North Queensland Resources Forum & 46th Sir George Fisher Lecture 2026
Join the North Queensland Branch for their North Queensland Resources Forum and 46th Sir George Fisher Lecture 2026 in Townsville.
About this event
North Queensland Resources Forum
This event will be a coming together of the North Queensland Resources industry to hear about new and existing resource projects showcasing all levels of development from green fields exploration projects and new economy minerals to existing operations and future developments
Program:
8.30am - 9.00am: Registration and networking
9.00am - 9.15am: Welcome and introductions
9.15am - 10.20am: Session
10.20am - 10.50am: Morning tea
10.50am - 12.20pm: Session 2
12.20pm - 1.20pm: Lunch
1.20pm - 2.50pm: Session 3
2.50pm - 3.20pm: Afternoon tea
3.20pm - 4.30pm: Session 4 & Panel Discussion
Further information to follow.
46th Sir George Fisher Lecture
The Sir George Fisher Lecture series was initiated by the AusIMM North Queensland Branch in 1977 and endowed with a grant by MIM Holdings Limited. The Lecture, held annually, is in recognition of the contribution made by Sir George Fisher to the development of North Queensland in general and Townsville in particular.
Sir George Fisher spent 50 years in the Australian mining industry and was Chairman of Mount Isa Mines (MIM) Limited during the company’s major expansion of copper and silver-lead-zinc production in the 1950s and 1960s. He is also closely identified with the development of Mount Isa from a small town to a major inland city.
This year please join us to hear from our speaker, Saul Eslake - Economic Commentator.
The North Queensland Branch are proud to continue this series and hope you can join us to celebrate the legacy of Sir George.
Program:
5.30pm - 6.00pm: Registration and pre-dinner networking drinks
6.00pm - 11.00pm: Guests seating and presentation
Further information to follow.
Speaker/s
Saul Eslake
more than 25 years, including as Chief Economist at McIntosh Securities (a
stockbroking firm) in the late 1980s, Chief Economist (International) at National
Mutual Funds Management in the early 1990s, as Chief Economist at the
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) from 1995 to 2009, and as
Chief Economist (Australia & New Zealand) for Bank of America Merrill Lynch
from 2011 until June 2015. In between these last two positions he was Director
of the Productivity Growth program at the then newly established Grattan
Institute, a ‘think tank’.
In July 2015 Saul started up his own economics consultancy business,
operating out of Hobart, and in April 2016 took up a part-time position as a
Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Tasmania.
In 2024 he undertook an Independent Review of Tasmania’s Public Sector
Finances, pursuant to the agreement between the Premier of Tasmania and
members of the Jacqui Lambie Network in the aftermath of the 2024 state
election. In 2025 he was asked to undertake an assessment of the cases for
and against the possible privatisation or divestment of 16 different business
entities owned by the Tasmanian State Government – until the Government
decided it no longer wanted that advice.
Saul is a member of the Australian Parliamentary Budget Office’s Advisory
Panel; the Australian Taxation Office’s ‘Tax Gap’ Advisory Panel; is on the
Advisory Board of Jamieson Coote Bonds, a Melbourne-based specialist bond
investment manager; and is a member of the Board of the Council on the
Ageing.
Saul has a first-class honours degree in Economics from the University of
Tasmania, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from
the Securities Institute of Australia. In December 2012 he was awarded an
Honorary LLD degree by the University of Tasmania. He has also completed
the Senior Executive Program at Columbia University’s Graduate School of
Business in New York.
Location
Rydges Southbank Townsville
23 Palmer Street
South Townsville QLD 4810
Friday, 21 August 2026
8.30am – 11.00pm (UTC+10:00)
Date and Time
8.30am – 11.00pm (UTC+10:00)
Cost
AusIMM Member: $70
AusIMM Student Member: $15
Non-Member: $110
Non-Member Student: $30
46th Sir George Fisher Lecture
AusIMM Member: $75
AusIMM Student Member: $20
Non-Member: $120
Non-Member Student: $50