Resource industry engagement events hailed a success
A series of networking and engagement events has created opportunities for professionals in the minerals and resources sector in North West Queensland to share industry-leading technical knowledge and build their networks.
The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) North West Queensland Conference and Ball returned to the region’s events calendar last month, after they were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In what was a first to kick off the full day of events, AusIMM North West Queensland also co-hosted an outdoor breakfast networking session with the Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ) North West Queensland branch at Buchanan Park in Mount Isa.
-
The WIMARQ Breakfast provided an abundance of networking opportunities.
-
This was the first year a WIMARQ Breakfast was hosted alongside the AusIMM Conference and Ball.
-
Mount Isa Mines, Copper Concentrator Senior Process Engineer, Roxanne O’Donnell, presenting at the Conference.
-
Mount Isa Mines Geotechnical Engineer, Phillip Nguyen, speaking at the conference.
It provided an opportunity for professionals from across the region to catch up as well as connect and meet with local secondary school and visiting university students. Key speakers shared some of their experiences and learnings along their respective careers in the mining and resources industry.
Activities then moved indoors with the conference, which honed in on sharing and discussing technical mining knowledge from across the North West region. The event featured the Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) at the University of Queensland (UQ), Neville Plint, as the keynote speaker.
The presentations were followed by a question and answer session with panelists including Managing Director at Sustainable Solutions Global (SSG), Geraldine McGuire, and Director of WH Bryan Mining & Geology Research Centre - Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), Professor Rick Valenta.
-
Mount Isa Mines Graduate Mining Engineer, Lucy Barrie, speaking at the WIMARQ Breakfast.
-
After each presentation, there were opportunities for questions to be asked.
-
The Queensland Metals Human Resources team speaking with students at the Glencore stall.
-
The AusIMM North Queensland Branch. Left to right: Dominic Hines, Ashleigh Ventura, Alexander Otasevic, Albert Young, Brodie Lombe, Lucy Barrie, and Benjamin Ryan.
The day culminated with the annual AusIMM Ball at the Civic Centre in Mount Isa, which was themed ‘A Night on the Nile’. After being welcomed on the red carpet, guests enjoyed a three-course meal and kicked up their heels as they were entertained by local band, Pacific Groove.
AusIMM North Queensland Branch Chair, Albert Young, says these types of events not only foster professional development but also help keep resource professionals living and working in the region.
“Given Mount Isa is heavily influenced by the resource industry, it is important that we run events like the AusIMM Conference to see exactly how we are contributing to North Queensland,” says Albert.
“Events like these showcase our successes, and highlight the contributions that we make to our local communities and across Queensland.”
-
After being cancelled in 2020, the AusIMM Ball returned to the Mount Isa Civic Centre this year.
-
Plenty of fun was had by all at the AusIMM Ball.
-
Networking opportunities continued well into the evening at the Ball.
-
The Ball allowed attendees to kick up their heels after a long day of business.
“The Queensland mining and resources sector is continuously evolving and, with the number of mines in the North West, opportunities like this promote the sharing of knowledge and allow our people to collaborate and grow with it.”
“It’s important professionals in the resource sector are across emerging technologies like electric vehicles and best practice industry standards as we move towards a lower carbon economy,” Albert says.
Alberts says the events would not have been such a big success without the support of sponsors: Sandvik (Platinum), Glencore (Diamond), Orica (Gold), ALS Global (Gold), South32 - Cannington (Gold), Epiroc (Gold), DSI Underground (Silver), Tonry Australia (Silver), AECOM (Silver), Pybar (Bronze) and Vesuvian (Bronze).