The future of mining is in Australia

The resources sector remains a cornerstone of the Australian economy.

The industry is entering a transformational era in the face of volatile economic and political landscapes. But the resources industry still stands as a pillar of the Australian economy. According to the latest EY Royalty and Company Tax Payments report, the Australian minerals sector contributed a remarkable $394.6b to government revenues — $59.4b of which came from FY25 alone.

The sector still faces rising pressure to produce more, use less and do it faster amidst intensifying challenges, including geopolitical instability and inflation.

The global race to reach net zero by 2050 has created an unprecedented demand for critical minerals needed for renewable technologies. This shift requires investment into new operations targeting precious minerals — but fluctuating commodity prices, high capital costs and broader global uncertainty have created a risky project development environment.

Adopting advanced technology, including AI and automation, is improving efficiency and safety. Strategic partnerships between miners, stakeholders and government are driving supply chain security. The global energy transition and innovative recovery techniques are driving miners to embrace sustainability.

To prosper in this new world, collaboration across the industry is critical. This is at the core of the International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo (IMARC) — delivering ideas, inspiration and serving as a global meeting ground for industry leaders.

Held in Sydney on October 21-23 2025, IMARC is a central forum where governments, industry leaders and innovators can come together to forge partnerships, navigate geopolitical challenges and shape the future of mining across jurisdictions.

It’s where the global and local mining industries meet, with more than 10,000 attendees from more than 120 countries, more than 500 exhibitors and 550 speakers across six conference streams.

Learn from mining leaders and resource experts over the three day program — covering the entire mining value chain. Attend one of the many networking events or simply catch up with industry colleagues on the 20,000m² expo show floor featuring more than 500 leading companies.

The world-class program features six concurrent conferences with panel discussions and strategic keynote presentations. Participants will gain insights from c-suite executives and industry leaders on operational excellence, ESG, business resilience, project development and mine digitisation.

What really makes IMARC unique is that we cover the entire mining value chain. From exploration and investment to production and global trade, every stage of the mining process is represented.

Alongside the main event, a wide range of sideline events hosted by local and international organisations — such as networking sessions, industry gatherings, and launch announcements — offers even more opportunities to connect and learn.

No matter what your role is in the industry, there’s something here for you.

Speakers

PLS (ASX: PLS) managing director and chief executive Dale Henderson will take part in a keynote interview titled Navigating ongoing market volatility and the outlook ahead for PLS.

Idemitsu Australia chief executive Steve Kovac will participate in a keynote interview focusing on Balancing tradition and transition: sustaining Idemitsu’s coal mining focus while advancing battery minerals investments.

Wheaton Precious Metals chief executive Randy Smallwood will partake in a keynote interview titled The precious metals sector’s financing models, market trends and innovation and sustainability considerations.

Vale future use general manager Gustavo Roque will deliver valuable insight during his keynote address — Thinking of the future, acting today: building post-mining legacies through innovation, technology and engagement.

Global reach

IMARC 2025 is set to attract its largest international attendance to date. Ministers from five continents — including senior representatives from the governments of Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Botswana, Sweden, Uganda and Timor-Leste — will join their Australian counterparts, bringing global political influence to one of the world’s premier mining and investment events.

IMARC chief operating officer Anita Richards says IMARC is no longer just an Australian event.

“When ministers and government representatives fly in from five continents to attend a mining event, it underscores one thing — IMARC has become a global meeting place for the industry,” she said.

International ministers will play a key role in the conference program, delivering keynotes, promoting trade missions and highlighting investment-ready projects. The capabilities of specific countries will form part of the engaging presentations in a dedicated Global Opportunities Stream.

Delegates can attend keynote presentations and panel discussions featuring international industry representatives including Saudi Arabia Mineral Resources Management Deputy Minister Abdulrahman AlBelushi, State of Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Botswana Minerals and Energy Minister Boglo Joy Kenewendo, Uganda State for Mineral Development Minister Phiona Nyamutoro, US Department of Defense Strategic and Critical Materials technical director Adam Burstein and European Raw Materials Alliance director Massimo Gasparon.

Beyond the international attendance, the event will also be attended by representatives from every state and territory around Australia, including several ministers and shadow ministers.

Mining Operator Series

The Mining Operators Series is the newest feature at IMARC 2025, created specifically for professionals working at the frontline of mining operations. This series is designed to help on-the-ground workers in mining companies and contract miners elevate their skills, expand their networks and explore the latest advancements in mining technology and operations.

This year, IMARC is more accessible and relevant for miners at an operational level within mining companies and contract miners. It has expanded the free Mining Guest Pass to welcome even more operators who play a vital role in keeping operations and plants running smoothly.

As part of the Mining Operators Series, attendees can earn CPD points, hear technical presentations, participate in exclusive networking events for miners and enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition floor.

The Mining Operators Series is built specifically for operators, engineers, supervisors and managers. Attendees will be able to earn CPD points and attend practical sessions on topics like boosting productivity, adopting new tech and optimising operations. There is a range of technical sessions for both open cut and underground mines, and a look at minerals processing topics too.

And it’s not just about sitting in conference theatres — there are guided tours of the exhibition floor where delegates can check out hands-on displays and demos, plus networking sessions just for miners to connect with others in similar roles.

Technology and innovation

Technology is a precious commodity in mining and with some of the world’s most exciting mining and metals technology companies in attendance, IMARC 2025 will give visitors a rich sample of what the international tech community has to offer.

Fleet Space Technologies and Fast2Mine — two companies that could fundamentally change the industry — will be amongst the innovators at IMARC 2025.

Fleet Space chief executive and co-found Flavia Tata Nardini says the company’s focus on connecting tools like passive seismic, MT, gravity and drilling to satellites is the path to fundamentally change the rate and quality of data used in mineral exploration.

“As autonomous vehicles, vaccine development or reusable rockets demonstrate, real-time data inputs and machine learning drive breakthroughs that greatly extend the reach of humanity’s abilities,” she said.

Fleet Space has forged partnerships with many of the world’s largest miners and raised $200m of private equity funding over the past two years. It recently made its first acquisition, buying Australian hard-rock active seismic imaging leader, HiSeis.

“With the addition of HiSeis to our ExoSphere platform we’re integrating passive and active seismic into a unified, AI-ready system, bringing precision and scale together like never before,” Ms Nardini said.

Quartex chief executive Craig Charlton says the combination of Australian software companies K2fly and INX under the Quartex banner, backed by the world’s most successful tech PE firm, is a formidable company in an era of rapid change in the global regulatory technology and workforce management software arenas.

Currently resources-focused, Quartex is primed to expand in adjacent and new areas through both the segment-leading products developed by the business forerunners and through M&A, which owner Accel-KKR has proven rather adept at over the past two decades.

“Our area of focus is high-risk, asset-intensive industries,” Mr Charlton said.

“That’s really where we want to play. We want to be the global leader in terms of delivering indispensable software to large and growing companies in that space … which is a lot broader than just resources and mining.

“Technology is moving at such an incredible pace. The work that we’re doing on AI now, for instance, is significantly different to what it was 12 months ago.

“[We’re working] to dramatically improve our own productivity so that we’re developing solutions in a far more productive way [and] getting more bang for our buck for the benefit of our customers.

Fast2Mine, one of Brazil’s fastest-growing technology companies, will also be driving innovation at IMARC 2025.

Fast2Mine chief executive and founder Eder Griebler says the company’s aim is to create solutions that solve the real challenges of mining in a simple and efficient way.

“A good system needs to be easy to install, easy to use, easy to integrate and easy to expand, because managing a mine must be easy,” he said.

“This vision has driven our global growth.”

The 2014 start-up has just added Argentina to its growing list of country entries and next month will show off its mining management systems technology for the first time at a mining expo in Kenya. The company recently forged a partnership with South African-based Talonite to support its growth in the region.

“We are a company created by miners for miners with a very clear purpose — to transform global mining through smart data, robust technology and operational simplicity.”

Connecting industry and the future workforce

Dedicated to fostering the connection between industry and the future workforce, IMARC’s NextGen Program actively engages students of all educational levels, young leaders, universities and organisations at Australia’s largest mining event. The program is a collaboration between industry organisations’ AREEA, CoRE Learning Foundation, Australian Earth Science Education and the NSW Minerals Council.

The NextGen Program is designed to inspire our future workforce, facilitate career pathways and promote talent retention within the mining and resources sector.

The NextGen Leaders Program is a dynamic three-day experience for more than 200 undergraduate students, graduates, trainees and apprentices in mining and resources-related fields. Participants receive an all-access pass to IMARC’s full conference, exhibition, and networking events — plus an exclusive NextGen Program. This includes tailored conference sessions, speed networking with Austmine, daily check-ins at the AusIMM booth and guided exhibition floor walks designed to help emerging professionals get the most out of IMARC.

The NextGen Leaders Program offers career development sessions, guidance from industry experts and meet-and-greet opportunities with mining executives, engineers and innovators. This program also includes dedicated networking sessions where delegates can connect with peers and top professionals in the sector, gaining invaluable insights into career growth.

IMARC attracts more than 10,000 attendees from more than 120 countries, providing exceptional networking opportunities. With the NextGen Leaders pass, delegates will gain exclusive access to daily receptions on the exhibition floor.

This year at IMARC, the Gala Dinner celebrations are expanding with the introduction of a new award, that will sit alongside the prestigious Legend in Mining Award, which has been a cornerstone of the event since its inception. The IMARC NextGen Leaders Award will celebrate an emerging voice in mining — an undergraduate, graduate or young professional from the pool of NextGen Leaders attendees.

The global mining industry is constantly evolving it has never been more crucial to foster connections and share knowledge to drive positive change. IMARC 2025 plays a crucial role in facilitating this collaboration.

This premier event delivers a platform for stakeholders to engage with global trends, innovations and challenges to ensure the future success of the industry.

For industry players looking to lead mining innovation and sustainability, IMARC 2025 offers an unparalleled forum for learning and engagement where meaningful progress is made.