December tech talk: EY’s Top 10 risks and opportunities for mining and metals companies in 2026

Join the Sydney Branch and WIMnet NSW for their December tech talk: EY’s Top 10 risks and opportunities for mining and metals companies in 2026.

About this event

Hosted by EY Sydney, come and join us together with the AusIMM Sydney Branch, AMEC, and Austmine for Sydney’s flagship end of year event.

Michael Rundus, EY Oceania Mining & Metals Leader will be joined by special guests to deep dive into  EY’s latest report on Top 10 risks and opportunities in Mining and Metals for 2026:

• Operational complexity is miners’ top challenge as deeper, more complex orebodies and declining ore grades create variable output.
• Rising costs and productivity is next on the list - driven by tariffs, royalties, energy and labour, putting pressure on productivity and supply.
• Capital, license to operate, geopolitics and workforce, also feature in this year's top 10.

Click this link for EY’s full report - Top 10 Business Risks and Opportunities for Mining and Metals in 2026.

Program
5.00pm - 5.30pm: Arrival and networking
5.40pm - 5.45pm: Welcome and introductions
5.45pm - 6.30pm: Presentation
6.30pm - 6.45pm: Q&A
6.45pm - 8.00pm: Canapes, refreshments and networking

Speaker/s

Michael Rundus

Mining & Metals Leader, EY Oceana

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Michael is EY’s Consulting Mining & Metals Market Segment Leader for Oceania and the Perth Consulting Leader responsible for ensuring that our Consulting professionals deliver world class consulting, risk and internal audit services to our clients.

Rachel Charles

EY Oceania Tax Segment Leader for Industrials & Energy

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Rachel is EY’s Tax Market Segment Leader for Industrials & Energy for Oceania. She is focused on providing pragmatic actionable insights to key clients in the Mining & Metals industry and regularly advises CFOs and Boards on the tax risks and opportunities facing their businesses.

Martin Holland

Director of Neu Horizon & Executive Chairman of Cobre

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Martin Holland is a mining executive with over 17 years of corporate experience, including the listing of five ASX-listed exploration companies. Currently Executive Chairman of Cobre which is known for its copper projects in Botswana, Martin has been an executive director in multiple companies including Lithium Power, Rapid Critical Metals and OzAurum Resources, that have collectively raised over A$250m+ towards exploration with a green future metals focus. Martin is also a Director of Neu Horizon Limited, a Uranium exploration play in Sweden with plans to IPO in 2026. In addition Mr Holland was part of the 2024 BHP Xplor program and was the only participate to receive US$25m in explosion funding from over 500 exploration Companies.

Ismet Canbulat

FAusIMM

Professor, Head of School, and Chair of Rock Mechanics at the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering, UNSW

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Ismet Canbulat is a Professor, Head of School, and Chair of Rock Mechanics at the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering, UNSW. He has 34 years of experience spanning mining research, consultancy, management, on-site operations, and academia.

He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Engineers Australia and a member of several professional organisations, including the International Society for Rock Mechanics, the Australian Geomechanics Society, and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.

Ismet has authored or co-authored nearly 200 publications and contributed to over 250 consulting reports, which have been submitted to more than 60 mining operations across a range of commodities.