Three theme days will form an important element of Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition – AIMEX, to be held at the Sydney Showground from August 20-23, 2013.
The exhibition will have more than 600 exhibitors, covering an area of over 45,000 sq m, with a focus on the latest innovations aimed at driving increased productivity, cost efficiency and mine optimisation. High-profile speakers at the AIMEX 2013 theme days include the Australian Coal Association’s Dr Nikki Williams, and Beaconsfield mine tragedy survivor Brant Webb. “These theme days – which help us ensure a deep engagement with the mining community at all levels – have proved to be a popular feature of Reed Mining Events’ structured portfolio of premium mining industry events since they were pioneered at AIMEX 2011,” said Exhibition Director Paul Baker.
“They are an ideal complement to the exhibition’s key role in introducing the mining industry to the latest productivity and efficiency enhancing developments, providing additional opportunities for networking and learning more about key issues affecting the industry.

"Since their successful introduction at AIMEX 2011, we have incorporated them into our regional mining events, including the 2012 Queensland Mining & Engineering (QME) Exhibition in Mackay, the 2012 Mining & Engineering NSW exhibition in Newcastle, and Kalgoorlie’s 2012 Goldfields Mining Expo. “They draw a great deal of visitor interest, and provide numerous networking and discussion opportunities,” he said. “AIMEX 2013’s combination of a strong exhibitor focus on innovation and productivity improvements, in conjunction with our highly popular mining industry theme days, means we will deliver an exhibition that is set to exceed the benchmarks achieved during our outstanding edition in 2011.” The AIMEX 2013 Women in Mining Day will take place on Wednesday August 21, the Mining Safety Day will be on Thursday August 22, and the Industry Productivity Day will be on Friday August 23. “Across these three days, we will be providing information and knowledge-sharing opportunities covering some of the major issues and challenges facing the industry,” said Baker.

“Increasing female participation in mining is a key issue for both the industry and governments; safety is a major on-going concern for the mining sector, and on-going productivity improvements are essential for its ongoing success,” he said. “Visitors to AIMEX 2013 will have unique opportunities for valuable insights into all three of these.”

Women in Mining Day (Wednesday August 21)
Starting with a keynote address by Dr Nikki Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Coal Association – and one of the most influential women in Australia’s mining industry, the AIMEX 2013 Women in Mining Day will not only celebrate the increasingly important role women are playing in the mining industry, but also highlight the challenges and opportunities that it offers.
It will incorporate a panel discussion, followed by extensive networking sessions.

Other speakers on the panel include:
• Margaret Davies, Regional Manager Supply Chain, AngloAmerican in Queensland
• Elizabeth Watts, Operations Manager, with Xstrata Coal in NSW, and winner of the inaugural Outstanding Woman in NSW Mining Award at the 2013 NSW Mining Awards in March
• Gabrielle Horn, apprentice auto-electrician, Anglo American’s Drayton Mine, and winner of the Rising Star Award at the NSW Women in Mining Awards.

Mining Safety Day (Thursday August 22)
A highlight of the Mining Safety Day will be a presentation by Brant Webb, survivor of the Beaconsfield Mining tragedy in 2006. Webb will share his experiences of being trapped underground for 13 days before being rescued, as well as talking about the impact of such an event on himself, his family and his community after he was rescued.
Also speaking will be Dean McSporran from Safety or Sorrow, who lost his arm in a mining accident and is now a motivational speaker and industry consultant on safety issues. McSporran speaks with passion from his own personal experiences about the importance of safe practices in mining – and the personal impact of a life-changing industry on individuals and their families. Together these two will put on a compelling presentation on just why safety is so important.
In the afternoon, Webb and McSporran will join a mine safety manager and a government agency representative for a panel session on mine safety issues and challenges.

Industry Productivity Day (Friday August 23)
Full details of this day are still being finalised, with AIMEX exhibitors being invited to submit their innovative products and services to an external panel to assess their suitability for a presentation, with sessions to be held throughout the day. Visitor registration for AIMEX 2013 is now open (through www.aimex.com.au), with visitors strongly recommended to pre-register as a way of speeding their entry to the exhibition. A full exhibitor directory, including details of new equipment, products and services being introduced at the exhibition, is also available online.

AIMEX is part of Reed Mining Events’ structured calendar including:
• Mining & Engineering Western Australia (M&E WA), Perth, May 6-8, 2014
• Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME), Mackay, July 22-24, 2014
• Mining & Engineering Indonesia (M&E Indo), Jakarta, September 26-24, 2014
• Mining & Engineering New South Wales (M&E NSW), Newcastle, October 7-9, 2014