Webinar: Tailings management in the critical minerals sector

Join the Social and Environment Society Webinar: Tailings management in the critical minerals sector in February.

About this event

This event kicks off a four-part webinar series ‘Critical Minerals and Materials: Insights, Innovation and Perspectives’, a four‑part webinar series showcasing Australia’s leadership across the critical minerals value chain. Each session pairs an expert speaker from the University of Sydney together with an industry practitioner, offering complementary perspectives that bridge academic research, engineering practice, and industry application.

These webinars will cover Tailings Management, Critical Minerals Exploration, Minerals Processing Innovation, and Policy & Governance.

As the first instalment of a new AusIMM–Net Zero Institute seminar series, this session explores the critical issue of tailings management in the critical minerals sector.

With over 20 billion tonnes of tailings generated globally in 2022, tailings management presents both a challenge and an opportunity for sustainable resource development.

With critical minerals at the forefront of Australia’s sustainable resource strategy, effective tailings management is crucial for reducing mine impacts while recovering valuable materials.

The presenters, Professor Marjorie Valix (University of Sydney) and Mike McPhee (Regeneration), will explore innovative approaches to repurpose mine tailings and extract critical metals from waste streams.

The presenters will discuss how cutting-edge tailings management practices can secure critical mineral supply chains, shrink the carbon footprint of mining, and support Australia’s net-zero and resource sustainability goals.

Webinar time: 12.00pm - 1.00pm AEDT.

Speaker/s

Professor Marjorie Valix

Professor at the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney

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Marjorie Valix is a Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney, where she has been a faculty member since 1998. She leads technical experts to provide professional advice, testing and research services for community, government and industries, specifically in areas of waste management and transformation, mining extraction, refining, asset corrosion and rehabilitation. She currently leads a Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) to study smart lining to extend the life of pipes and related infrastructure and a theme leader for the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Smartcrete to deliver engineering solutions to promote the long-term viability of concrete infrastructure in Australia.

Mike McPhie

Managing Director and Chief Projects Officer

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Accomplished professional with 25+ years of experience working at senior leadership levels in the natural resources sector within BC, across Canada and internationally. Frequent speaker, bestselling author and specialist in major project development, commodities, regulatory affairs, indigenous and community engagement, capital markets, public policy and sustainability issues associated with the natural resource sector.
Co-founded Falkirk Environmental in 2019. Company has grown significantly and is now known as one of the top advisory firms in the country working with leading companies in the management and development of major resource projects throughout North America and globally.
Prior to Falkirk, led the development of three public traded companies that were acquired by other major and mid-size mining companies over a ten-year period (2009 - 2019) for a combined value of over $1 billion. He has also held senior appointments from Government of Canada and British Columbia.
Co-author of the bestselling book "Weaving Two Worlds - Economic Reconciliation Between Indigenous Peoples and the Resource Sector".