59th JK Lecture: Striving for the best

Join the Southern Queensland Branch for their 59th JK Lecture: Striving for the best. 

About this event

The JK Lecture was established in 1968 in honour of Julius Kruttschnitt. The lecture is presented each year by AusIMM Southern Queensland Branch to demonstrate support to the next generation of mining industry professionals.

The 59^th JK Lecture by Don McKee will present experiences and observations of outstanding actions within the industry over many decades. This will show just what is possible when individuals and organisations work to overcome challenges and advance the capacity of the industry. The hope is that today’s students will take inspiration from the achievements of those who have gone before.

Julius Kruttschnitt contributed in a very active and significant way to the ongoing development of the mining industry within Australia. In 1962 the English Institute of Mining and Metallurgy awarded him its gold medal, and he was awarded the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy's medal in 1946 in recognition of his outstanding services to the industry in Australia. He was a board-member of the faculty of engineering at the University of Queensland in 1954-62 and was granted an honorary doctorate of engineering in 1971. In 1970 MIM presented the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre to the university in his honour.

The event also includes the presentation of student awards to celebrate their academic achievements, including the presentation of the Ian Morley Thesis Prize. Additionally we recognise and acknowledge all the long standing Branch members.

Program:
5.30pm - Guest arrival, drinks and canapés
6.00pm - JK Lecture starts
7.00pm - Networking
8.30pm - Event concludes 

Speaker/s

Don McKee

HonFAusIMM

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Don McKee obtained a Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Queensland and obtained a PhD under the supervision of Alban Lynch at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre in 1972. He worked in operations at Mount Isa Mines, Climax Molybdenum in Colorado and Woodlawn Mines in New South Wales.

He joined the JKMRC in a research role in 1981 and was responsible for establishing JKTech in 1985. He succeeded Alban Lynch as the second Director of the JKMRC in 1990. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Sustainable Minerals Institute and served as the inaugural Director of SMI from 2001 till his retirement at the end of 2007.

Don joined the AusIMM in 1968 and is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute. These days he maintains a longstanding association with cave mining research at the WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre within SMI, and tries to understand the relevance and application of AI within the minerals industry. Two other interests are playing tennis with a suitably aged group and being an enthusiastic participant in a malt whisky club.