Centre of Excellence CEO Steven Boxall says the sessions were planned as an initiative to showcase the RCOE’s industry-leading facilities to out-of-town visitors and those who haven’t visited the RCOE yet.

“RCOE strives to connect the brightest minds in research, technology, education, and METS to shape the resources sector of the future. The breakfast sessions that will run each morning over the QME will delve into futurist resource opportunities in critical minerals, mine site rehabilitation, and benefits of a circular economy, all hot topics when talking of the future of the resources sector.”

The three breakfast sessions feature panel sessions facilitated by Mr Boxall, CEO of Greater Whitsunday Alliance, Kylie Porter, and Manager of the Mackay Manufacturing Hub, Deb Allan. Panel speakers include:

• Tony Knight, QLD Government Department of Resources, Chief Government Geologist
• Assoc Prof. Mohsen Yahyaei, Program Leader, Future Autonomous Systems & Technologies at UQ
• Shaun Ferris, Deputy Director-General, Georesources
• Trudy Mazucco, BHP, Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan Lead
• Shane Goodwin, New Century Resources, Head of Corporate Affairs and Social Responsibility
• Pierre Viljoen, CQU, Chair of Automation and Future Skills
• Rowan Kendall, Novum Energy, CEO/Managing Director
• Georgine Roodenrys, Deloitte, Partner
• Dr Kam Bhowany, WH.H Bruan Mining and Geology Research Centre

A consistent theme running across the sessions is the region’s place in the future of a sustainable mining industry – from how critical minerals play a part, to ESG in action and the opportunities of a sustainable future.

“A sustainable future for Mackay is looking positive, this is no surprise when you look at that the RCOE’s last 12 months of operations and the projects that have been activated within the METS sector, all which have encouraged diversification, sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. These projects along with Mackay Regional Council’s overall economic development strategies will no doubt set the future for Mackay adding value and continue evolving towards a more sustainable and diversified economy,” said Mr Boxall.

The RCOE Breakfast Sessions are free to attend as part of QME, but visitors must register. Bookings plus the full program are available online at www.qmeexpo.com.au.

QME 2022 will be held from 19-21 July at Mackay Showgrounds.

The post QME Breakfast Showcase Mackay’s Resources Leadership appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

With exhibitors now spread across three sold-out pavilions, we shine the spotlight on three of them: Emesent, Epiroc and FLSmidth.

Emesent is a proud Queensland-based technology company, specialising in drone data collection and analysis. Their new Hovermap ST autonomy and mapping solution will be on display at QME 2022, with demonstrations available across the three-day event.

“We’re looking forward to showing Hovermap to mining engineers, surveyors and everyone attending QME. Hovermap uses LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor data, in real time, for collision avoidance and navigation, rather than relying on GPS,” said Dr Stefan Hrabar, Emesent CEO and co-founder. “Hovermap allows drones to fly in areas without GPS, and collect data which is then processed to produce high resolution point clouds.”

“Data capture experts worldwide have been using Hovermap to map challenging and dangerous environments, from problematic stopes in the world’s deepest base-metal mine to completing fall of ground inspections after seismic events.”

Epiroc’s new Drill Pipe Service Truck will be launching at QME 2022, with inspections available at Epiroc’s stall. Drilling specialists from Epiroc’s Tools and Attachments team will also be attending, keeping up-to-date with industry developments.

“We’re bringing our whole team to QME, and we can’t wait to launch the Drill Pipe Service Truck,” said Simon Martin from Epiroc’s Tools & Attachments Division. “It’s remote-controlled with operator safety at the forefront of design. The Service Truck allows for in-field pipe change-outs, which reduces drill downtime and ultimately contributes to productivity on the site.

“The truck handles the most common drill pipe sizes in the Australian market, up to 13m in length and 275mm in diameter. For all blasthole and exploration drilling, it’s the most efficient solution on the market.”

FLSmidth and TUNRA Bulk Solids are delivering a QME companion event on Wednesday 20 July at Mackay’s Resources Centre of Excellence, focusing on Materials Handling Science. With University of Newcastle-based engineers and FLSmidth delegates leading the 2-hour workshop, attendees are promised real-world examples and hands-on experience.

Alex Bozward, Regional Product Line Manager for FLSmidth, says the workshop was developed in response to industry requests for practical training and will accompany QME’s thought leadership program and exhibition.

“We are excited about the collaboration between FLSmidth and TUNRA Bulk Solids and embraced this opportunity to deliver a technical workshop that will speak to the engineers, designers and maintenance managers already at QME. It’s an excellent opportunity for professional development, and it couldn’t be easier to attend when you’re off-site and at QME already.”

Registrations for QME are free, and open now at www.qmeexpo.com.au. Organisers are encouraging pre-registration to avoid delays at the event, with the simple online process open until the event kicks off.

The FLSmidth workshop is also free to attend.

The post QME Exhibition In The Spotlight appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

From 19-21 July, mining industry thought leaders will gather at the Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition in Mackay to inspire and share insights at the Seminar Series, sponsored by Komatsu.

On Thursday 21 July at 10:10am, a panel that’s both timely and topical will focus on mining leadership in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, with contributions from ESG leaders across industry, academia, public sector and consulting backgrounds.

Ngaire Tranter, General Manager at RPM ESG, draws on her background as an environmental scientist and her years of consulting in the resource sector to now support environmental and social due diligence – and she says ESG has been underestimated for years.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (or even an environmental scientist) to see the direction that changes to our industry are headed in. With decarbonisation and environmental impacts making front-page headlines every day, this is such an important area for the resources industry to address and show leadership in.”

Melanie Saul is ESG Manager at Pembroke Resources, and she agrees on both the need for change and the need for recognition of the strict standards that industry already operates under.

“In Australia, we have some of the strictest environmental regulation in the world, and our projects operate to an extremely high standard of environmental management. For example, Pembroke’s Olive Downs Complex is leading the way in monitoring, research and long-term conservation of koala and greater glider species in the Bowen Basin. There’s certainly room for mining and environmental projects to co-exist, and part of the sector’s future ESG push should be talking about these projects.”

Kate Dickson of Pure Battery Technologies adds that there are mining and mineral processing technologies within Australia that have the potential to lead the world’s energy transition.

“Mining is essential for modern life and very much an inextricable part of industries on a global level. While we need the resources that are mined to build infrastructure (including renewable energy assets), we need to do this in an environmentally responsible way. This is the challenge and opportunity for the industry as a whole and it is why PBT is so heavily focused on quality R&D. Finding new and innovative ways to mine and process these resources with lower environmental burdens means we can more constructively engage with communities and stakeholders.”

Other Seminar Series sessions will cover exponential technology, innovation, safety and sustainability.

With thousands of industry professionals from engineers to site executives and ESG professionals expected to attend QME, organisers are encouraging pre-registrations for visitors to ‘skip the line’ at the front door. Event Director Samantha Martin says that while everyone will be excited to see the biggest exhibition in many years, pre-registration is one way to save both time and frustration.

“It’s so great to have in-person events happening again, and we are planning for a smooth experience for all our visitors. Pre-registration is a way to get you through the front door and into the expo just that little bit faster – it doesn’t cost anything to do!”

Visitors can register for free online at www.qmeexpo.com.au. The Seminar Series program is also available on the QME website.

The post QME speakers give a glimpse at the mine of the future appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Returning for a second time, the Mining House Pavilion provides attendees with the opportunity to engage with major customers, talk to decision-makers, and find out about community and supplier programs to get that all-important ‘foot in the door’.

Seven mining producers will be exhibiting in the Pavilion: Anglo American, BHP and BMA, Bravus Mining and Resources, Glencore, MacKellar Group, Multicom and Whitehaven Coal – representing 26 of the Bowen Basin’s operating or upcoming mines.

Glencore is one of the biggest mining operators in Queensland, with sites from Rolleston in the south to Clermont in the west and the Mount Isa mine in the north. They’re exhibiting in the Mining Pavilion, sponsoring the Queensland Mining Awards and one of their team, Tanya Cambatis, is speaking on a diversity panel in the Komatsu Seminar Series.

Anthony Exelby, Human Resources Manager at Glencore, says it’s important to support the Queensland mining ecosystem by bringing a strong team to QME.

“Glencore works with 3,770 suppliers in Queensland, so to be in touch with so many of them at an event like QME is a great opportunity. Having one-on-one discussions with attendees about job opportunities with Glencore always proves as a valuable activity for us as well. We can’t wait to uncover some of the stories of innovation and see new technologies in action through events like the Seminar Series and the Mining Awards.”

Bravus Mining and Resources’ Head of Community Kate Campbell said the business was excited to show attendees how regional Queensland expertise had advanced its Carmichael Project since the last QME in 2018.

“Since the last QME we’ve gained our approvals, built our mine and railway and shipped our first coal as part of the testing and commissioning of our infrastructure,” Ms Campbell said.

“Right now we’re ramping up production in readiness for the completion of that testing and commissioning process, which will happen over a number of weeks.

“The skill of both the 2,600 workers directly employed on the Project and the regional Queensland businesses who delivered more than $1 billion in contracts for us were critical to the success of Carmichael.

“There is plenty more for us to do and plenty of good news on this Project still to come, so we’re enthusiastic about continuing to talk with suppliers and support regional communities.”

Multicom is a newer player to the Queensland mining industry, developing the Saint Elmo Project in the state’s North-West Minerals Province. With the increasing focus on developing and delivering ‘critical minerals’ from Queensland to the world, Multicom CEO Shaun McCarthy is eager for his company to engage with industry around how they can get involved in this exciting new project.

“We are looking forward to opportunities to connect with established suppliers who are interested in diversifying from traditional commodities in the state. As a leader in the development of Queensland-based critical minerals, we have the chance to create a sustainable industry using the best of the best in Queensland.”

QME will be held from 19-21 July at Mackay Showgrounds and is free to attend. Visitors must register online at www.qmeexpo.com.au.

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The QME Seminar Series, sponsored by Komatsu, will feature panel sessions, keynotes and thought-provoking topics including innovation, industry outlook, exponential technology, workforce, sustainability and occupational health and safety. With thousands of attendees expected and over 280 confirmed exhibitors, the Seminar Series promises to be another major drawcard in an action-packed week.

QME Seminar Series sponsor Komatsu’s Regional Manager Mining, Scott Harrington, says it’s important to hear from different voices in the sector, right through from site-based executives to consultants and academics.

“The topics covered by the Seminar Series are topics that we’re passionate about in our business – how technology is changing the face of the work site, the future of automation and AI, the importance of diversity and opportunities for industry growth through collaboration. It’s the collective wisdom of the entire industry that will push us towards a sustainable future,” said Mr Harrington.

One of the speakers headlining the very first panel session on Day 1 is Christine Gibbs Stewart, CEO of national METS industry association Austmine. Ms Gibbs Stewart is keen to discuss the possibilities surrounding the electrification of mining equipment.

“Electrification of the mining industry is seen as a key strategy in the reduction of our carbon footprint. Our members are leading the way in this by creating and implementing technology that is good for both industry and the environment.”

“There are many initiatives to advance electrification and it is one area where the industry has come together to collaborate. Initiatives like the Charge On Innovation Challenge, looking at the electrification of large haul trucks, will no doubt accelerate technology adoption in this area and be significant in reducing our environmental impact,” said Ms Gibbs Stewart.

At the other end of the Series on Day 3, Professor Neville Plint from The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute will outline and address the complex problems the industry needs to solve on the path to sustainability.

“As society develops, metals and minerals play an important part in building cities, feeding a growing population and keeping us connected. But there are challenges along the way that don’t have easy answers – challenges in sustainably accessing, processing and exporting those necessary minerals and metals.”

“The Sustainable Minerals Institute involves some of Australia’s leading experts in research to seek out answers to those challenges – and we think it’s important to collaborate and partner with industry as we do so. QME is a great opportunity to further that collaboration,” said Professor Plint.

Other noteworthy industry experts speaking at QME’s seminar series include:

• Ian Macfarlane (Chief Executive, Queensland Resources Council)
• Melanie Saul (ESG Manager, Pembroke Resources)
• Ngaire Tranter (General Manager ESG, RPM Global)
• Professor David Williams (Director of Geotechnical Engineering Centre, UQ’s School of Civil Engineering)
• Joanne Bergamin (Director of Communications, QEM Limited)
• Kristy Purdon (Work Management Superintendent, Anglo American)
• Lydia Gentle (Manager Maintenance, BHP)
• Tanya Cambetis (Specialist Execution, Glencore)

The QME Seminar Series is free to attend as part of QME, and would benefit engineers, management and site personnel interested in improving productivity and long-term strategy. Attendees can register online at www.qmeexpo.com.au, where the full Seminar program can also be found.

The exhibition and Seminar Series will be held from 19-21 July at Mackay Showgrounds.

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