A leading international event in the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) calendar, the Underground Operators conference will return in March 2020.

Over the three-day conference held in Perth from 25-27 March, Underground Operators 2020 will bring an expected 1,000 industry professionals to discuss important changes and solutions for the future of underground mining.

As the mining industry embraces a significant period of change, the conference will focus on the theme ‘Creating opportunities in the new frontier’, with innovation and the implementation of new technologies at the core of the program.

Underground Operators 2020 will highlight solutions for developing smarter and more cost-effective ways to extract orebodies, allowing operators to satisfy the global demand for raw materials alongside lowering environmental impact. The conference will feature presentations from expert keynote speakers sharing detailed insights on the latest industry developments, and specialised workshops will also be available for unique professional development opportunities.

Conference Chair Anne-Marie Ebbels says Underground Operators 2020 will highlight the importance of sharing knowledge and the importance of working together in the global underground mining community.

“The key takeaway will be knowledge and the opportunity for delegates to implement changes to their own operation. The conference also provides the opportunity to develop a wider network that can be tapped for support for future solutions.”

Keynote speaker Roy Slack, President of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, will address the fantastic opportunity the mining industry has to be a leader for global change.

In an interview with AusIMM, Mr Slack expressed the important role of young professionals in the industry being a guiding force for new ways of operating.

“We are in a time of very rapid change…we need people that thrive on change, that embrace and know what to do with it,” Mr Slack said.

The conference will also feature keynote speakers Laura Tyler (Asset President BHP Olympic Dam, BHP), Knut Garshol (Rock Engineering Consultant, Sweden) and Gary Zamel (Executive Chairman, CommChain Pty Ltd).

More information undergroundoperators.ausimm.com