Australian innovation on the world stage at IMARC 2025

Organisers of Australia’s largest-ever gathering of the world’s mining and resource leaders have set their sights on cementing it as one of the top four global industry events, following a record-breaking week of debate, deals and dignitaries.

The International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo (IMARC) welcomed 11,000 registered attendees and more than 500 speakers to Sydney on October 21-23.

Over the past 12 years, IMARC has become one of the country’s most important global business events, not just because of its size, but because of the very nature of it as a place where deals are done.

Coming hot on the heels of the historic deal between Australia and the US on critical minerals and rare earths, the event once again showcased the essential role mining and resources plays in Australia — and in the global energy transition.

Beacon chief executive Daniel Kirwin, who has overseen IMARC as it blossomed from a small Melbourne seminar into one of the world’s leading mining events, says the Albanese-Trump deal was a powerful reminder to the Australian community of the direct economic and social benefits that a progressive and globally connected resources sector delivers.

“We are delighted to confirm that the event will once again return to Sydney in 2026 —and we have already sold more than 50% of the floorplan off the back of the 2025 event,” he said.

“Every year, IMARC generates many millions of dollars to the NSW economy but also provides a critical opportunity for local technology companies to showcase innovative products and services to global procurement decision-makers and operators on the ground and under it.”

For the first time at IMARC, every Australian state and territory was represented at ministerial level. The state leaders joined 180 global Ministers, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Consul-Generals and officials at the event.

Showcasing Australian innovation

Many IMARC exhibitors have been coming to the event for years, while for some 2025 was their first experience.

Quoreka is a local Australian company that provides integrated software solutions for mining companies and is in its fourth year at IMARC.

Quoreka senior vice president Dan Romanelli says the face-to-face discussions on the exhibition floor are a key part of their sales and marketing efforts each year.

“Having conversations in person allows us to really explain the Quoreka difference, and how our solutions can play a role in a potential customer’s business,” he said.

“This year in particular I enjoyed the collaboration with both mining and services companies looking to unlock new revenue opportunities. We have already signed up for next year.”

Another local firm, industrial switchboard builder Metroid, attended IMARC for the first time this year, and said the conference was a great opportunity to connect with potential new business leads and showcase the company’s control systems.

Metroid business development manager Jared Pilcher says the company had some very successful days.

“With so many decision-makers in one place, it has been an efficient way to explain how our range of motor control, power distribution and switchrooms can support mining projects,” he said.

“Out of those discussions we now have a significant number of strong new business opportunities that we will be preparing estimates for.

“That’s a very good outcome and we’re very confident many of those discussions will evolve into enduring business relationships.”

Among other announcements and sideline deals during IMARC:

• Haultrax unveiled the next generation of its fleet management system, providing a look at the new FleetOps user interface and the launch of HXTag, a rugged, next-generation plug and-play hardware platform built for fast, accurate machine data capture.
• Techs4Biz introduced its AI-powered, paperless inspection platform — a transformative solution designed to elevate mining operations in both open-cut and underground environments.
• A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between APC Technology and Whitecell Systems designed to deliver clean energy solutions for Australia’s defence and mining sectors by bringing together Whitecell Systems’ globally proven fuel-cell technology and APC Technology’s rugged Australian engineering expertise in designing and integrating systems that perform reliably in harsh, remote environments.
• SANY, a global leader in heavy equipment manufacturing, and Solarh2e, an Australian transport decarbonisation infrastructure company, announced a landmark partnership to deliver Australia’s first charge and fully automated battery swap hub for heavy electric vehicles (HEVs). This initiative marks a pivotal milestone in decarbonising Australia’s heavy transport sector, with SANY committed to supporting Solarh2e in energising a first-year target of 30 SANY electric prime movers through the rollout of Solarh2e’s inaugural charge and swap hub.

Speaker highlights

BHP (ASX: BHP) Group procurement officer Rashpal Bhatti highlighted the role of procurement in global industry security in his keynote titled Reimagining how we buy: unlocking value through strategic partnerships and commercial discipline.

“The world is asking our industry to deliver more than resources. It is asking us to deliver certainty in uncertain times,” he said.

“At BHP, strategic procurement is how we answer that call. It is where aspiration becomes delivery. Where ambition becomes execution. Where a vision for the future becomes action today.

“We are amid the second electrification revolution here and now…Procurement is not just how we buy. It is how we build the future.”

In a keynote address, Utah Governor Spencer Cox highlighted Utah’s powerful mining credentials while emphasising the significance of the landmark critical minerals agreement signed between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump in his keynote address.

“The opportunities that exist in Utah are tremendous right now, and that agreement signed this week between Australia and the United States is going to unlock opportunities that we have never seen before,” he said.

“Utah’s economic and national security ambitions are closely tied to strong trade partnerships with allies such as Australia.

“Opportunity knows no distance and our mission to Australia is about creating these partnerships, which will help strengthen our defence and technology sectors, expand access to critical minerals open new markets for Utah businesses, and forge truly global alliances.”

Representatives from Saudi Arabia championed global partnership’s role in powering a sustainable mineral future.

Saudi Arabia Industry and Minerals Resources mining affairs Vice-Minister Khalid Al Mudaifer told delegates collaboration is no longer optional — it is a strategic necessity.

“Our story is not about extraction — it is about transformation,” he said.

“The transformation we seek will not be achieved by competition alone, but through shared purpose and trust. Saudi Arabia stands ready to play its role as a reliable partner, a transparent market and a bridge between nations and industries.”

Collaboration: the key to IMARC’s success

The range of deals and announcements showed just how unique IMARC is as a gathering of the world’s best and brightest thought leaders alongside one of the largest technology expos where commercial deals large and small are done on the vast floor of the ICC Sydney.

“The location of the event in the heart of one of the world’s great cities, together with the capacity and quality of the ICC venue and Beacon’s own global leadership in high quality major mining and resource conferences, created the perfect partnership to deliver a seamless delegate, sponsor and exhibitor experience,” Mr Kirwin said.

“There are very few cities that can bring all these qualities together, and very few event organisers anywhere in the world with the global networks, experience and expertise to manage such an enormous event.

“With delegates from five continents, hundreds of speakers across multiple themes, and a massive expo bristling with haul trucks, robots, simulators and other tech, the logistics behind this event are staggering.”

Mr Kirwin thanked IMARC’s founding partners Austmine, AusIMM and Mines and Money as well as host partner, the NSW Government, for their ongoing support.

“The partnership between the IMARC team, the NSW Government, the ICC and all our founding partners and long-standing event supporters has delivered an absolutely world-class event — and set the bar even higher for next year,” he said.

“Beacon is proud to have grown IMARC into one of the must-attend industry events on the global calendar, not only creating a platform for the entire mining value chain to collaborate on common goals and challenges but also opening up exciting new international markets for Australian companies on the world stage.”

Mr Kirwin said while political and media attention was understandably on critical minerals at IMARC 2025, the program continues to reflect the full spectrum of the resources sector and the global issues that impact on exploration, development and down-stream application.

“It is an extraordinary eco-system and as you walk the floor at IMARC, you’ll bump into chief executives of global mining operators, major investors and analysts, local innovators, researchers and thought leaders reflecting the challenges and opportunities the sector is facing,” he said.

Boosting the Sydney visitor economy Business Events Sydney, bidding specialists for events that drive economic and social impact for New South Wales, highlighted the value of IMARC in showcasing the state’s strengths, attracting international attention and injecting considerable value to the Sydney business events economy.

Business Events Sydney chief executive Amanda Lampe says it is fantastic to see IMARC back in Sydney for a fourth consecutive year.

“It cements Australia’s place in significant global conversations on sectors vital to our current and transitioning economy,” she said.

“As well as generating an estimated $17.8m of direct expenditure into the NSW economy from the thousands of delegates gathering in Sydney for three days, our research shows that world leading conferences and exhibitions like IMARC 2025 are also a platform for collaboration, innovation and attracting investment and talent.”

IMARC will return to Sydney on October 27-29, 2026.