News

All Roads Lead to QME | Dean's Desk 12

1. A Valuable Look at the Year Ahead

On Tuesday, we partnered with our Gold Pass Sponsor, Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank, to host our New Financial Year Outlook breakfast at Ocean International.

A big thank you to David "Robbo" Robertson, Chief Economist at Bendigo Bank, for delivering another outstanding presentation.

With so much uncertainty both globally and here at home, it was a timely conversation. Robbo unpacked the economic outlook for the year ahead, highlighting the key trends and factors likely to influence businesses over the coming months.

The feedback from attendees has been fantastic, and it's another great example of the value that comes from getting people in a room together.

2. RIN Awards Finalists Announced

Yesterday was one of my favourite days of the year as we officially announced the finalists for the 2026 RIN Awards.

Firstly, congratulations to every finalist.

This year we received a near record number of nominations, and I can honestly say the quality was exceptional. Our judges had an incredibly difficult job narrowing the field, which says a lot about the capability, innovation and leadership across our region.

We now have 18 outstanding finalists across six award categories, and I couldn't be more excited to celebrate them in September.

Tickets are now on sale, and I'd encourage everyone to jump online, check out the finalists and secure your place.

We also have one sponsorship opportunity remaining for the Standing Out from the Crowd Award. If that sounds like a good fit for your business, I'd encourage you to get in touch with the team.

3. July Networking Drinks

Before QME officially gets underway, we'll be kicking things off tonight at our July Twilight Networking Drinks, proudly sponsored by DGH Engineering.

These evenings are always a great reminder that some of the best conversations happen outside the boardroom. Whether you're catching up with familiar faces or making new connections, they're a valuable part of what RIN is all about.

If you're joining us tonight, I look forward to seeing you there.

4. QME Week Has Arrived

That wraps up this week! Next week: all roads lead to QME.

It's one of the biggest weeks on the calendar for our region, and we'll be right in the middle of it.

You'll find the RIN team at Booth A617, alongside fellow exhibitors Mackay Safety, Pronto Software, The Neighbourhood Hub and Regions Before Royalties. If you're wandering the showgrounds, make sure you stop by and say hello.

Outside the booth, we'll be keeping busy attending industry panels, networking events and meetings as we continue supporting our members, advocating for our region and exploring new opportunities.

We're also looking forward to co-hosting a sold-out Women in Mining Networking Breakfast with WiMARQ on Wednesday morning. It should be a fantastic way to start one of the biggest days of the expo.

If you're heading to QME, I hope to see you there.

Looking Ahead

The next week is going to be a busy one, but they're the weeks we enjoy most.

Between QME, networking events, member meetings and plenty of conversations about the future of our region, there'll be no shortage of opportunities to connect.

If you're at QME next week, make sure you drop by and say hello.

I'll see you there.