Breakfast session
Breakfast session
First Nations Partnership and Co-Design in Critical Minerals Development
Before we kick off Day 2 of AusIMM's Critical Minerals Conference 2026, delegates are invited to join us for an engaging breakfast session with Gavin Martin FAusIMM, recipient of the 2025 Social and Environment Society Award.
The discussion will focus on evolving expectations for First Nations partnership and co-design in critical minerals development.
As the sector plays a vital role in the global energy transition, the focus is shifting beyond consultation to genuine co-design across the life of mine—embedding First Nations perspectives in planning, design and decision-making to deliver more sustainable and inclusive outcomes.
Mikaela Jade, Founder and CEO of Indigital and proud Cabrogal Woman of the Dharug Nation will provide us with an introduction to why this topic is so important, and her insights on meaningful co-design with First Nations communities, engaging beyond formal structures, and digitally enabled transparency.
- Introductory insights: Mikaela Jade
- Speaker: Gavin Martin
- Facilitator: Jenny Agnew
- Time: 7:15 – 8:15am
- Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026
- Location: M4 Room, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC)
- Price: $20 members, $35 non members
Mikaela Jade
Founder and CEO, Indigital
Mikaela is the founder and CEO of Indigital. She is a visionary leader who bridges the worlds of ancient cultural knowledge and emerging technologies to create opportunities that honour Country and support thriving communities.
With a background in environmental biology and a passion for innovation, Mikaela has spent more than a decade translating between cultural and digital worlds. She has guided Indigital from its roots in augmented reality storytelling to becoming a national leader in systems change programs that unite community, culture and corporate Australia.
Mikaela is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council. She holds a Master of Applied Cybernetics (with Commendation) from the Australian National University's School of Cybernetics and was awarded the Schwab Foundation's 2022 Social Innovator of the Year Award.
Recognised globally for her thought leadership in Indigenous technology and systems transformation, Mikaela continues to shape how industries and communities work together towards equitable and sustainable futures.
With a background in environmental biology and a passion for innovation, Mikaela has spent more than a decade translating between cultural and digital worlds. She has guided Indigital from its roots in augmented reality storytelling to becoming a national leader in systems change programs that unite community, culture and corporate Australia.
Mikaela is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council. She holds a Master of Applied Cybernetics (with Commendation) from the Australian National University's School of Cybernetics and was awarded the Schwab Foundation's 2022 Social Innovator of the Year Award.
Recognised globally for her thought leadership in Indigenous technology and systems transformation, Mikaela continues to shape how industries and communities work together towards equitable and sustainable futures.
Gavin Martin
Technical Executive, Communities and Social Performance, WSP
Gavin is a communities and social performance professional with over 25 years of experience working with local communities and Indigenous peoples throughout Australia and internationally. Gavin started his career as a field archaeologist where he spent many extended periods working with Indigenous People across Australia. This experience fuelled an appreciation of the importance of early and ongoing meaningful engagement with Indigenous People and the co-design of mining and other development projects which impact their country and way of life.
Gavin has worked extensively in mining for the past 20 plus years and is currently Technical Executive, Communities and Social Performance at WSP Australia. Prior to this Gavin held positions within mining companies where he worked on the development of participation agreements with Indigenous People, created and implemented cultural heritage management systems and planned for social transition in mine closure. Gavin was the recipient of the AusIMM Social and Environment Society Award in 2025. Gavin’s work at WSP Australia involves providing mining clients with strategic advice on social risks and developing community and cultural heritage engagement strategies and participation plans.
Gavin has worked extensively in mining for the past 20 plus years and is currently Technical Executive, Communities and Social Performance at WSP Australia. Prior to this Gavin held positions within mining companies where he worked on the development of participation agreements with Indigenous People, created and implemented cultural heritage management systems and planned for social transition in mine closure. Gavin was the recipient of the AusIMM Social and Environment Society Award in 2025. Gavin’s work at WSP Australia involves providing mining clients with strategic advice on social risks and developing community and cultural heritage engagement strategies and participation plans.
Jenny Agnew
Business Sustainability Manager, Sedgman
Jenny has a passion for integration of environmental, social and governance factors into strategic and operational decision making. With 24 years of experience in the resources industry, she has a solid foundation of process engineering experience, and a focus on linking cross-discipline expertise for improved outcomes, both at a company and industry level.
Jenny holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and has expertise in health, safety, quality and environmental management systems, & risk management. Her commitment to a sustainable resources industry is demonstrated by her connection across a number of industry organisations including AusIMM’s Social & Environment Society Committee (2025-26 Chair), Austmine through ESG webinars, and the Decarbonisation Accelerated leaders’ group within the Greater Whitsundays Alliance. At Sedgman, she supports global strategic planning and leads development and execution of the sustainability action plan.
Jenny holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and has expertise in health, safety, quality and environmental management systems, & risk management. Her commitment to a sustainable resources industry is demonstrated by her connection across a number of industry organisations including AusIMM’s Social & Environment Society Committee (2025-26 Chair), Austmine through ESG webinars, and the Decarbonisation Accelerated leaders’ group within the Greater Whitsundays Alliance. At Sedgman, she supports global strategic planning and leads development and execution of the sustainability action plan.
Note: Your breakfast session registration can be purchased with a Critical Minerals Conference 2026 registration.