46th Sir George Fisher Lecture 2026

Join the North Queensland Branch for the 46th Sir George Fisher Lecture.

About this event

Join the AusIMM North Queensland Branch for the annual Sir George Fisher Lecture, a long-standing event celebrating leadership, innovation and contribution to the resources sector in North Queensland.

Established in 1977 with the support of MIM Holdings Limited, the lecture honours Sir George Fisher’s significant contribution to the development of North Queensland and Townsville, as well as his lasting impact on Australia’s mining industry.

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’s lecture, Do the best days for Australia’s resources sector still lie ahead?, will be delivered by Saul Eslake, one of Australia’s most respected economists.

As the world experiences major shifts in geopolitics, economics and technology, Saul will explore what these changes could mean for Australia’s resources industry and whether the sector’s strongest opportunities are still ahead.

With more than 40 years’ experience analysing economic trends across Australia and globally, Saul brings deep insight into economic growth, inflation, labour markets and public policy. His clear, engaging style will provide valuable perspective for professionals working across the resources sector.

The Sir George Fisher Lecture will be held following the North Queensland resource forum.

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

Speaker/s

Saul Eslake

Economic Commentator

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Saul Eslake has more than four decades' experience in analysing and interpreting developments in the Australian economy, and the economies of Australia's major trading partners. He has been Chief Economist of a number of major financial intermediaries, including National Mutual Funds Management, the ANZ Bank and the Australian subsidiary of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, before establishing his own economics advisory business in 2015. He's previously been a member of advisory bodies to Federal Governments on tourism, housing, foreign affairs and trade. He's currently a member of the Australian Parliamentary Budget Office's Expert Advisory Panel, and of the Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Board Expert Advisory Panel. He's previously been a non-executive director of the Gas & Fuel Corporation of Victoria, and Hydro Tasmania, and is currently a non-executive director of the Council on the Ageing (Australia).