Update from the President and CEO – July 2022
As AusIMM looks to support our members as we emerge from the pandemic, we have been delighted to see our professional community coming together to connect, learn and share.
Our members have reconnected in person at a number of conferences and events around the country. Open Pit Operators, Gold Plant of the Future and Minesafe brought together hundreds of people to discuss trends and technologies shaping mining. In May we wrapped up our International Women’s Day (IWD) Event Series in Perth. We welcomed record numbers across five capital cities as we celebrated women’s achievements and reflected on ways to build a safer, more respectful industry for all. Our Communities of Interest are also driving local member engagement through events such as the recent MetFest by our Adelaide Branch and Metallurgical Society, and the Resourceful regional forum by our Far North Queensland Branch.
We have also expanded our suite of online content, including delivering 5 courses already in 2022 to upskill professionals on topics such as tailings management, JORC Code Reporting and process automation. Our annual engagement survey tells us that our members value access to timely, relevant content, and there’s a packed calendar for the second half of 2022 featuring more courses, community events and technical conferences. An upcoming highlight includes our free online Thought Leadership Series, which launches next Thursday with a panel on Indigenous participation in mining to coincide with NAIDOC Week.
We are also providing leadership and advocacy for our members on critical industry issues. The West Australian parliamentary inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the fly-in fly-out (FIFO) mining industry shows us that the industry has unacceptable behaviours we need to fix, and AusIMM will continue to work on initiatives to help drive change that is needed. We are engaging with industry and government on specific initiatives, such as working with the WA DMIRS on their Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program. We have also revamped our diversity and inclusion online masterclass to provide practical and meaningful education for resources professionals on creating safe, respectful environments.
Other policy focus areas include engaging with the next generation through the relaunch of our New Professionals Network, providing a vibrant community that connects and upskills people who are starting their careers. We have also expanded our capability in professional standards, and continue to play a leading role on programs such as the current JORC Code review. One critical aspect of the review is recommended standards and mechanisms for assessing proficiency for people acting as Competent Persons, and AusIMM helped facilitate two Discussion Forums (hosted in Perth, Brisbane and online) to garner member feedback on this important issue.
Our focus for 2022 is to keep providing our members and industry professionals with opportunities to connect, learn and share. With a full PD calendar and plenty of events, courses and technical talks in person and online, we encourage all members to get involved with AusIMM and make the most of being part of our professional community.
Sincerely,
Dave Clark FAusIMM(CP), AusIMM President
Stephen Durkin FAusIMM, AusIMM CEO