News

From Critical Minerals to What’s Next | Dean's Desk 14

1. Critical Minerals Take Centre Stage

Our August Industry Briefing Luncheon at Harrup Park was another fantastic afternoon, with a full room and plenty of new RIN members and faces joining us.

Critical minerals were a huge talking point throughout QME, so it was great to keep that conversation going and dig a little deeper into what the opportunities could actually look like for our region.

We heard from Mick Crowe of Bravus, who spoke about embracing new opportunities while continuing to look after the industries and foundations that got us here.

Ed from Ballymore Resources then gave us a passionate — and at times slightly bamboozling! — look at the Dittmer Project and its potential, before Steven Boxall from the Resources Centre of Excellence shared news of their new partnership with UQ and highlighted the incredible capability we already have locally through facilities like FlexiLab.

Finally, Jarrah from GW3 officially launched the Mackay and Greater Whitsunday Critical Minerals Roadmap, bringing many of those conversations together and putting a strategic lens over what could come next.

A big thank you to Bravus for sponsoring the event, our speakers for sharing their insights and everyone who joined us.

2. RIN Awards Are Getting Very Real

If there’s one thing creating plenty of excitement in the office right now, it’s the RIN Awards.

Filming is officially underway with the incredible team at Tropical Exposure, which means we’re getting an even closer look at the stories behind this year’s finalists.

The feedback has been fantastic, and every year this process reminds me just how much incredible work happens across our region that deserves to be celebrated.

I’m very excited to share those stories with everyone on the night — and even more excited to see the room come together.

If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, now is the time:
https://www.resourceindustrynetwork.org.au/Book-Now/Book-Event/SelectedEventId/183

3. Back Around the Committee Table

We were also back around the table with our Organisational Culture Committee this week, and once again it delivered some really valuable conversations.

A particularly interesting discussion came from BMA sharing its approach to psychosocial risk management. We talked about using workforce data and employee feedback to better understand risk, the importance of job design, and why strong leadership capability plays such an important role in prevention.

One point that stuck with me was the idea of framing psychosocial safety around helping people perform at their best by ensuring they feel seen, heard, supported and respected.

That’s exactly why these committees are worthwhile. They give members an opportunity to get beyond surface-level conversations, hear what other organisations are doing and share practical knowledge that can actually be taken back into the workplace.

If you haven’t attended one before, I’d encourage you to come along and see what you get out of it:

https://www.resourceindustrynetwork.org.au/initiatives/committees

4. Got Something Worth Sharing?

Our Leadership & Innovation Series is back for 2026, but it’s going to look a little different.

We’ve taken what people consistently told us was the best part of our traditional Leadership & Innovation Conferences - the breakout sessions - and zoomed right in on them.

No lectures. No long keynotes. Just practical, interactive workshops.

Across four half-day events in October, we’ll deliver everything from short, punchy 45-minute sessions through to more in-depth half-day workshops, built around four key themes:

• Technology & Marketing
• Culture & Leadership
• Financial Performance
• Strategy & Growth

And now we want your best pitches.

Through our committee conversations, we’ve already heard an appetite for topics like practical AI applications, business valuation and increasing business value, administration and business management, generational workforces, job design and leadership capability. But we certainly don’t want to limit it to those.

If you have practical knowledge, a framework, a tool or an idea that businesses can actually take away and use, be brave and put it forward.

You must be a current RIN member to deliver a session, or present alongside a current RIN member. So if you know someone with something valuable to share, send this their way and start a conversation.

Expressions of Interest are now open:
https://forms.gle/orVibqVidsAxkavG7

Looking Ahead

Awards season is officially upon us, R U OK? Day is coming, Leadership & Innovation is taking shape, and there are plenty more conversations happening behind the scenes.

I’m particularly looking forward to seeing this year’s RIN Awards finalist stories come together. If the filming so far is anything to go by, we’re in for another very special night.

And one last thing  - you might notice some The Neighbourhood Hub Anti-Poverty Week collection tubs around the RIN office. We’ll be collecting non-perishable items through until October, so if you’re dropping in, feel free to bring something along and help us fill them up for a great local cause.

See you soon.