Conference Overview

The 2026 Mines & Environment Conference sets a new benchmark for innovation, strategic insight, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in the Australian mining sector.

 

Over 2 days, Delegates will explore the critical challenges and opportunities shaping modern mining - from tailings governance, mine closure, and water resilience, to decarbonisation, ESG integration, and climate risk management.

 

Attend 1 day or attend both days.

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The sector is at a pivotal moment. Mining operations face intensified regulatory oversight, evolving ESG and investor expectations, water scarcity, climate variability, and the urgent need for sustainable closure practices.

 

Against this backdrop, this conference provides a unique platform for mining operators, engineers, environmental specialists, water managers, regulators, investors, and corporate strategists to connect, exchange knowledge, and develop practical solutions that safeguard communities, ecosystems, and long-term project value.

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By embracing a multidisciplinary, multi-sector approach, Mines & Environment ensures that technical, operational, environmental, and strategic perspectives converge. Participants gain not only the latest insights but also the tools and frameworks needed to implement integrated strategies that enhance operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and social licence.

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Delegates may choose to attend either day or participate in both to maximise learning, networking, and professional development

 

A full Keynote Speaker detail will be updated on the website by 15th March 2026

 

Day 1 – Tailings, Mine Closure & Legacy Landforms

Day 1 focuses on tailings management, mine closure, and legacy landforms, providing delegates with a comprehensive understanding of the operational, regulatory, and environmental imperatives shaping 2026 mining practice.

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Tailings and Mine Waste – Governance, Design & Innovation

Tailings management remains under intense scrutiny due to inherent operational risks and environmental impact. In 2026, governance frameworks are evolving from voluntary best practice to enforceable regulatory obligations, reflecting global lessons, investor expectations, and community concerns.

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Delegates will explore:

• Evolving regulatory frameworks for tailings in Western Australia, including risk-based oversight and operational audit requirements

• Climate-adaptive facility design, hydrological and seismic stress testing, and staged construction modelling

• Innovative technologies, including filtered, paste, dry-stack, and in-pit tailings, to reduce water use and long-term liability

• Circular mining and resource recovery approaches, demonstrating how legacy tailings can become a sustainable source of critical minerals

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Mine Closure and Legacy Landforms – Strategy & Resilience

Mine closure is no longer an end-of-life consideration — it defines operational sustainability, financial certainty, and social acceptance.

Day 1 examines:

• Integrating closure objectives from project inception through design, approvals, rehabilitation, and post-mining land use

• Hydrologically robust landform design, acid and metalliferous drainage management, and long-term monitoring

• Climate scenario integration and milestone-based rehabilitation approaches

• Post-mining land use opportunities that align environmental recovery with economic and community benefits

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Why attend Day 1:
Delegates will leave equipped with actionable knowledge on tailings management, closure planning, climate resilience, and ESG-aligned decision-making, informed by both local and international best practice.

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Who should attend Day 1:
Mine Closure Specialists, Tailings and geotechnical engineers, mine operations managers, Environmental specialists, ESG and sustainability leaders, risk and financial managers, regulatory officers

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Day 2 – Water, Climate Resilience & Decarbonisation

Day 2 brings together experts across water management, climate risk, decarbonisation, and ESG, reflecting the interconnected nature of modern mining operations.

The sessions provide insight into:

• Integrated mine water balances and catchment-scale planning, linking surface water, groundwater, and regional hydrology with operational and closure strategies

• Water security, groundwater stewardship, and infrastructure upgrades, including strategic projects like the Goldfields Pipeline renewal program

• Advanced operational water management, addressing excess water, Acid Rock Drainage, and innovative treatment technologies

• Decarbonisation and ESG integration, including GRI 14 reporting standards, carbon capture and removal pathways, and the latest carbon pricing dynamics under CBAM and Australian policy reforms

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By attending, delegates gain:

• Practical guidance for embedding regulatory, ESG, and climate considerations into water, closure, and operational strategies

• Insights into integrated, cross-sector approaches that enhance operational resilience and social licence

• Exposure to case studies, technical innovations, and policy updates shaping 2026 mining practice

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Who should attend Day 2:
Professionals in water management, hydrogeology, mine closure, rehabilitation, environmental compliance, ESG reporting, decarbonisation strategy, corporate sustainability, operations, and policy or regulatory engagement.

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Why attend the full conference:

• Achieve a comprehensive understanding of technical, operational, and strategic imperatives across tailings, closure, water, and decarbonisation

• Benchmark your organisation against global and national best practice

• Connect with leaders, regulators, and peers to share knowledge and explore collaborative solutions

• Gain insights to navigate evolving regulatory frameworks, climate risks, and ESG expectations

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Sponsorship Opportunities

Mines & Environment 2026 offers premium sponsorship visibility, with opportunities to engage directly with senior decision-makers across disciplines.

Sponsors can showcase leadership in mining innovation, ESG, water stewardship, and decarbonisation.

For sponsorship opportunities, please click here or contact the conference team.

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This overview positions the conference as future-focused, multidisciplinary, and essential for 2026 and beyond, encouraging professionals to attend one or both days while making sponsorship opportunities clear.