Day 2 of the;
Mines and Environment Future -Ready Mining Conference
Thur 14th May 2026
Water & Climate Resilience
and
Energy Strategy, Fuel Security, ESG & Carbon Solutions in Mining
Time : 8.30am - 5.00pm | Networking till 6.30pm
Cost $690pp for the full day
Attend a morning or afternoon session only cost : $420pp
Attend both Day 1 and Day 2 all sessions: $1300pp
Overview of Day 2 ;
Day 2 brings together the most critical environmental, energy, and governance challenges facing the mining sector in 2026, focusing on how organisations secure essential resources, adapt to energy transition pressures, and meet rapidly evolving ESG expectations.
The program is structured across three interconnected streams—water security, energy transition, and ESG and carbon innovation—reflecting the full lifecycle of risk, resilience, and transformation in modern mining operations.
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The day opens with an official Ministerial Address from the Hon Don Punch MLA, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Water; Climate Resilience; South West, setting the strategic direction for Western Australia’s water future and reinforcing the importance of climate resilience, innovation, and long-term resource stewardship.
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Session 1: Water & Climate Resilience
The morning program focuses on water as a foundational enabler of mining operations, examining how legal, technical, and environmental frameworks are evolving in response to a drying climate and increasing regulatory complexity.
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Key discussions explore the reform of Western Australia’s water laws, including allocation rights, compliance enforcement, and the legal architecture required to support sustainable water governance in a changing climate
Delegates will gain insight into how water policy is shifting toward more structured, enforceable, and outcome-based systems.
The session also addresses operational water security in mining, including Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), desalination strategies, groundwater stewardship, and integrated water planning across mine lifecycles.
Case studies highlight how operators are balancing environmental protection with operational demand in increasingly constrained environments.
Further discussions examine critical infrastructure such as regional pipeline systems, fast-track licensing reforms, and emerging technologies that support catchment-scale and ecosystem-based water management approaches.
The implications of persistent and emerging contaminants -including PFAS and other long-term chemical risks -are also explored, reframing water management as a long-term stewardship responsibility extending beyond mine closure.
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By the end of the morning, delegates will have a clear understanding of how water management is evolving from site-based compliance to integrated, system-wide resilience planning.
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Session 2: Energy Strategy, Fuel Security & Decarbonisation
The afternoon program opens with a policy and industry perspective from: Neil Van Drunen, Head of National Policy & Director – Western Australia, Northern Territory & Commonwealth Policy - Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC)
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This session examines how global geopolitical instability is impacting fuel supply chains, pricing, and operational continuity across the mining sector.
Diesel remains central to mining productivity, but increasing volatility is forcing operators to rethink short-term fuel security strategies while balancing ESG commitments.
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Key discussions include emergency fuel planning, supply chain resilience, operational adaptation during shortages, and the practical deployment of hybrid and alternative energy systems at mine sites.
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Building on this operational risk context, the program transitions into a forward-looking session on mine energy transformation, focusing on electrification, renewable energy integration, and decarbonisation pathways.
This includes the deployment of battery-electric and hybrid fleets, on-site renewable generation, and microgrid systems, alongside the infrastructure and reliability challenges of operating in remote environments.
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Together, these sessions provide a clear progression from immediate energy risk management through to long-term structural energy system redesign in mining.
ESG Governance, Digital Systems & Carbon Solutions
The final part of Session 2 focuses on how mining organisations are responding to increasing ESG complexity through digital transformation, governance innovation, and carbon management strategies.
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Key discussions include the application of generative AI in ESG reporting and compliance, enabling more integrated, consistent, and efficient management of environmental and social data across the value chain.
The session explores how digital platforms can reduce duplication, improve assurance readiness, and strengthen transparency from site-level operations through to investor reporting.
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Additional presentations examine emerging carbon removal technologies, including carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) pathways relevant to mining and mineral processing. Delegates will gain insight into the technical, regulatory, and financial considerations associated with integrating carbon removal into broader decarbonisation strategies.
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The day concludes with a final panel discussion and networking session, providing an opportunity for cross-sector dialogue between industry leaders, regulators, researchers, and technology providers.
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Why attend Day 2?
Day 2 delivers a comprehensive and integrated view of how the mining sector is responding to its most pressing challenges -water scarcity, energy transition, and ESG transformation—within an increasingly complex regulatory and environmental landscape.
Delegates will gain practical and strategic insights into:
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Securing and managing water resources in a drying climate
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Navigating fuel security risks and accelerating energy transition
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Implementing credible decarbonisation and carbon management strategies
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Leveraging digital tools and governance systems to improve ESG performance
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Aligning operational resilience with long-term sustainability expectations
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This is a critical program for understanding how mining organisations can maintain operational continuity while transitioning toward more resilient, lower-carbon, and data-driven systems of resource management.
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Who should attend?
This program is designed for professionals involved in the technical, operational, regulatory, and strategic dimensions of mining, including:
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1. Technical & Operational Leaders
Water resource managers, hydrogeologists, tailings engineers, environmental specialists, climate resilience engineers, energy managers, fuel planners, and decarbonisation practitioners.
2. Senior Executives & Strategy Professionals
CEOs, COOs, directors, ESG and sustainability executives, project directors, and corporate strategy leaders responsible for risk, compliance, and long-term planning.
3. Regulators & Government Stakeholders
Water, environmental, and mining regulators; compliance officers; and policy advisors focused on climate, energy, and resource governance.
4. Researchers, Academics & Consultants
Experts from universities, research institutions, and consultancy firms specialising in water systems, climate science, energy transition, ESG frameworks, and sustainable mining practices.
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5. Industry Partners & Technology Providers
Providers of water technologies, renewable energy systems, electrification solutions, ESG data platforms, carbon management technologies, and digital governance tools supporting mining transformation.
Key Note Speakers
Additional Speakers are currently being updated
Agenda
8.00am - 8.25am
Arrival and registration
8.30am - 8.45am
Welcome and Introductions
Session 1
Water and Climate Resistance
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8.45am - 9.05am
Opening Ministerial Statement
Hon Don Punch BPsych BSocwk MBA MLAMinister for Aboriginal Affairs; Water; Climate Resilience; South West
​Securing Western Australia’s Water Future: Building Climate‑Resilient Supply through Innovation, Collaboration and Community Engagement
As Western Australia faces a changing climate and increasing water demand, ensuring reliable and sustainable water supply has never been more critical.
In this opening presentation, Hon Don Punch MLA, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Water; Climate Resilience; South West will highlight the state’s strategic approach to water security, showcasing how innovative infrastructure, climate-independent water sources, and forward-thinking policy are transforming the way WA manages this vital resource.
The talk will explore the Made Possible by Water initiative, which emphasizes resilience through desalination, recycling, and groundwater replenishment, while underscoring the importance of collaboration with communities, industry, and government agencies.
Attendees will gain insight into the long-term planning and investments required to protect water supplies, support economic growth, and ensure that future generations have access to this essential resource.
9.10am - 9.40am
Reforming Water Law for a Drying Climate: Securing Rights, Allocation and Resilience in Western Australia
Alex Gardiner
Emeritus Professor | School of Law
University of Western Australia
Western Australia’s water resources law does not provide the State Government or members of the WA community with the legal rights and duties for sustainable water resources management in the face of a warming and drying climate over much of the State, especially in the south-west agricultural regions and the western Pilbara.
While desalination may supply secure levels of domestic water needs in major urban areas, water law reform is needed to: a) clarify the effect of the “Crown vesting” provision and better define the rights of landholders to surface and ground water resources,
b) provide for legally binding statutory water allocation plans and reformed water access entitlements to secure an equitable share of diminishing water resources environmental values in urban and rural areas as well as for rural and remote residential communities and business enterprises; and
c) strengthen compliance with the limits of water access rights by providing more efficient means of landholders challenging unlawful behaviour that deprives them of their water rights, and greatly strengthening the criminal sanctions provisions and enforcement powers of government.
Reference will be made to some case studies, including the decision of the WA Court of Appeal in Crossley v English [2025] WASCA 141, delivered 24 September 2025.
9.45am - 10.15am
PFAS Waste Management: The Compliance Challenge that can't be ignored
PFAS, Firefighting Foam and Hazmat Specialist; Adjunct Professor PFAS, Murdoch University
Director Environ WA
PFAS contamination is now a critical compliance and risk issue facing organisations across Australia.
With tightening regulations, evolving policy frameworks, and increasing scrutiny from regulators and communities, managing PFAS waste is no longer optional - it demands informed, defensible action.
In this session, Dr Jimmy Seow will unpack the practical realities of PFAS waste management, outlining current treatment and disposal pathways in line with Australian policy, regulation, and emerging best practices.
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Delegates will gain clear guidance on selecting appropriate management strategies, understanding compliance obligations, and avoiding the unintended environmental, financial, and reputational consequences that arise from poor decision-making.
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This is a must-attend session for organisations seeking to stay ahead of risk and get PFAS management right.
10.15am - 10.30am
Panel & Audience Q & A
10.30am - 10.45am
Morning tea
10.45am - 11.20am
Water Security and Groundwater Stewardship in 2026: Desalination, outcome‑based planning, and fast‑track Licensing
Gary Crisp & Sumari Veal
Sequana
In 2026, water security and sustainable groundwater management are defining priorities for Australia’s mining sector, driven by resource competition, climate variability, and rising regulatory expectations.
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This session examines key reforms shaping water strategy, including expanded desalination in arid regions such as the Pilbara, the shift to outcome-based environmental assessments, the Water Online fast-track licensing process, and stronger protections for groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
Mining operations must now move beyond site water balances to integrated, catchment-aware approaches addressing cumulative aquifer and ecological impacts.
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Delegates will gain practical frameworks to align operations with regulatory change, leverage technology and digital licensing tools, and embed ecosystem-centric planning to deliver compliance, ESG performance, and long-term community confidence.
11.20am - 11.45am
Water in Mining: Designing Resilient Mine Water and Tailings Systems for Extreme Climate Events
Peter McGough
Tailings and Mine Waste Expert Advisor
Director & Principal Consultant | PGM Geotechnical
As climate change intensifies, mine water management is becoming increasingly complex, with extreme rainfall, flooding, and storm-driven inflows placing significant stress across site water systems, including tailings storage facilities, water dams, and integrated water balances.
In 2026, evolving frameworks such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) are reinforcing the need for climate-resilient, risk-informed design and management of mine water systems across the full project lifecycle — from design and construction through to operation and closure.
This session will explore practical approaches to designing and managing mine water and tailings systems to withstand extreme hydrological loading conditions, with consideration of seismic resilience where relevant. It will examine how advanced modelling, improved water balance forecasting, and real-time monitoring are being used to strengthen operational decision-making and reduce risk.
Delegates will gain insights into how leading practice is shifting toward integrated water and tailings resilience, ensuring mining operations remain safe, compliant, and robust under increasingly volatile climate conditions.
11.45am - 12.10pm
Securing Water for Mining Operations: Managed Aquifer Recharge, Strategic Water Use and Regulatory Compliance
Mike Bartlett |Head of Water
Hancock Iron Ore
This presentation will explore a holistic approach to water security in mining operations, combining:
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• Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR): Innovative strategies for managing water in environmentally sensitive landscapes, including operational deployment and technical lessons learned
• Strategic Water Use: Managing water resources in a drying climate, groundwater resource management, and alignment with ESG framework
• Regulatory Compliance: Water management plan development and managing impacts to ensure long-term operational resilience
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Delegates will gain practical insights into how innovative water solutions, strategic compliance, and infrastructure planning intersect to deliver sustainable water management across the mine lifecycle.
12.10pm - 12.30pm
Q & A
12.30pm - 12.40pm
Sponsors Note
12.40pm - 1.15pm
Lunch
Session 2 ; Part 1
Energy Strategy, Fuel Security & ESG in Mining
Registration for second session 1.20pm (if not registered for the full day )
1.30pm - 2.00pm
Global Conflict, Fuel & ESG Risk: How Geopolitics is Reshaping Mining Energy Strategy
Neil Van Drunen
AMEC (Association of Mining and Exploration Companies)
Diesel remains the backbone of mining operations due to its high energy density, reliability, and established infrastructure, particularly for heavy machinery, haul trucks, and remote site operations.
However, ongoing global conflict and geopolitical instability are putting immediate pressure on fuel supply chains, causing price volatility, supply disruptions, and operational risks.
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This session takes a practical, site-level perspective, exploring how mines are responding to these challenges today.
Topics include:
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Strategies for emergency fuel planning and supply chain management
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Operational adjustments to maintain production amid diesel shortages
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Practical deployment of hybrid, electric, or alternative fuel systems at the mine level
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Real-world lessons from mines already adapting to fuel and ESG pressures​
Delegates will gain insight into how mines are managing short-term fuel security while meeting ESG requirements, and understand what a resilient operational energy strategy looks like in today’s volatile environment.
2.00pm - 2.30pm
Decarbonising Mine Energy Systems: Electrification, Renewables & the Future of Diesel-Heavy Operations
Speaker details are being updated
Mining operations are undergoing a fundamental shift in how energy is generated, managed, and consumed, driven by accelerating decarbonisation commitments, technological innovation, and the long-term need to reduce reliance on diesel-intensive systems.
While diesel remains central to productivity and reliability in remote mining environments, the industry is increasingly exploring pathways to diversify and transform its energy base.
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This session examines the practical transition toward lower-carbon mine energy systems, focusing on the role of electrification, renewable energy integration, and emerging storage technologies in reshaping operational design.
It will explore how mining companies are beginning to implement battery-electric and hybrid fleet solutions, deploy on-site solar, wind, and microgrid systems, and manage the integration of these technologies within complex, high-demand operational environments.
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The discussion will also address the real-world constraints of this transition, including infrastructure limitations, capital investment requirements, energy reliability in off-grid operations, and the need to maintain production continuity during system changeovers.
Rather than a purely theoretical decarbonisation narrative, the session will focus on what is achievable today, what is emerging in practice, and how operators are sequencing energy transformation over time.
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Delegates will gain insight into how mine energy systems are being re-engineered for a lower-carbon future, and what a realistic, staged pathway away from diesel dependency looks like across the mining lifecycle.
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2.30pm - 3.00pm
Panel session
3.00pm - 3.10pm
Break
3.15pm - 3.45pm
Generative AI for ESG in Mining: A Global-to-Local Intelligence and Governance Platform for the Minerals Value Chain
Silvia Black
Program Manager
Amira Global
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) expectations on the minerals sector are expanding quickly-across investors, customers, regulators and communities-yet the reporting landscape remains disjointed.
Many organisations must navigate overlapping frameworks, voluntary commitments, regulatory regimes and site-based standards, often translating the same underlying evidence into multiple formats.
The result is repeated effort, inconsistent interpretations, higher compliance cost and avoidable exposure to audit, reputation and supply chain risk-felt most acutely by junior and mid-tier operators and their contractors.
This presentation introduces a collaborative, value-chain initiative to simplify how ESG obligations and credentials are identified and managed from global requirements down to local site activity
The initiative brings together participants across exploration, mining, processing, logistics and downstream partners to develop a shared approach to ESG intelligence and governance: mapping requirements, clarifying common data needs, and improving traceability from source evidence to disclosure.
Delegates will learn how a coordinated platform approach can reduce duplication, strengthen assurance readiness, and support more consistent, decision-useful ESG outcomes -while remaining practical for organisations with lean teams.
The session will outline the initiative’s scope, intended users, and pathways for industry participation, with a focus on improving efficiency, transparency and trust across the minerals value chain.
3.45pm - 4.15pm
Emerging Carbon Removal & CCUS Pathways
Mining operations face a growing expectation to reduce residual emissions beyond traditional decarbonisation.
This session examines carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) techniques relevant to mining and mineral processing, including site-based storage, enhanced weathering, and bio-based capture.
Delegates will explore technical feasibility, regulatory considerations, and integration with corporate decarbonisation strategies, aligned with Australia’s national carbon science roadmap.
What delegates will learn:
• Overview of CCUS and CDR technologies applicable to mining operations.
• How to evaluate readiness, feasibility, and integration with decarbonisation pathways.
• Regulatory, technical, and financial considerations for implementing carbon removal solutions.
• Strategies for reporting, assurance, and stakeholder communication on residual emissions.
4.15pm - 4.45pm
Final Panel Q & A
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4.45pm - 6.30pm
Networking and Depart
Disclaimer :
Please note that the Conference program serves as a guide.
Mines and Environment will make every reasonable effort to adhere to the advertised schedule, speakers, and topics; however, we reserve the right to modify the program, substitute speakers, or adjust session content at any time without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances, such as the Speaker unable to attend in person
Mines and Environment accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or expenses incurred as a result of changes to the event format, program, speakers, or schedule.