More than a conference: creating safer and healthier workplaces
As the mining industry continues to advance in technology, systems and risk management, important questions remain about how we can further reduce serious injuries, occupational health impacts and fatalities.
Ahead of AusIMM's International Mine Health and Safety Conference 2026, Conference Chair Peter Standish FAusIMM reflects on the role of the conference in bringing together operators, researchers, regulators, suppliers and advisers to share knowledge, challenge assumptions and identify practical actions for improvement.
On behalf of the Conference Advisory Committee, I am delighted to welcome you to AusIMM’s International Mine Health and Safety Conference 2026. This conference comes at an important time for our industry. Mining has made enormous advances in technology, systems, risk management and health and safety practice. Yet serious injuries, occupational health impacts and fatalities remain stubbornly persistent across mining jurisdictions around the world.
This challenges us to look more deeply at why these events continue to occur, what we may still be missing, and what we need to do differently. The International Mine Health and Safety Conference provides an important opportunity to bring together the different perspectives needed to answer those questions.
Our objective is therefore broader than simply presenting technical papers. We want this conference to be a place where participants challenge assumptions, share experience, test ideas and collectively identify better ways forward. The program combines technical presentations, incubator sessions and expert panels to help us draw together the knowledge presented and practical actions that deserve further attention.
Safe and healthy workplaces do not emerge from isolated safety initiatives; they emerge from the way organisations design, lead and operate their businesses. Our ambition is that everyone leaves the conference with something more than a set of presentation notes.
For operators, researchers, regulators, suppliers and advisers with us this week, I encourage you to share ideas and insights into the challenges faced by industry and opportunities to strengthen shared learning and experiences.
Thank you for being part of IMHS Conference 2026, and I encourage all of us to embrace the collective knowledge and ideas presented this week. I look forward to welcoming you to Perth and to the conversations that follow.
The International Mine Health and Safety Conference 2026 takes place in Perth from 5-7 October.
We thank Peter and the Advisory Committee for their leadership in shaping this year's program and look forward to welcoming delegates for three days of discussion and shared commitment to safer and healthier workplaces.