Over 15 years since the lithium boom sparked enthusiasm for electric vehicles, batteries, and an expanding array of critical minerals, a dynamic new trajectory for mineral development has emerged, distinct from ‘traditional’ metals.

This shift brings novel financial, socio-environmental, and regulatory paradigms. Yet, has our understanding of these "new age" minerals aligned with their technical and commercial realities? Are resource evaluation and regulatory frameworks keeping pace with the complexities of these rapidly evolving materials compared to established metals? 

This talk reflects on the evolution of critical mineral development, examining challenges in resource estimation, metallurgy, environmental impacts, geo-politics and financing. By exploring these dimensions, we assess where we stand on the journey toward a more sustainable future—and where gaps remain on this transformative path.

Mark Thompson

Managing Director, Talga Group

Mr Thompson is the founder and Managing Director of ASX-listed Talga Group Ltd. He has over 30 years’ global experience in geoscience industries including 15 years in commercial critical mineral project development and technologies. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, the Society of Economic Geologists, and former Guest Professor of Mineral Exploration Technology at the University of Technology Chengdu in China.

Hayden Bairstow

Head of Research and Executive Director, Research Division, Argonaut

Hayden is Head of Research and an Executive Director within Argonaut’s Research Division. Hayden is an experienced and influential resources research analysts in Australia. He has extensive experience in the investment banking and stockbroking industry. 

Prior to joining Argonaut, Hayden was the Head of Resources Research at Macquarie Equities where he successfully managed a team of analysts covering nearly 70 leading ASX-listed resources companies during his 10 year tenure.

Adam Myers

Partner, Deal Advisory, BDO

Adam is a Partner at BDO in Deal advisory who specialises in Independent Experts Reports having been involved in over 200 reports relating to Natural Resources transactions. A key element of these reports involves commissioning and reviewing reports from Technical Specialists. Adam also works on IPO’s and provides support as an internal expert to BDO’s audit team as well as for external auditors. Through these roles Adam has exposure to the views of a wide range of stakeholders including regulators.

Ivy Chen

Ivy is a mineral resources governance specialist. She is the founder of GeoReg Mining and Compliance, providing advice and support for the public discussion of mineral resources and their prospectivity and value, in line with requirements of the JORC & VALMIN Codes, the corporations’ act and listing rules in Australia, and other jurisdictions.

She is a member of the VALMIN Committee administering Australia’s minerals valuation code, the WA government’s Mining and Petroleum Advisory Committee, the WA Investment Attraction Fund Governance Board and a past-director of the AusIMM, representing mining professionals in Australia and internationally. Ivy was ASIC’s national advisor for geology and mining from 2009-2015. 

Ivy is a director for Horizon Power, WA’s regional electricity company, deputy-chair of Football West, on the board of the Football Futures Foundation (Football West’s charity arm), and a life member of Multicultural Futures, an NFP supporting migrants and refugees.

In 2020 she was one of Women in Mining UK’s 100 Global Inspiration Women in Mining, and a finalist in the 2020 WA CME – Outstanding Women in Resources award. Ivy plays walking football with Subiaco AFC, when she can.  

Nadine Marke

Partner | National Head of Corporate Finance, RSM Australia Pty Ltd

Nadine is the National Head of Corporate Finance at RSM and an experienced valuation practitioner. She has nearly twenty years’ experience within corporate finance, specialising in valuations and litigation support services. Nadine is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), a CAANZ Business Valuation Specialist and Forensic Accounting Specialist.

Her experience includes valuations of shares, businesses / projects and intangible assets across a wide variety of industries including Energy & Resources. Nadine’s valuations are used to assist clients negotiating mergers and acquisitions, for financial reporting purposes, bank lending requirements or taxation compliance.

A growing part of Nadine’s practice is working as an Expert Witness in litigation proceedings involving disputes over valuations of businesses, shares or assets. She has appeared in the Supreme Court of WA, Supreme Court of Bermuda, Federal Court, District Court and Family Court to provide both written and oral evidence, as well as Arbitration proceedings.

Nadine is also responsible for the preparation of Independent Expert Reports opining on whether ASX listed and other public transactions are fair and reasonable / in the best interests of shareholders.

Benjamin Fleming

Special Counsel, Sullivan & Cromwell

Ben Fleming is a special counsel in Sullivan & Cromwell’s General Practice group. Ben focuses on international securities offerings and financings, as well as cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Ben has extensive experience in public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, including securities issued in initial public offerings, and is actively involved in advising a range of clients on corporate governance and disclosure matters. Prior to joining S&C’s Melbourne office, Ben worked in the Firm’s New York office.

Facilitator information to come.

Garth D. Kirkham, B.Sc, P. GEO., FGC, SEGF, FCIM

Mr. Kirkham has had over 30 years of experience supplying 3D geoscience modelling, geological and geophysical consulting services to the mining, environmental and oil & gas industries. During this time Mr. Kirkham has worked on both underground and open pit projects in a wide range of commodities from precious metals to base metals, strategic metals, industrial minerals, oil sands, potash, phosphate, and coal deposits throughout the world. Mr. Kirkham has also been fortunate to have been an integral part with leading edge organisations such as Geoscience BC along with being allowed to contribute to community and professional organisations as a volunteer. 

He is currently a Chairperson for CRIRSCO (Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards). Mr. Kirkham is the Past-President of the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM). He the co-Chair of the CIM Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Committee and the Chair of the Geoscientists Canada, Securities Committee.  

This session is to be confirmed.

Teresa Steele-Schober MELP, MEnvMgt, MSAIMM
Principal Consultant (Sustainability), SRK Consulting (UK) Limited

This session is to be confirmed.

Mark Burnett

Principal Geologist, AMC Consultants

With over 30 years of experience in the mining industry, Mark brings a broad range of expertise across early-stage exploration projects, operational mines, mergers, acquisitions, and asset disposal. He joined AMC in 2018 as a Principal Geologist, with primary responsibilities including Mineral Resource Estimation, technical reporting, and Competent Person sign-off.

He is a member of the Pan European Reserves and Resources Reporting Committee (PERC), representing PERC on both the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) and the International Raw Materials Observatory (INTRAW). Mark is also an active member of three United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) working groups.

Steve Hunt FAusIMM, MAIG

Chair, JORC

Steve is a geologist with over 40 years industry experience in Australia, Indonesia and PNG.

His career has included mine geology, resource development, resource evaluation, ore control and ore reserve compliance for a wide range of commodities including Iron, Copper, Gold, Uranium and Titanium. He has worked for juniors, mid-caps and large companies including Rio Tinto and in consulting.  

He is FAusIMM and MAIG and has been a member of JORC since 2005 and Chair since 2014.