30 July The Biggest Talking Points at QME | Dean's Desk 13 July 30, 2026 By Admin RIN Dean's Desk 0 What a whirlwind the past fortnight has been. Between QME, three RIN events, RIN Awards judging and more meetings than I can count, it's certainly been one of the busiest periods of the year. They're the weeks where the calendar is full, the caffeine intake increases, and you get reminded why our region has such a strong reputation. Here's a quick update on what we've been up to. 1. QME Delivers Again What a week. Over the course of QME we attended site tours, networking events, industry lunches, panel discussions, gala dinners, media calls, brand activations, member meetings and more. It was fantastic to catch up with so many members, suppliers, exhibitors and industry representatives from right across Australia. One of the highlights was our sold-out Women in Mining Networking Breakfast, hosted alongside WiMARQ. It was a fantastic morning of conversation and connection, and I'm pleased we were able to donate $375 in proceeds to Mackay Women's Services. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported the event. We also once again partnered with Greater Whitsunday Alliance to deliver Mine Pitch, another great initiative connecting local businesses with industry opportunities. If there were two topics that dominated conversations throughout QME, they were critical minerals and coal royalties. Both will continue shaping our region over the coming years, and RIN will continue ensuring our members have a seat at those conversations. 2. Let's Keep the Conversation Going One of the biggest talking points throughout QME was the growing excitement around critical minerals and the opportunities they present for our region. Next Friday, we'll continue those conversations at our August Industry Briefing Luncheon, bringing together industry leaders to explore the opportunities shaping our region. We'll hear from Ballymore Resources on the Dittmer Project, Greater Whitsunday Alliance as they officially launch the Mackay and Greater Whitsunday Critical Minerals Roadmap, and the Resources Centre of Excellence, who will showcase the Future Industries Hub and FlexiLab and the opportunities they create for local businesses. We'll also hear from Bravus CEO Mick Crowe, who will provide a broader industry update and share his perspective on the current resources landscape. If you left QME feeling excited about where our region is heading, I'd encourage you to join us for what promises to be another fantastic luncheon. Tickets are available now: https://rin.org.au/book 3. Regions Before Royalties Keeps Growing The momentum behind Regions Before Royalties continues to build. We've now passed 5,000 petition signatures, and since QME alone we've added another 500 supporters. That's an incredible result and shows this conversation continues to resonate right across our region. QME also gave us the opportunity to capture new stories and speak with more businesses about the impacts they're experiencing on the ground. We'll continue sharing those voices and reinforcing an important message: this has never been about big mining versus government. It's about the businesses, families and communities throughout the supply chain experiencing the collateral damage. If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to visit regionsbeforeroyalties.com.au, watch the videos and add your name to the petition. 4. We're Growing the Team Finally, you may have seen we're hiring. We're looking for an enthusiastic all-rounder to join the RIN team in a varied role supporting everything from events and member services through to MSIC processing and marketing. If you're organised, proactive and enjoy working with people, we'd love to hear from you. Previous mining or METS experience isn't essential. We're looking for someone with the right attitude who's keen to learn and become part of a passionate team. Applications close Monday, 17 August. You can view the full position description and apply via SEEK: https://au.seek.com/job/93588977 Or, if you'd prefer, simply send your resume directly to me and let's have a conversation. Looking Ahead The momentum certainly isn't slowing down. We'll kick off August with our Industry Briefing, continue progressing RIN Awards planning behind the scenes and keep the conversation going around advocacy, critical minerals and the opportunities ahead for our region. As always, thanks for your continued support, and I hope to see many of you at our upcoming events. Related Articles All Roads Lead to QME | Dean's Desk 12 The past fortnight has been one of RIN's busiest yet. Dean reflects on a successful New Financial Year Outlook, congratulates the 2026 RIN Awards finalists following a record number of nominations, and looks ahead to one of the biggest weeks on the regional calendar as QME arrives in Mackay. With networking events, member meetings and industry conversations around every corner, there's plenty happening across the RIN network. Two Signature Events Down, Two To Go | Dean's Desk 10 Dean reflects on a busy start to June, from another sold-out Industry Briefing and growing momentum behind the Regions Before Royalties campaign, to the opening of RIN Awards nominations and a community initiative supporting suicide prevention. With two signature events already complete and plenty more ahead, this edition highlights the conversations, advocacy and achievements shaping our region. One Financial Year Down, Another Begins | Dean's Desk 11 As another financial year comes to a close, Dean reflects on one of RIN's biggest years yet and looks ahead to what's next. In this edition, he shares why celebrating success through the RIN Awards matters more than ever, previews a packed July calendar, highlights the upcoming New Financial Year Outlook event, and thanks the members, sponsors and partners who made another successful year possible. This Might Be Our Best Lineup Yet | Dean’s Desk 7 Dean’s Desk returns following the Easter break with a forward look at what’s shaping up to be a big few months for RIN. In this edition, Dean shares an update on the highly anticipated Safety Conference 2026 speaker lineup, final opportunities to be part of QME, and how the team is supporting community initiatives during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. He also highlights a new approach to the May Industry Briefing, designed to capture real-time sentiment from businesses navigating rising costs and uncertainty. With strong engagement across events and advocacy, this update provides a snapshot of the conversations and opportunities shaping our region. Representing the Region on the Global Stage | Dean’s Desk 1 In this first edition of Dean’s Desk, we take a look at a busy fortnight for RIN — from international engagement at the ASEAN summit, to advocating for our region at the QRC State of the Sector Lunch. Dean also shares insights from our recent team strategy day as we prepare for a milestone 25th anniversary year, and acknowledges important Board transitions shaping RIN’s leadership going forward. From Parliament to Projects: Wrapping Up 2025 | Dean’s Desk 2 As 2025 comes to a close, this edition of Dean’s Desk reflects on a big fortnight for RIN - from taking regional voices to Parliament, to delivering meaningful project outcomes and finishing the year with strong member connection. Showing 0 Comment Add New CommentReply CommentName*Email*CommentsHtmlPreviewb i u quoteNotify me when new comments are addedSave Comment