Welcome to the 2026 Mines & Environment Future -Ready Conference  -  A Premier Forum for Sustainable, Compliant and Future-Ready Mining

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The 2026 Mines & Environment Conference brings together senior government, regulators, industry leaders, and technical experts to address the most critical challenges shaping mining in Australia.

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With Hon David Michael MLA, Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Finance; Electoral Affairs; Goldfields-Esperance; Leader of the House  opening Day 1 and  Hon Don Punch,  Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Water; Climate Resilience opening Day 2, this high-level forum reflects the growing importance of environmental governance, resource security, and ESG accountability across the sector.

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Across 2 focused days, delegates will gain practical insights into tailings governance, mine closure, water stewardship, fuel security, energy transition, and carbon strategy - all within an increasingly regulated and climate-constrained environment.

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Attend one day or both to maximise learning, networking, and strategic value.

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Day 1 – Tailings, Mine Closure & Legacy Landforms

Opened by  Hon David Michael MLA ;  Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Finance; Electoral Affairs; Goldfields-Esperance; Leader of the House

Day 1 explores the technical, regulatory, and strategic foundations of responsible mining, with a strong focus on risk, compliance, and long-term environmental outcomes.

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Tailings & Mine Waste

The morning sessions address the evolution of tailings governance in 2026, as the industry transitions from voluntary standards to enforceable regulatory frameworks.

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Key focus areas include:

• Regulatory reform and risk-based oversight of tailings storage facilities (TSFs)

• Lessons from global failures shaping Australian compliance expectations

• Designing for climate resilience, including extreme rainfall, flood, and seismic risks

• Advances in tailings processing and disposal technologies

• Data-driven approaches to risk, monitoring, and ESG accountability

• Mine Closure & Legacy Landforms

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The afternoon sessions focus on closure as a lifecycle discipline, driven by regulatory reform and stakeholder expectations.

Featured Government Speaker: Danielle Risbey, General Manager Mine Closure and Environmental Services
Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration

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Key themes include:

• Embedding closure planning from project inception under new frameworks such as MDCP

• Innovative approaches to rehabilitation and soil system design

• Overcoming topsoil constraints through engineered growth media

• Designing stable, water-resilient landforms

• Delivering Post-Mining Land Use (PMLU) outcomes aligned with community, environmental, and economic goals

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Day 2 – Energy, Water & ESG Performance

Opened by  Hon Don Punch BPsych BSocwk MBA MLA, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Water; Climate Resilience,

Day 2 focuses on how mining operations are responding to water scarcity, fuel insecurity, energy transition, and increasing ESG expectations.

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Water & Climate Resilience

The day opens with a strong focus on water policy, compliance, and operational resilience.

Key themes include:

• Reforming water law and allocation frameworks in a drying climate

• Managing cumulative water impacts and groundwater systems

• Strengthening compliance, monitoring, and infrastructure resilience

• Innovative solutions such as desalination and Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)

• Implementing GRI 14 for integrated water, biodiversity, and climate reporting

• Energy Strategy, Fuel Security & ESG

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The afternoon addresses the growing risks associated with fuel dependency and global instability.

Session Feature: Opening Address by Neil Van Drunen  of AMEC (Association of Mining and Exploration Companies) 

Head of National Policy & Director - Western Australia, Northern Territory & Commonwealth Policy

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A key session explores how geopolitics is reshaping mining energy strategy, with practical insights into:

• Managing fuel supply disruption and price volatility

• Maintaining operational continuity in remote environments

• Transitioning toward hybrid and alternative energy systems

• Aligning short-term energy needs with long-term ESG goals

• Additional topics include:

• Australia’s Strategic Materials Reserve and national resilience

• Industry panel discussions on fuel strategy and operational risk

• ESG Governance & Carbon Solutions

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The day concludes with forward-looking sessions on digital transformation and decarbonisation:

• Leveraging AI for ESG reporting and governance

• Implementing efficient, integrated ESG systems across the value chain

• Exploring carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and carbon removal pathways

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Who should attend?

• Mining & Operations Managers

• Environmental & Sustainability Professionals

• Tailings & Geotechnical Engineers

• Mine Closure Specialists

• Hydrogeologists & Water Experts

• ESG & Decarbonisation Leaders

• Risk, Compliance & HSE Professionals

• Government & Regulatory Representatives

• Consultants, Advisors & Technology Providers

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Why attend?

• Hear directly from government, regulators, and industry leaders

• Gain practical, site-level strategies you can implement immediately

• Stay ahead of regulatory change and ESG expectations

• Connect with peers across technical, operational, and strategic disciplines