Student Journal - Sydney Student Chapter - 2026 Student Meets Industry Night Recap

The AusIMM Sydney Student Chapter wrapped up another successful flagship event with the 2026 Student Meets Industry Night. Our networking event brought together 200 students from across Sydney including UNSW, the University of Sydney, UTS, and Western Sydney University, all of which representing a wide range of disciplines and career interests. It was especially exciting to see such a strong turnout from first‑year students, many of whom were attending their very first professional networking event.

“The AusIMM Industry night was my first event of its kind, and the company representatives were very welcoming and willing to guide me through their summer vacation programs highly relevant to my degree, offering valuable insight into real industry work (even for first-year students outside of mining). The balance between presentations and networking provided a great mix of information from the companies and the opportunity to ask personal questions, building connections that will be extremely valuable when applying for the relevant vacation programs.”
-    Darcey Horne - Civil Engineering and Surveying 1st Year (UNSW)

 
Throughout the night, students connected directly with recruiters, engineers, and industry leaders to explore vacation work, graduate pathways, and gain insight into both the current landscape and future direction of the resources sector. A special thank you goes to Katherine Courtney, who opened the evening with an inspiring overview of the opportunities available through AusIMM and WIMnet for students at the beginning of their careers.

  
We extend our deepest appreciation to our gold sponsor, Newmont, for kicking off the industry presentations. Thank you to Narissa Kinghorne and the Newmont vacation students for sharing their experiences both at the booth and on stage. Their presentation had the entire room on their feet and fully engaged with the opportunities Newmont offers.

 
A big thank you also to our silver sponsors Redpath, Barminco, Develop, Aurelia Metals, Yancoal, Evolution, and Alkane Resources. All the presentations provided valuable insight into the diverse pathways and experiences available across the sector. And to our Bronze sponsors Glencore, Kingston Resources, Byrnecut, and Golding. The Student Chapter would like to thank you for your enthusiasm and for amassing a crowd of students eager to learn, connect, and discover what your company and team have to offer.

 
The energy throughout the evening made it clear that both students and industry professionals genuinely enjoyed the event, supported by the excellent service and atmosphere provided by Doltone House Darling Island Wharf.

“It’s always a fantastic opportunity to bring students and sponsors together at the start of the year.  Students were eager to learn more about the opportunities available in the industry, and it was great to see so many conversations taking place, with plenty of new connections being made throughout the event. As President of the Sydney Student Chapter, I’d like to sincerely thank our sponsors for their continued support, as well as the committee members who helped organise the event and make the night such a success. It was a strong start to the year, and we’re looking forward to many more events to come.”
-    Keisha Sealy – AusIMM Sydney Student Chapter President and Mining Engineering Fourth Year (UNSW)

A huge thank you to all our sponsors and attending companies for your ongoing support, and to every student who came along with ambition, curiosity, and enthusiasm. Your engagement is what makes Student Meets Industry Night a continuing success year after year.