Beyond the Mine: Strategies for Thriving, Sustainable Communities

This panel explores how to foster resilient, long-term partnerships with Indigenous communities that extend well beyond the life of a mine. Featuring Mikaela Jade (Indigital), Melinda Buckland (Rio Tinto), and an esteemed elder from Cape York, the session will highlight systems change and Collective Action as essential ingredients for achieving meaningful impact. Speakers will delve into moving beyond traditional models of community engagement towards one grounded in social reciprocity, integrating First Nations knowledge with emerging technologies to care for Country, and co-creating enduring economic, social, and environmental outcomes during mine closure planning. This session offers a forward-thinking vision for how mining can be a catalyst for community-led sustainability.