AusIMM joins industry, government and academia to explore the future of critical minerals
MELBOURNE | AusIMM, the peak body and trusted voice for resources professionals, recently joined with partners from across the sector to explore the future of critical minerals development in Australia.
The social, scientific and industrial development opportunities presented by the growing demand for critical minerals rest on the trust and leadership of our sector’s professional community.
This was the key message from AusIMM CEO Stephen Durkin FAusIMM at our recent Critical Minerals Conference. The message was reiterated in AusIMM’s contributions to a Federal Parliamentary Inquiry Into Factors Shaping Social Licence and Economic Development Outcomes, through our own Policy Forums, and at a recent forum hosted by RMIT University in Melbourne.
The RMIT session brought together speakers from industry and academia to examine how Australia can turn its mineral endowment into lasting economic and strategic value.
Discussion focused on the technologies, investment settings and policy choices needed to capture more value from Australia’s critical minerals and build sovereign capability.
Participants said mineral resources create opportunity, but do not guarantee an economic dividend, enhanced resilience or strengthened national sovereignty without coordinated action. Building capability requires skilled people, enabling infrastructure and productive technology alongside investment, customers and access to markets. The discussion highlighted the need to identify strategically important stages of the supply chain where Australia can build an enduring advantage, while also maintaining strong international partnerships.
Priorities included fast tracking suitable projects, developing shared industrial precincts, improving the investment proposition for sovereign and superannuation capital, and considering how ageing industrial facilities could support new strategic activities.
Emerging technologies also featured prominently, including hyperspectral sensing, satellite and ground data integration, precision positioning, muon imaging and the application of artificial intelligence in mineral processing and plant commissioning.
Speakers said these tools could improve understanding of deposits, environmental monitoring, recovery and throughput, and help operations reach stable production sooner. They also stressed that technology should augment professional judgement, supported by strong experimental design, transparent treatment of uncertainty and continuous learning.
Speakers emphasised that technology alone cannot secure Australia’s critical minerals future, with projects also facing price volatility, lengthy approvals, infrastructure constraints, extended ramp-up periods and limited access to patient, risk-tolerant capital.
Success will depend on coordinated policy, commercially realistic support, workforce capability and a clear understanding of where Australia can compete.
AusIMM’s participation reflects its commitment to constructive, evidence-based discussion on the issues shaping the resources sector. By bringing together professionals, industry leaders, researchers, educators, communities and policymakers, AusIMM helps test policy ambition against operational reality and translate technical knowledge into practical policy solutions.
AusIMM’s policy forums, industry partnerships and advocacy provide a platform to examine where Australia should build downstream capability, how strategic projects can attract investment, what skills the future workforce will require and how innovation can improve productivity and responsible performance.
With a focus on the public interest, and the backing of a professional community with deep expertise across all aspects of the sector, we play a unique role convening and contributing to dialogue about the role our sector plays in advancing the public benefit.
Australia’s critical minerals opportunity is significant but time sensitive. Capturing it will require coordinated choices about technology, capital, infrastructure, skills and partnerships.
AusIMM members interested in contributing to policy and advocacy work are encouraged to follow upcoming member consultations and Policy Forum activities.