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The Final Countdown Is On | Dean's Desk 20

1. The Energy Conversation Is Just Getting Started

Last week, we brought together a group of local businesses for our Energy Cost Roundtable at the Resources Centre of Excellence.

And if there's one thing that became clear, it's that energy costs are a very real concern for businesses across our region.

We heard from businesses that have already invested in solar, energy-efficient lighting, monitoring systems and other measures to reduce their electricity bills. Despite those efforts, rising costs remain a significant challenge.

What was particularly interesting was hearing just how different the experiences were around the table. Some businesses have made considerable investments in reducing their energy consumption, while others are still trying to find solutions that make financial sense.

We also shared some of the early work we've been exploring around the potential for a community energy project, including opportunities to make better use of local energy resources and explore more affordable, reliable and sustainable options for industrial businesses.

There's certainly no silver bullet, and we're not pretending there is. But what we do know is that there's a willingness among local businesses to work together and explore what's possible.

And that's a pretty good place to start.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed so openly to the discussion.

The conversation certainly doesn't end here. We're continuing to explore the opportunities raised, and we'd love to hear from more businesses interested in being part of the next steps.

If you'd like to learn more about the proposed project or complete a Letter of Intent to register your interest, please reach out to me at dean@rin.org.au.

2. One Last Breakfast Before We Wrap Up!

Our final Industry Briefing and Annual General Meeting is just around the corner, and I'd love to see a full room at Harrup Park on Friday, 13 November.

Now, I know the words Annual General Meeting don't always get people racing to book tickets, but I promise there's plenty more happening than the formalities!

We'll be hearing from North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP), and the timing couldn't be better.

You may have seen the recent announcement that construction of the Port of Mackay's new multi-million-dollar Container Depot hardstand is now complete, delivered on time and on budget.

It's an exciting development for our region, with the potential to improve freight efficiency, strengthen supply chains and open up new opportunities for local businesses to access containerised trade.

NQBP CEO Brendan Webb will be joining us to share more about this development and what's ahead for the port.

We'll also be officially releasing our 2026 Annual Stakeholder Report, giving everyone a look back at what we've achieved together over the past 12 months.

And if you're already looking ahead to next year, we'll be unveiling our 2027 Sponsorship Prospectus and events calendar too.

So, there's plenty of reasons to come along, catch up with familiar faces and finish our Industry Briefing calendar on a high.

A big thank you to NQBP for sponsoring the morning, and to Harrup Park for their support as our venue sponsor throughout the year.

Book your November Industry Briefing & AGM Breakfast here.

3. Speaking of 2027...

It's that time of year again when we start locking in our sponsors and partners for the year ahead.

And while it might seem a little early to be talking about 2027, there's a fair bit that goes into planning another busy calendar of events and initiatives.

Our sponsors play an important role in making so much of what we do possible, from bringing industry together at our regular briefings to delivering major events, professional development opportunities and other initiatives for our members.

But sponsorship at RIN isn't just about having your logo on a banner.

It's an opportunity to connect with businesses across our region, build your profile and support the work we're doing to strengthen our local resources and METS sector.

We've got a range of options available to suit different businesses and budgets, whether you're looking for year-round exposure or something more targeted.

Our new 2027 Sponsorship Prospectus will be officially launched at the AGM, but we're already having conversations with businesses interested in getting involved.

If you'd like to understand what's available and what might work best for your business, please get in touch with the team.

We'd love to have a chat.

4. One Seat, Your Vote!

And speaking of the AGM, we've also got an important bit of RIN business to finalise before next Friday.

This year, we have one Member Director position available on the RIN Board, and voting is now underway.

If you're an eligible voting member and haven't yet had your say, voting closes tomorrow, Friday 6 November.

Our Board plays an important role in guiding the direction of RIN and ensuring we continue to represent the interests of our members and the broader regional supply chain.

It's a valuable opportunity for members to have a direct say in who helps shape that direction.

The successful candidate will be announced at our AGM on Friday, 13 November.

So, if you've received your voting information and it's still sitting in your inbox, now's the time to tick that one off the list!

And thank you to everyone who put their hand up to contribute to RIN's future.

Looking Ahead

With our signature events behind us and just one Industry Briefing to go, we're certainly getting close to the finish line for 2026.

But there's still plenty happening behind the scenes, particularly as we start setting our priorities and plans for next year.

I'm looking forward to sharing our Stakeholder Report and 2027 calendar with everyone at the AGM. It's always a good reminder of just how much can be achieved when our members, partners and industry work together.

Hopefully I'll see plenty of you at Harrup Park next Friday.

See you out and about.

Dean