Webinar: From Control to Conversation: Rethinking System Thinking for Autonomous Decision-Making (10:00 AM AEST)

Discover how Communicative Process Automation is redefining autonomy in mineral processing by shifting from deterministic control to intelligent negotiation.

About this event

This webinar explores how traditional systems thinking in mineral processing automation—built on assumptions of predictability, linearity, and fixed optimisation—falls short in handling real-world complexity. You'll be introduced to Communicative Process Automation (CPA), an emerging paradigm that enables process units, models, sensors, and human experts to negotiate decisions in real time under the moderation of AI. By embracing complexity science and co-creation of decisions, CPA offers a resilient and adaptive approach to automation that integrates variability, ESG constraints, and human input. Participants will gain an understanding of the limitations of current control architectures and how CPA can transform autonomous decision-making in future-ready operations. Whether you're in operations, strategy, or research, this session will challenge your assumptions and open new directions for innovation in mining automation.  

Speaker/s

Mohsen Yahyaei

MAusIMM(CP)

Professor Centre Director – Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre, The University of Queensland

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Mohsen Yahyaei is a Professor of Mineral Processing specialised in Advanced Process Automation at The University of Queensland and Director of the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC), a world-leading hub for mining innovation. His research focuses on modelling, simulation, and the development of autonomous decision-making systems for mineral processing circuits. With a background in engineering and a passion for understanding fundamentals of industrial systems, he leads cross-disciplinary initiatives that integrate AI, process control, and human expertise. Professor Yahyaei is also spearheading the concept of Communicative Process Automation, a novel approach to adaptive, value-driven automation in the mining sector.