Strategic conferences organiser and customised training solutions provider the Institute for International Research (IIR) South Africa is hosting the third yearly Junior Mining and Exploration Exhibition and Conference, which will take place at the Campus, in Bryanston, Johannesburg, from November 4 to 6.

IIR South Africa conference division manager Jacqueline Lües tells Mining Weekly that the theme for this year’s event – ‘Unlocking the potential for growth: Understanding the opportunities for junior mining to ensure future stability and profitability’ – was formulated after extensive research among local junior mining industry stakeholders.

The conference will also focus on investment opportunities. Various presentations will be delivered during the Investment and Capital Raising Trends and Opportunities sessions.

Lües stresses that practical content is vital for a successful event and IIR South Africa has implemented qualitative research processes to ensure the conference programme addresses a real need.

IIR South Africa set up an advisory board comprising industry leaders and experts to facilitate the development of a relevant and productive conference at this year’s event.

“It is important to keep the needs of our three key stakeholders – delegates, speakers and sponsors – balanced to run a successful event. Solid market research is a part of this, as is ongoing engagement with the community we are serving,” says Lües.

She notes that there is currently a lack of investor confidence in the South African mining industry, with junior miners being affected most.

“The industry continues to face a myriad of challenges and uncertainties arising from South Africa’s legislative, political, economic and social frameworks.”

Lües adds, however, that while major miners continue to face investment challenges, solutions are still available for junior miners, which is why the conference will explore survival tactics and critical success factors “that will breathe life into the junior-mining sphere”.

This year’s event will also take a Pan-African approach to provide a platform for junior mining stakeholders across Africa to share challenges and discuss case studies from which local junior miners can learn. “It goes without saying that an international perspective on junior mining will reinforce our programme,” asserts Lües.

More than 150 industry leaders and experts participated in last year’s event, which focused on the theme ‘Moving towards conciliatory labour relations – forging the path ahead’.

Rare-earth elements miner Montero Mining & Exploration president and CEO Tony Harwood, junior miners association the South African Mining Development Association chairperson Peter Temane and law firm Webber Wentzel partner Johan Olivier all participated in discussions around this theme.

Last year’s event also hosted a panel discussion, titled ‘Creating the necessary enabling environment for mining to flourish’, featuring investment management firm Investment Solutions chief strategist Chris Hart, mining equipment supplier Leeba Manufacturing and Mining Supplies CEO Dr Johnson Mahlangu, as well as junior platinum-group metals miner Wesizwe Platinum CEO Paul Smith.