Austmine and AusIMM have released the program for the Global Resources Innovation Expo, bringing an action-oriented event to Perth this May.
Perth will be ground zero for mining innovation this May as the Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX26) hosts the brightest minds and buzz-worthy technological innovation at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre.
A strategic collaboration between Austmine and AusIMM, the event brings together mining companies, mining equipment, technology and services (METS) innovators and policymakers.
The core principle guiding the three days of content is clear: where innovation meets implementation.
Austmine interim chief executive officer Vanessa Haberland said the event arrives at a crucial time for the sector.
“Australia has long been recognised for its mining capability,” Haberland said. “The next phase of our competitive advantage will be defined by how quickly we translate innovation into scalable outcomes and strengthen our global partnerships.
“GRX26 brings industry together at a time when strategic alignment and decisive action matter more than ever.”
AusIMM chief executive officer Stephen Durkin said the program was developed by a senior Industry Working Group.
“The GRX26 program is proudly built by industry, for industry,” Durkin said. “We are showcasing the game-changing leadership, groundbreaking innovations and collaborative thinking needed to supercharge Australia’s mining and METS sector and lay the foundation for growth in a complex, globally competitive environment.”
To drive this agenda, the event features eight plenary keynotes and more than 30 speakers. Julie Bishop will headline the program to discuss the new rules of resource diplomacy. She is joined by Austrade chief executive officer Dr Paul Grimes, who will explore international market access for the Australian METS sector.
AROSE chief executive officer and former NASA director Jason Crusan will detail what lunar extraction can teach the industry about operations on Earth. In addition, AusIMM Fellow and industry legend Mark Cutifani will outline why the mining sector must change how it communicates.
The program spans the full resources value chain, featuring real deployment stories from exploration to market. Attendees will hear Bellevue Gold’s journey to building the world’s first net-zero gold mine, alongside Earth AI’s Roman Teslyuk discussing the technologies shaping the future of mining. Insights into Indigenous economic inclusion will also be shared, highlighting the partnership models of Byrnecut and BHP.
A defining feature of GRX26 is its emphasis on expedited action over passive listening. The event includes collaborative conversations that bring miners, investors and government together to tackle real challenges and make public 30-day commitments. Furthermore, the GRX Colab live innovation accelerator will see global innovators pitch breakthrough technologies on stage, allowing the audience to vote and form partnerships in the room. Fireside chats will also run in a reverse-panel, audience-led format.
The choice of Perth as the host city serves as a strategic anchor for these initiatives. Much like regional events ground discussions in operational realities, bringing a global innovation expo to Western Australia’s capital places these high-level conversations at the physical heart of the global resources sector. Perth is home to the headquarters of major operators and a thriving ecosystem of METS companies, making it the ideal proving ground for the technologies being discussed on stage.
By hosting the event in this environment, organisers ensure the dialogue remains closely connected to the actual sites where these innovations must be deployed. The proximity to massive operational hubs across the Pilbara and the Goldfields means the 30-day commitments and partnerships forged in the room have an immediate pathway to implementation. It bridges the gap between the boardroom and the mine site, providing an invaluable platform for decision-makers to test their strategies against the practical realities of the industry’s most active region.
The expansive program is complemented by the Spark opening night, a Women in STEM Breakfast, executive roundtables, the AEMEE First Nations Innovation Hub, and an exhibition hall with more than 150 exhibitors.
The Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX26) will be held at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre from May 5–7. Find out more and register at GRX.au.
This feature appeared in the autumn edition of the Mining Magazine.
