Consultants Society Forum 2026: The Evolving Consultant – Human Insights on Emerging Technology

Join the Consultants Society In-Person or via Livestream for their 2026 Forum: The Evolving Consultant – Human Insights on Emerging Technology in Perth.

About this event

The AusIMM Consultants Society is excited to host its annual one-day forum in-person in Perth and via livestream on Friday, 8 May 2026.

The one-day forum will follow the AusIMM and Austmine 2026 Global Resources Innovation Expo. This alignment provides those who are attending the Expo an opportunity to plan a week of professional development and networking.

This year's Forum will build upon the success of the event held last year in Brisbane, which brought together consultants from across industry and featured outstanding keynote speakers.  The Society is looking forward to welcoming attendees to Perth and connecting with our members.

The program will include a morning session featuring presentations and panel discussions on topics such as the business case for emerging technology and AI applications including data foundations and implementation for success, while the afternoon sessions will focus on the human aspects including workforce upskilling and buy-in.  Discussion on related real-life case studies will be a feature of the day.

Program

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in becoming of sponsor of the AusIMM Consultants Society Forum 2026, please email ConsultSoc@ausimm.com.au for more information.

Speaker/s

Matthew Betts

General Manager Engineering - Rio Tinto Projects, Growth & Innovation

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Matthew Betts is an accomplished engineering and project delivery leader with 30 years’ experience overseeing major capital programs across the global mining and heavy engineering sectors. As General Manager Engineering for Rio Tinto’s Projects Group, he leads the engineering function for a ~USD7 billion annual portfolio spanning underground and surface mines, mineral processing facilities, refineries, and smelters.
Recognised for his strong safety leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to deliver in complex political and technical environments, Matthew has guided multidisciplinary teams across six continents and played a pivotal role in flagship developments such as the Oyu Tolgoi Underground Project in Mongolia and Simandou Iron Ore Mine in Guinea. He is known for driving digital transformation, strengthening stakeholder and government engagement, and building high performing teams that consistently achieve industry leading outcomes.

Chung Yi Chen

MAusIMM

Group Manager - Mine Planning, Gold Valley

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Chung is a mining executive and strategic planning leader with over 18 years of experience across the mining and metals sector. He has held senior roles with organisations including Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals Group, Mineral Resources, and Iluka, working across commodities such as iron ore, lithium, mineral sands, and rare earths.
With an Executive MBA from the University of Sydney, a Master’s in Mining Engineering from UNSW, and an Honours degree in Civil Engineering from UWA, Chung combines deep technical expertise with strong commercial and strategic insight. He is known for delivering integrated mine plans that improve performance, reduce costs, and support long term business resilience.
Currently, Chung is Group Manager of Mine Planning at Gold Valley, where he leads integrated planning initiatives, embeds AI driven decision making, and builds systems that unlock value while strengthening operational sustainability.

Oscar Dominguez

MAusIMM

Director Geoscience Quality Management, AngloGold Ashanti

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Oscar Dominguez is a geologist, with 26 years of international experience in different commodities (gold, copper, iron ore, nickel and coal). Near 20 years working on Sampling and QAQC across the mining value chain (exploration to port-marketing). Currently Director Geoscience Quality Management at AngloGold Ashanti, and Vice-President of the World Sampling Council: The International Pierre Gy Sampling Association.

Alex Maund

Head of Analytics, Quartex

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Alex Maund is a senior data and analytics leader with nearly 25 years’ experience using data, analytics, and AI to drive business and operational change. He has worked across mining, utilities, defence, financial services, healthcare, and the public sector. Alex specialises in translating emerging technologies into practical outcomes, combining AI, decision support, and scalable data platforms with strong governance to enable trusted, value-driven adoption across organisations.

Deborah Lord

MAusIMM

Director of Valuation Consultancy, VRM

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Deborah Lord is a geologist with over 35 years’ global experience in the resources sector. She is former Chair of the VALMIN Committee, involved in Working Groups for AMEC and JORC and a former Member of the AusIMM Professional Conduct Committee.
Deborah is a Director of valuation consultancy VRM, Wiluna Mining Corporation and ASX-listed companies Lunnon Metals and E79 Gold. In 2023 she the first woman to receive the AusIMM’s Presidents Award in its 50-year history.
Formerly BHP Head of Resource Governance, Deborah managed resources and reserves reporting across the minerals portfolio and regulatory compliance for multiple securities exchanges (ASX, NYSE, LSE, JSE).
Before that, Deborah spent 17 years at SRK Consulting in Australia and Chile after working with Placer Dome and WMC Resources.

Yhana Lanwin

AAusIMM

Founder and CEO, Sans Prejudice Solutions
LLB, BCom, GAICD

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Yhana Lanwin is a strategic consultant and complex deployment leader specialising in applied behavioural economics and co-design. She is founder of Sans Prejudice Solutions and has led large organisational and technology change programs across resources, manufacturing, education and government.
Yhana began her career designing geospatial data systems for the energy sector and extended her technical practice into industrial automation across mining and rail, leading strategy and delivery for maintenance and reliability systems, productivity innovation and functional safety. Frustrated by repeated failures in technology adoption, she founded Sans Prejudice Solutions in 2023 to connect human behaviour and decision biases with technology and performance outcomes. Yhana’s multi-disciplinary, evidence-led methodology combines participatory co-design, hypothesis testing and quantitative and qualitative evaluation. She has published and presented award-winning research on behavioural economics in the resources sector and has a strong track record of scaling complex systems change.