AusIMM Workshop at IMARC

AusIMM, in partnership with IMARC, is pleased to present Project Evaluation: From Study to Sign-off, a practical three-hour workshop on Day Three at IMARC 2026. 

About this event

This practical workshop explores the evaluation of mining projects from scoping and pre-feasibility studies through to feasibility and final decision-making.

Participants will gain insights into the processes, methodologies and decision frameworks used to assess project viability. The program focuses on the practical considerations involved in developing, reviewing and interpreting project studies that support investment decisions, as well as the market and business factors that influence project outcomes.

The workshop is designed for mining engineers, geologists, project managers, technical specialists, commercial professionals, financial analysts and operational leaders involved in developing, reviewing or assessing mining projects.

Topics include:

• From study process to investment decision
  Examine how study processes support robust and defensible investment decisions, and explore the market, commercial and organisational factors that shape project outcomes.
• Managing risk, opportunity and uncertainty
  Learn practical approaches to identifying, assessing and managing risk and opportunity throughout the study lifecycle, including strategies for responding when project assumptions or conditions change.
• Technical assurance and corporate governance
  Explore the critical role of data quality, interpretation, modelling, forecasting and reporting in project evaluation, and understand how effective assurance and governance frameworks build confidence in study outcomes.

Who should attend?

• Study managers and technical leads responsible for delivering scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies
• Geologists, mining engineers and metallurgists involved in project development and evaluation
• Corporate development professionals, investment specialists, equity analysts and fund managers assessing project value
• Independent consultants and reviewers providing due diligence, benchmarking or technical assurance
• Mid-career professionals seeking to strengthen their project evaluation and leadership capabilities

Program

Speaker/s

Stuart Love

MAusIMM(CP)

Partner & Head of Technical, Benwerrin

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Stuart is the Head of Technical at Benwerrin, responsible for technical due diligence across all investments. He has over 30 years’ experience in the metals and mining sector, spanning mine operations, project evaluation, consulting and project finance. He has conducted on-site due diligence for more than 100 mining projects in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, Australia and North America, directly influencing investment commitments exceeding $3bn.

Before joining Benwerrin, Stuart was Head of Technical at a mining-focused investment manager, where he implemented structured due diligence and sustainability frameworks that significantly strengthened investment discipline and portfolio performance. His paper on factors affecting decision-making in project evaluation was awarded Best Paper at the AusIMM Project Evaluation Conference in 2016.

Stuart has also been a committee member for AusIMM’s Sydney Branch since 2024.

Stuart is the Facilitator at the workshop.

Karl van Olden

FAusIMM

Director, AMC Consultants

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Karl has more than 25 years’ mining industry experience with substantial experience in diverse mining environments in operational, technical, consulting, and corporate roles. Expertise and skills across the mining business process and a trusted advisor to executives in the mining industry. Karl also has leadership experience and a solid track record in senior roles for multi-national resource companies and as a manager developing business and technical capability in recognized industry-leading consultancies. He has been a project sponsor, a project manager, a technical lead and a contributor to well over 500 diverse, world-wide mining industry assignments. These span feasibility studies, strategic analysis, business planning, Ore Reserve Estimates, due diligence reviews, expert reports, minerals project valuations and operational optimization.

Mark Noppé

FAusIMM(CP)

W H Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland

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A member since 1998, Mark has been involved in AusIMM branch, society, conference / workshop and Award committees. Mark has supported professional development and standards through mentoring programs and the presentation of papers, talks and training at conferences and online platforms, including facilitation of the well-received online JORC Code reporting course. A Fellow and Chartered Professional (Geoscience), Mark’s contribution in the consulting sector was recognised with the AusIMM Charles Marshall Professional Excellence Award in 2019. Mark has mentored with the AusIMM, IMNIS and the International Women in Mining programs.

As a recognised leader in the consulting industry, Mark has held Board roles within various consulting companies since 2009, including Managing Director of Xstract Mining Consultants (2009-2012), Director of SRK (Australasia) in 2016, Chair and a Practice Leader in 2017, Director and Exco member of SRK (Global) in 2018, Managing Director of SRK (Australasia) 2019-2022, Director of SRK (Asia) in 2020, and Group Chair of SRK (Global) (2021-2022). Mark has been with The University of Queensland since late 2022. Mark is a non-executive director of junior explorer Litchfield Minerals.

Mark was elected to the AusIMM Board from 2021 and contributes to the Board and Board committees and AusIMM members through his broad industry and professional services experience, contracting and governance exposure, familiarity with marketing and professional development activities, and in particular his interpersonal and communication style.

Lisa Park

GAICD FAusIMM(CP) RPEQ

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Lisa has over 30 years in the mining industry, predominantly in base and precious metals. Project Development roles in minerals processing, pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy including supporting utilities and specialty reagent plants, as a technical specialist and project manager/director. She also supports as a competent person for ASX reporting and qualified person for TSX technical reports.

Ranging from the perspectives of the mining company, engineering company, and due diligence team, Lisa has actively driven the project gamut from exploration to construction. With a risk management orientation, Lisa has consulted on projects over the last 20+ years.

Lisa has a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Melbourne, a Masters in Applied Finance from Queensland University of Technology and is a graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a Fellow of the AusIMM and chartered professional (Management and Metallurgy), past Chair of the ConSoc committee, member of the CPPC and registered professional engineer in Queensland.

Lisa has a keen interest, with her fellow past and present ConSoc members, in sharing accumulated knowledge of project development processes. With the steering committee, developing and presenting the Study Processes for Resource projects course, published the Study Processes Handbook and currently developing the Study Processes guideline.