The resources sector is undergoing massive shifts associated with the global transition to a zero-carbon economy. In addition to the clear imperative to decarbonize their own operations, the products that these companies produce, or will produce, are themselves essential to that green transition. Innovation is more important in this sector today than ever before.
What does innovation mean in the Australian resources industry? What does it mean globally? What will mining look like in 2040? Is Australia ready?
In this single-day 2023 ILP Melbourne Symposium, co-hosted by BHP, we will examine innovation from multiple viewpoints, which include technology matters and a deep dive into the technologies underpinning a green transition. We will also examine the role of innovation in delivering social value and the importance of vibrant, cross-sectoral ecosystems in achieving impact in the marketplace and society.
Online registration is closed. Walk-in registration is available on-site.
Live Streaming is available: CLICK HERE to watch (Registration required).
Ash is a technology anthropologist, archaeologist, and engineer who used to spend her time traveling around the world laser scanning ancient sites and building multimodal data systems for world heritage sites and secure facilities. She has worked for and with multiple Fortune 500 companies, government groups, start-ups, and others-redefining their use of current technologies and their internal innovation mechanisms to engage with broader technology R&D and social change. Her particular favorite research areas relate to digitization, mapping, ubiquitous surveillance, and the impact of cybernetic systems on work and society over the long duree of human history and its projected futures.
Ron Spangler serves as the Director of Corporate Relations, managing a diverse portfolio of companies in the mining, energy, aerospace, and defense sectors. Before joining MIT Corporate Relations, Ron dedicated two decades to an industry career, primarily focusing on various MIT-connected startup companies. In 1994, he earned his doctorate in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, and his extensive contributions include numerous publications and patents. Notably, Ron is also an FAA-licensed pilot with a glider rating.
Paul joined BHP in 2005 after an 18-year career in stockbroking and investment banking with JBWere (which became Goldman Sachs Australia), spanning a range of disciplines from equity research, portfolio management, derivatives trading, and equity sales, to equity capital markets and mergers & acquisitions. At the time of leaving Goldman Sachs JBWere, he was a Partner and Head of Australian Natural Resources in the Investment Banking Department.
Paul joined BHP as a senior leader in the predecessor to Group Acquisitions & Divestments, with an initial focus on the divestment of non-core assets acquired with WMC and post-acquisition restructuring. In 2007, he joined the study team for the proposed acquisition of Rio Tinto and became Project Manager for the execution phase of the transaction. He has been involved in a number of non-public advanced acquisition and divestment studies, including an evaluation of the potential demerger of the Energy Coal business in 2011.
Paul led the strategic evaluation of the portfolio that culminated in the decision to pursue the South32 demerger, the execution of which he subsequently led. Following the demerger of South32, he led the divestment of IndoMet in Indonesia and the negotiated settlement with the New South Wales government for the cancellation of the Caroona exploration licenses.
In mid-2016, Paul commenced leadership of BHP’s engagement, evaluation and response to the proposals from Elliott Management for changes to BHP’s corporate structure, portfolio and capital management policies.
In 2017, Paul was appointed to lead the Strategy & Market Intelligence group within the Portfolio Strategy & Development function. The group is charged with developing the supply-side analysis and insights for input into BHP’s commodity price protocols and with examining the long-term strategic issues affecting the company’s portfolio, recommending change where required.
Paul has a deep passion and enthusiasm for disruptive innovation and technological change and the opportunities these changes generate to make the world a better place for his three children. In 2021, he was appointed to lead BHP’s global Innovation and Ventures function, allowing him to pursue that passion. The team is focused on reimagining the way we discover, mine, and process the valuable minerals the world needs to transition to a zero-emissions future. It also plays a key role in supporting other teams at BHP by finding new ways to address climate change, manage waste, achieve a water-secure world, and eliminate fatalities in the mining industry.
Laura Tyler joined BHP in May 2005 and became Chief Technical Officer in September 2020, responsible for the company’s minerals exploration, health, safety and environment, centres of excellence, technology and BHP Operating System portfolios. This role supports operational excellence and growth through sharper focus, accelerated impact and more streamlined support to BHP’s assets. She is also tasked with securing options in future-facing commodities through exploration, and for improving safety, sustainability, reliability and productivity.
Laura has worked in management roles for BHP in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, and has been a member of BHP’s Executive Leadership Team since 2017. She began her mining industry career as a Geological Engineer at Grounds Explorations Ltd in 1988 and has since worked in operations spanning engineering, geology and various senior management roles.
Laura was Asset President for Olympic Dam in South Australia from July 2018 to August 2020, where she was responsible for the safe and sustainable operation of one of the world’s most significant polymetallic resources producing copper, uranium, gold and silver in remote South Australia. She also held the role of Chief Geoscientist responsible for the global team of technical experts in geoscience and resource engineering including BHP’s tailings response to recent dam failures, and the leadership of the Legacy Assets in North America in this time.
Prior to her position at Olympic Dam, Laura was the Chief of Staff, a role which enabled the CEO to effectively fulfil their commitments to the Board and Company. Laura was concurrently Head of Geoscience and Resource Engineering for just over three years. Laura has also worked in several other senior management roles, including as Asset President Cannington (Queensland, Australia), Vice President – HSEC, Aluminium (London, United Kingdom) and General Manager, EKATI Diamond Mine (North West Territories, Canada). Before joining BHP, Laura worked for several prominent resource companies, including WMC Resources, Newcrest Mining and British Geological Survey.
Laura graduated from the University of Wales with a Bachelor of Science (Honours), Geology and also holds a Masters of Science, Mining Engineering (with Distinction) from the Camborne School of Mines.
A leader in the mining industry with extensive operational experience across industries including water & wastewater management and oil & gas. Lead off-shore exploration campaigns in diverse geographical locations, development of large capital investments across commodities and successful execution of operational projects in remote areas. Currently in the Innovation team at BHP managing a portfolio of technology development opportunities to re-imagine mining and recovery of critical minerals sustainably. Passionate about developing people, and teams, to foster collaboration and create outcomes that are better for the communities in which we work and live. Volunteers in the local community and schools to engage and educate future generations on the energy and resources sector.
Professor Robert C. Armstrong directs the MIT Energy Initiative, an Institute-wide effort at MIT linking science, technology, and policy to transform the world’s energy systems. A member of the MIT faculty since 1973, Armstrong served as head of the Department of Chemical Engineering from 1996 to 2007. His research interests include polymer fluid mechanics, rheology of complex materials, and energy.
Armstrong has been elected into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2020) and the National Academy of Engineering (2008). He received the Founders Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Chemical Engineering (2020), Warren K. Lewis Award (2006), and the Professional Progress Award (1992), all from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He also received the 2006 Bingham Medal from the Society of Rheology, which is devoted to the study of the science of deformation and flow of matter,
Armstrong was a member of MIT’s Future of Natural Gas and Future of Solar Energy study groups. He advised the teams that developed MITEI’s most recent reports, The Future of Nuclear Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World (2018) and Insights into Future Mobility (2019), and is co-chairing the new MITEI study, The Future of Storage. He co-edited Game Changers: Energy on the Move with former U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz.
Chris has been the CEO of Austmine since 2014 and is firmly focused on delivering value to Austmine’s members and driving strategic innovation and collaboration across the industry. With 30 years of experience in international business, industry development and general management, her background covers a wide range of industries and she has held senior management positions in Australia and overseas.
Under her leadership, Austmine has grown to be the largest industry association of its kind globally. She has authored many articles on METS sector development and the importance of collaboration, innovation and technology in mining.
Chris is a Director of the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance, the Australian Government’s Mining and Automotive Jobs and Skills Council. She is a former Director of the Australia-Latin America Business Council, and has served on several government boards and related economic and trade development working groups. She is currently President of the North Steyne Surf Life Saving Club.
Katie proudly represents a more than 20-year Engineering and Mining Career with diverse roles as a Field Engineer, Environmental Scientist, Exploration Hydrogeologist, Approvals Manager, Scoping Study Manager, Group Environmental Lead, Project Engineer, Head of Technical Services and her recent role as Head of Transformation and the Think & Act Differently Incubator and her new role as Head of Innovation Ecosystems at BHP.
In 2018, Katie was awarded South Australia’s Inaugural 40 Under 40 Young Entrepreneurs Award for her contribution to the Minerals Sector and continues to charter new paths for the industry and her peers. She has shown that through partnerships and transparency you find opportunity. Katie can proudly point to initiatives that have emerged under her leadership with value created in community groups, with traditional owners, conservation organisations, research bodies, technology companies and start-ups.
Gavin is an established mining industry leader with experience in mine and technical management, functional leadership and corporate governance. Building on a 35-year career with BHP where he held senior executive roles as Head of global group wide technical functions including geoscience, mining, metallurgy and technology. From 2007 to 2014 Gavin led the BHP Group’s approach to automation including working with Cat on developing truck automation, implementing drill automation and developing automated downhole assaying and using AI to automate geological logging. From 2015 to 2016 Gavin led the development of a Board level comprehensive global technology strategy. Since leaving BHP in 2016, he now consults to mining companies and METs companies, Governments and research organization. Gavin has contributed at Board level for CRC Ore, the AusIMM and AMIRA. Gavin is currently the interim Chair of the Copper for Tomorrow CRC bid and is chair of the Premiers Research Industry Fund consortium in South Australia and continues to publish widely on innovation in mining. Gavin brings a deep understanding of the mining industry, and its professionals, along with a vision for the future of mining.
Catarina has been working with the Cambridge/Boston startup ecosystem for over 10 years and joined Corporate Relations with a solid network in the innovation and entrepreneurial community. Prior to MIT, she was part of the team that designed and launched the startup accelerator IUL MIT Portugal, which was later rebranded as Building Global Innovators. She was based in Lisbon and worked in direct relation with the Cambridge team. She held positions including Operations Coordinator, Program Manager, and Business Developer. The accelerator soon achieved steady growth in large part due to the partnerships that Catarina led with regional and global startup ecosystems. After that, she worked at NECEC, leading a program that connects cleantech startups and industry. In this role, she developed and built a pipeline of startups and forged strong relationships with both domestic and European companies. She has also held positions in Portugal and France, including at Saboaria e Perfumaria Confiança and L’Oréal as Technical Director and Pharmacist. Catarina earned her bachelor's in chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences in Portugal. She went on to earn her Master of Engineering for Health and Medicines in France.
Daniel Stack is the Co-founder and CEO of Electrified Thermal Solutions, Inc. (ETS), a new technology startup that is decarbonizing industry with electrified heat. He earned his PhD in Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a specialization in energy conversion and thermal energy storage. His doctoral inventions form the foundation of ETS and its flagship product, the Joule Hive™ thermal battery. Daniel is an Activate fellow of the 2021 Boston cohort, an awardee of ARPA-E SEED, and a representative on the Long Duration Energy Storage Council. He has authored and co-authored a variety of papers on electrified thermal energy storage in academic and industry journals, and has spoken at various energy conferences, workshops and panels on repowering industrial processes and power plants with electrified thermal energy storage.
Ed is responsible for strategy and business development in the energy and mining sectors at Amogy. Prior to Amogy, Ed spent 8 years as a program manager at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he analyzed high efficiency HVAC technologies to reduce the energy use of commercial and residential buildings. Ed also spent 5 years in the corporate finance group at Moody's Investors Service, providing bond ratings for energy and industrial companies. Ed has an MPA from the University of Wisconsin -Madison, and a BS in Finance from New York University.
Joel is above all an advocate for climate change action, likes running marathons, and buys new books faster than he can read them. Before co-founding Swift, Joel served as Executive Director of the Tata-MIT GridEdge Solar research program, which focuses on scale-up of new solar photovoltaic technologies for India and other developing countries. As a researcher and NSF Fellow at MIT, he developed ultra-lightweight and flexible solar cells that were recognized by the 2017 Katerva Award. He was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 Fellow in Energy and one of Business Insider's Rising Stars of Clean Energy. He co-authored the MIT Future of Solar Energy Study and has worked extensively on emerging PV materials and devices, techno-economic analysis, and energy and climate policy. Joel holds a PhD and SM in electrical engineering from MIT and a BS with distinction from Stanford University.
Ralph is the Director of Product Development at Mantel. He earned his PhD in nuclear engineering at MIT, where he specialized in computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer analysis of molten salt fluid systems. Before joining Mantel, he worked as an engineer at the nuclear startup TerraPower, and he worked in the research office of The Engine.Ralph also co-founded a nuclear reactor startup which focuses on driving down nuclear plant construction costs.
James Benetatosis the Head of Business Development at Quaise Energy. He is part of the team working to develop the strategy to scale Quaise’s business while achieving the most impact for the environment. James began his time at Quaise working to apply the company’s cutting-edge drilling technology to its first potential product: drilling for mineral exploration. This product will be the focus of Quaise’s initial field trials in the first half of 2024.James received a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and an MBA from Boston University. Before joining Quaise’s Business Development Team, James spent seven years working as an engineer in the energy sector. He started his career at the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement in Louisiana, where he conducted inspections of offshore drilling operations. Next, he joined Halliburton, where he was part of the deep-water cementing team and worked on some of the deepest wells in the Gulf of Mexico. At Prysmian Group, among other accomplishments he led a team of engineers in Italy involved in developing, testing, and ultimately launching cables with embedded sensors to help ensure the safety of operators.
Dr. Braden McGrath is a Research Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University conducting biomedical engineering research related to human orientation sensory systems. Over the past 30 years, Braden has developed head-mounted eye tracking systems for NASA, the US Navy, and the US Army to evaluate visual and vestibular performance in astronauts, fighter pilots, soldiers, and patients with mild traumatic brain injury and/or vestibular dysfunction. He has also developed immersive simulations for mining safety training. Braden is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and an Engineers Australia Chartered Engineer in the Biomedical Engineering and Leadership and Management Colleges.He is also a QinetiQ Fellow and a member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers. Braden holds a Master of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Sydney.
Sean Gilbert is the Managing Director of the MIT-China Program, MIT-Singapore Program, and the MIT-Australia & New Zealand Program.
Sean is responsible for developing projects across this Asia Pacific region with MIT students, faculty, and institutional partners. Key programs include the MIT Greater China Fund for Innovation; the Fung Scholars Program; the MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node-MISTI Collaboration, the MIT-China Educational Technology Initiative (CETI); and the MIT-China Forum. Sean founded the Singapore (2002) and Australia & New Zealand (2013) programs and is working on expanding MISTI Southeast Asia initiatives. Gilbert also manages the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science / MISTI partnership: EECS International/MISTI.
Prior to arriving at MIT in 2000, Sean co-founded EcoTrends International Co., Ltd in Taipei, importing environmental technologies and products for Taiwan construction sites (1997-2000); and worked for the Panvest Group's Offshore Investment Department, supervising Taiwanese-owned hotels in Hawaii and automotive and data processing joint ventures in Jinan, Shandong Province (1993-1997). Gilbert has also worked in New York as a reinsurance broker at Guy Carpenter & Company, placing European facultative and East Asian treaty risks with international reinsurance companies (1984-1986).
Sean holds a Master of Arts in Chinese Studies and a Princeton-in-Asia Teaching Certificate from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies & Chinese, with a Minor in Southeast Asian Cultural Anthropology, from New York University. He learned to speak Chinese initially through two years of language studies at National Taiwan Normal University (Mandarin Training Center) and Taipei Language Institute. Born in Shrewsbury, England; early childhood in Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia; grew up in Sea Cliff, New York; studied and worked for 10+ years in East Asia.
Scott Stern is the David Sarnoff Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Stern explores how innovation and entrepreneurship differ from more traditional economic activities, and the consequences of these differences for strategy and policy. His research in the economics of innovation and entrepreneurship focuses on entrepreneurial strategy, innovation-driven entrepreneurial ecosystems, and innovation policy and management. Recent studies include the impact of clusters on entrepreneurship, the role of institutions in shaping the accumulation of scientific and technical knowledge, and the drivers and consequences of entrepreneurial strategy.
Stern has worked widely with practitioners in bridging the gap between academic research and the practice of innovation and entrepreneurship. This includes advising start-ups and other growth firms in the area of entrepreneurial strategy, as well as working with governments and other stakeholders on policy issues related to competitiveness and regional performance. In recent years, Stern has developed a popular new MIT Sloan elective, Entrepreneurial Strategy, co-founded the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program, advised the development of the Social Progress Index, and served as the lead MIT investigator on the US Cluster Mapping Project.
Stern started his career at MIT, where he taught from 1995 to 2001. Before returning to MIT in 2009, he held positions as a Professor at the Kellogg School of Management and as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Stern is the director and co-founder of the Innovation Policy Working Group at the National Bureau of Economic Research. In 2005, he was awarded the Kauffman Prize Medal for Distinguished Research in Entrepreneurship.
Stern holds a BA in economics from New York University and a PhD in economics from Stanford University.
Mining executive managing a portfolio in decarbonization and carbon removal technologies that includes +50 partners among startups, OEMs, universities and industry peers. Technical acumen in enhanced weathering and waste to value products. Former investor and board member in the venture capital sector. Co-founder of Kunan, a startup accelerator that works with 250+ social enterprises across Latin America. Evangelist in diversity and inclusion, looking to boost collaboration for a forward thinking in sustainable minerals. Member of Global Shapers - World Economic Forum.
Ian is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience and an excellent track record of results as a change agent – innovation, growth, transformation and performance improvement – from big corporates to start-ups.
He has held senior executive roles in several large media organizations, recently as Managing Director, Telstra Television (35% owner of Foxtel), including 7 years on the Board of Foxtel, and previously CEO of a US-based Educational Publishing company and Director of Corporate Development for a major Canadian Publisher (Newspapers & Books).
He has also worked for 3 major management consulting firms – The Boston Consulting Group and Kearney and Monitor Deloitte.
In the last 8 years, Ian has helped design, build and launch several new businesses, including developing the original business case for Kayo Sports and also a B2B two-sided managed digital marketplace for concrete. He has also led a program to flip the live sport broadcasting model on its head to save circa 25% of cost, led a transformation program for a major media company to take >$130m of cost out in-year and led the successful merger of Foxtel and Fox Sports.
Ian has also been actively involved with deep-tech start-ups/scale-ups over many years – as mentor/advisor, NED and angel investor. He currently has a portfolio of 18 companies of which he is on the Board of 4 – Jibb.ai, Abyss Solutions, Dotterel and Visionary Machines. In all, he has helped build, launch and scale >10 businesses and raised >$50m in capital across >20 funding rounds as Executive, NED or Consultant. More recently, Ian has also focused his efforts on innovation in the field of decarbonisation, particularly related to mining.
Currently Ian splits his time between his start-up/scale-up activities, investing in and advising young tech companies, including his 4 NED roles, and contract consulting, focusing on commercializing new digital business ventures for large corporates.
Ian has a degree in Systems Design Engineering and an MBA.
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/imdavis262
Simon Barraclough is the Director Systems Engineering at the Australian Space Agency. His is a spacecraft engineer with 25 years of experience in spacecraft systems, bid and study management, thermal and mechanical engineering. Simon has had lead roles for a wide range of mission types and project sizes, from cubesats, space debris harpoon to large ESA Earth Observation and Exploration missions as well as lead roles in the developing Australian spacecraft engineering sector.
Simon’s experience includes over 17 years at Airbus Defence and Space (UK), as engineer and Thermal Group Leader for the thermal control systems on 15+ ESA missions, including Rosetta, LISA Pathfinder and Solar Orbiter. In 2015 joined UNSW Canberra, as the thermal/mechanical engineer for the Buccaneer Risk Mitigation Mission, and as lead systems engineer for the RAAF M1, M2PF and M2 CubeSats. Joined University of Melbourne in 2019 to lead the nanosatellite engineering team in the Melbourne Space Laboratory (MSL) with the role of engineering manager for the SpIRIT nanosatellite project. Joined the Australian Space Agency in July 2022 as Director System Engineering having the responsibility for the National Space Program technical team and the delivery of the engineering outcomes of the program.
Jeffrey advises on innovation strategy with a focus on new venture creation and entrepreneurship. He is currently responsible for a range of science and technology innovation initiatives and programs within the Australian Department of Defence. Prior to joining Defence, Jeffrey founded Rocket Seeder (rocketseeder.com) -a startup accelerator for agri-food-tech entrepreneurs -raising over $1M in seed capital; building and managing the business; and creating and delivering accelerator programs, pre-accelerator programs and design sprints for agri-food-tech startups. During his career, he has led new product and service development and re-design projects, and business re-engineering projects for top Australian and global companies including Vanguard Investments, AXA, ANZ Bank, and Telstra. Jeffrey earned a Bachelor of Engineering from The University of Queensland, an MBA from Melbourne Business School, and a Graduate Certificate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship.
Michelle has over 25 years of mining industry experience. She has worked in technical engineering, commercial management, strategy and innovation, capital projects, new markets and optimization roles for companies including Normandy, Rio Tinto, Momentum Partners, as well as IPL and Dyno Nobel.
Michelle’s role encompasses program management across the AROSE portfolio including taking the role of Program Director in Trailblazer. She has established a Resources portfolio at AROSE and a Resources Advisory Board to support the delivery of the AROSE vision. She also sits as the Deputy Chair of this Board. Prior to joining AROSE, Michelle was Program Director Technology Development, and leader of the Next Generation Mine Innovation Program, at South 32 in Perth, WA. Michelle was responsible for leading the identification, design and delivery of new technology and innovation for all greenfield projects as well as translation into brownfield operations.
With a non-traditional technology background, Michelle brought her strong strategic and mining experience to deliver programs, and help drive the future competitiveness of the company. Her team monitored new developments in the industry and worked closely with technology partners and external institutes to develop, pilot and implement emerging technologies that could materially improve the outcomes of new projects and operations.
Michelle graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining (Hons) and a Master of Science (Mineral Economics) from Curtin University. She is also on the MRIWA College Panel and Industry Advisory Board for the Curtin School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences (EECMS). She was a finalist in the 2020 WIRA awards within the inaugural category of Technological Innovation and she won Space Professional of the Year at the Australian Space Awards in 2023. She also works at the Electric Mine Consortium as a project manager.
Joseph Kenrick is a Project Manager at Lunar Outpost Oceania, based in Melbourne, Australia. He holds a Master's Degree in Space Resources and a Bachelor's Degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Joseph worked as Reservoir and Production Engineer in the oil and gas industry for several years before transitioning to the space industry. During his master’s studies, Joseph conducted research on mining water and regolith on the lunar surface. At Lunar Outpost, he played a vital role in various projects, including NASA’s Break the Ice Challenge, the Autonomous Site Preparation: Excavation, Compaction and Testing Rover, and the Cislunar Logistics Center (a partnered project with the United States Air Force). Currently, as Project Lead for Lunar Outpost Oceania, Joseph is spearheading the EPE and Lunar Outpost Oceania Consortium’s technical and project efforts for the Australian Space Agency's Trailblazer Program. The program aims to develop an autonomous lunar rover excavator for the lunar south pole, with a targeted launch date of 2027.