Update from the President and CEO – February 2022
Dear members,
We hope your year has started well. In 2022, AusIMM will continue to support our members and global community through high quality professional development, and by advocating on behalf of professionals whose expertise is driving a safe, sustainable and productive industry.
AusIMM’s 2022 professional development calendar is extensive. We have already launched our first three courses for the year: Study Processes for Resource Projects, ESG and Social Responsibility, and Practical Data Analytics and Machine Learning. There are more courses launching over the rest of February and March, providing accessible, relevant professional development to support our members’ careers. Our first conference of the year, International Mining Geology, kicks off on 23 March in Brisbane and online. Our Communities of Interest have also launched many of their 2022 activities, with technical talks and networking opportunities available both in person and online.
AusIMM will again be hosting our International Women’s Day Event Series in 2022. With more than 1600 people expected at our upcoming luncheons across five cities, the event series continues to grow and shine a light on women’s achievements in mining. Alongside the ongoing vital role of our Women in Mining Networks, who provide local support and engagement for our members, this Event Series forms a central part of our work to focus attention on the key issues faced by women in mining. At the series we will launch the results of our annual Women in Mining survey, with the insights used in our advocacy with government and industry partners to help create positive change.
We were delighted to open our new Perth office earlier this month. This working space houses our growing Perth team (now five members). It provides a central location for us to host events, meetings and an opportunity to continue increased engagement with our WA members and stakeholders. We encourage members to contact Alison Muir, Head of WA Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships, to find out more about AusIMM’s activities and initiatives in the state.
In late 2021 we ran our inaugural Regional Congress Series, engaging with leaders from our Communities of Interest. The priorities and outcomes from these meetings will be a critical input to our strategic planning over the coming period. We greatly value the ongoing work and dedication of all our Community of Interest volunteers, and look forward to continue working closely on the opportunities discussed at Congress.
Ensuring we have expert staff capability allows us to support our members and leverage opportunities for sustainable growth. We have recently appointed Leigh Slomp as Chief Advisor of Professional Standards, Susan Greenbank as Head of Online Courses and Strategic Programs, and Simon Jemison as Head of Advocacy and Government Relations. These key roles, along with our existing team members, will help us further deliver on our strategic priorities including expanding our professional development portfolio, gaining greater profile with government, and working with stakeholders on the JORC Code review.
While uncertainty remains, we have seen COVID-19 restrictions easing and we’re looking forward to reconnecting with our members at an event soon. As always, please get in touch if you would like any more information or support. Please contact our team or reach out to us via our email addresses below.
Stay safe and well.
Sincerely,
Dave Clark FAusIMM(CP), AusIMM President – president@ausimm.com
Stephen Durkin FAusIMM, AusIMM CEO – ceo@ausimm.com