As part of the advisory committee for the Amira Global Exploration Manager’s Conference, it was a privilege to welcome the team and its member companies to London, UK.
The biannual event has previously only been held in Australia. However, this year, it was all about change (in every sense) and, to extend the event’s reach and inclusivity to its international members, Amira selected the world-famous Natural History Museum as its host venue.
“Change is a challenge, but it’s also a constant in our lives,” Dr Jacqui Coombes, Amira’s CEO, reminded the audience in the plenary. “We must harness change as our ally.”
This desire for change was evident at every level, from the conference line up, which brought together diverse voices, and the breakout sessions that supported open and intimate conversations, to the pre-conference strolls which fostered friendships and the lack of paper programs and booklets (a paperless conference – whoever thought it, right?!).
The atmosphere was convivial yet productive, the discussions meaningful, and the delegation left full of determination to take their findings back to their own employers.
Key takeaways included:
• The need for companies to think (at the very least) about environmental, social and governance implications before their geologists set foot on the ground
• Designing mines for closure (and beyond) ensures the best possible outcomes for people and the environment
• Data and AI, while useful tools in mineral exploration, will never replace geoscientists; that human touch is critical in problem solving and engagement
• The industry must work closely with educational institutions and governments to boost the intake and graduation of students in core disciplines, like geology and mining engineering. And,
• Educating the public is essential. From kindergarten upwards, we all need to know more about mining and the essential role it plays in our lives.
While I can’t share with you the exact session content, I thought I’d use this month’s reading list (see below) to link to some of the projects that were discussed, using publicly available materials to give you a taste of what went down at the event.
And because I was not only the media representative but also a speaker, and don’t mind sharing my presentation, you can expect some thoughts next week on the blog on how mining can use lessons from its past to shape an industry fit for the future. Enjoy the titbits below and I’ll see you then.
Carly
P.S. to all you newbies who’ve signed up following the EMC, welcome! I see you
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