Highlights of the Program
2 days business program:
Learn from real-world case studies by industry leaders.
SHOWCASING INNOVATION:
Discover the latest technology and techniques from across the industry.
leaders talk:
Hear from top-level experts about how to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.
MULTIPLE STREAMS:
A business program that is multi-disciplinary, giving you a broad view of the industry.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES:
Explore the latest smart and AI-driven solutions, and see how they can be used in your business.
roundtable discussion:
Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.
Program
Day 1 :
WEDNESDAY, 4 FEBRUARY, 2026
08:00 - 09:00
REGISTRATION AND MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:00 - 09:10
OPENING ADDRESS
09:10 - 09:35
WESTERN AUSTRALIA – A GLOBAL RESOURCES LEADER
David Michael
Government of Western Australia
- Providing an overview of Western Australia’s role in supplying critical battery minerals to global markets
- Exploring how the state’s resources portfolio supports decarbonisation across energy and industry sectors
- Explaining why Western Australia is positioned as a reliable and responsible long-term global partner
09:35 - 09:40
Q&A SESSION ON WESTERN AUSTRALIA AS A TRUSTED GLOBAL RESOURCE PARTNER
09:40 - 10:05
FROM AFRICAN MINES TO AUSTRALIAN BATTERIES – POWERING A TRANSPARENT, CARBON-SMART FUTURE
Jaye Connolly
RippleNami
- Exploring how Africa’s key minerals and Australia’s lithium create a strong, diverse supply chain
- Learning how digital tools ensure responsible sourcing, verified compliance, and transparency
- Discovering carbon-cutting strategies that also bring lasting benefits to local communities
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON AFRICAN TO AUSTRALIAN BATTERY MINERAL SUPPLY CHAINS
10:10 - 10:35
A STRATEGIC PLAYBOOK FOR BATTERY METALS IN THE AGE OF DISRUPTION
Grant Caffery
Clareo
- Exploring how shifting chemistries, market pressures, and global tensions are reshaping the battery metals landscape
- Understanding a four-pillar strategic framework that blends innovation, scenario planning, optionality, and collaboration
- Discovering how producers can evolve from commodity suppliers into strategic partners with differentiated value
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON STRATEGIC PLAYBOOK FOR BATTERY METALS
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
Sponsored By NEUMAN & ESSER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
11:00 - 11:30
PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE ROLE OF ESG IN RESPONSIBLE EXPLORATION AND MINING OF BATTERY MINERALS
- How will AASB S2 reshape ESG reporting expectations for battery minerals companies?
- What are capital allocators seeking in terms of ESG metrics and ESG risk exposure when evaluating future minerals projects?
- How can companies demonstrate genuine ESG performance that goes beyond compliance or greenwashing?
- Do mining practices drive how ESG is done, or does ESG drive how mining gets done?
| Worley Consulting | Moderator
| Futureproof
| Unravel Carbon
| Critical Minerals Institute
| Amira Global
11:30 - 11:55
BATTERY MINERALS AND JUST TRANSITION
Andy Symington
KPMG
- Exploring how social sustainability in battery mineral extraction supports a fair transition
- Examining integrated risk management with community development and First Nations engagement
- Showing how integrated practice aligns with regulation and expectations across the value chain
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON BUILDING FAIR FUTURES IN BATTERY MINERALS
12:00 - 12:25
POWERING GROWTH THROUGH DIVERSIFIED SUPPLY CHAINS
Simon Linge
Livium
- Discovering how battery material recovery and recycling enhance efficiency and support circularity
- Understanding evolving battery regulations and how they create both challenges and opportunities
- Exploring how Australia can build a competitive battery value chain from mining to megawatt-scale production
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON POWERING DIVERSIFIED SUPPLY CHAINS FOR BATTERIES
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH AND VISITING THE BATTERY MINERALS AND SUPPLY CHAIN EXHIBITION
13:30 - 14:00
PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN BUILDING A ROBUST SUPPLY CHAIN FOR AUSTRALIAN BATTERY MATERIALS
- What is the impact of changing battery chemistry on the supply of battery raw materials out of Australia?
- Why has Australia found itself in a reactive, catch-up position on battery minerals supply chains?
- What are the key barriers to establishing a critical minerals supply chain in Australia?
- What battery materials are being developed, and how do they impact the current supply chains?
| Unchained Solutions | Moderator
| AME
| Critical Minerals Institute
| Rennie
| Worley Consulting
14:00 - 14:25
LITHIUM REFINING TECHNOLOGIES AND THE FUTURE OF HARD ROCK CONVERSION
Damien Krebs
Primero
- Examining current lithium demand trends and the critical role of spodumene-based refining
- Comparing sulphuric acid baking with emerging technologies such as carbonate pressure leaching
- Exploring chemical process steps and the potential for alternative methods in Western operations
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON LITHIUM REFINING AND EMERGING CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
14:30 - 14:55
NEW METHODS TO BUILD AUSTRALIA’S MIDSTREAM PROCESSING CAPABILITIES IN BATTERY MINERALS
Deepak Dubal
Queensland University of Technology
- Exploring innovative and sustainable methods to transform raw minerals into high-purity precursors
- Strengthening Australia’s midstream processing to reduce reliance on overseas refining and boost security
- Advancing research into scalable processes through collaboration, commercialisation, and policy support
14:55 - 15:00
Q&A SESSION ON BUILDING AUSTRALIA’S MIDSTREAM PROCESSING CAPABILITIES
15:00 - 15:30
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
15:30 - 15:55
THE IMPACT OF RECYCLING ON NEW MINE DEVELOPMENT FOR BATTERY MATERIALS
Daniel Cairns
Worley
- Examining the growing gap between soaring battery mineral demand and slow mine development timelines
- Exploring how recycling can help meet material needs while advancing the path towards net zero
- Discussing current recycling challenges and outlining potential solutions across the battery value chain
15:55 - 16:00
Q&A SESSION ON RECYCLING AND NEW MINE DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS
16:00 - 16:25
A BETTER GEOLOGICAL MODEL FOR LI-EXPLORATION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Hugh Smithies
Department of Mines, Petroleum, and Exploration
- Traditional models often overlook Archean geology in Western Australia, where most lithium is mined
- Highlighting new insights into how greenstone-hosted granites influence giant Archean Li-pegmatites
- Prioritising exploration models in areas near faulted greenstone and late leucogranites
16:25 - 16:30
Q&A SESSION ON GEOLOGICAL MODEL FOR LI-EXPLORATION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
16:30 - 16:55
REBUILDING AUSTRALIA’S MIDSTREAM REFINING FOR RARE EARTHS AND BATTERY MINERALS
Richard Simons
Liberate Minerals
- Introducing the “Resource Maximisation Process”, unlocking LCE, high-purity silica, alumina, and other critical minerals from one ore body with one process
- Explaining how legacy mining tailings can be monetised and processed into high-value critical minerals
- Outlining how this 21st-century critical mineral and rare earth refining process can eliminate dependency on offshore processing
16:55 - 17:00
Q&A SESSION ON AUSTRALIA’S EMERGING MIDSTREAM REFINING CAPABILITY
17:00 - 18:00
NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION
Day 2 :
THURSDAY, 5 FEBRUARY, 2026
08:30 - 09:00
MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:00 - 09:10
OPENING ADDRESS
09:10 - 09:35
MARKET OUTLOOK AND INVESTMENT TRENDS IN THE MINERALS DOMAIN
Tim Brunner
Rennie
- Examining how capital flows are increasingly directed toward strategic minerals investments
- Exploring how ongoing price volatility influences decisions on investment timing and strategies
- Highlighting how policy interventions can act as stabilisers within uncertain market dynamics
09:35 - 09:40
Q&A SESSION ON MINERALS MARKET OUTLOOK AND INVESTMENT TRENDS
09:40 - 10:05
HOW ESG, CIRCULARITY, AND TRUST WILL DEFINE THE FUTURE OF BATTERY MINERALS
Rebecah Ettridge
Naturaliste Solutions
- Discovering how ESG integration, circularity, and social licence can reduce risks while creating new market opportunities
- Learning step-by-step how to embed these principles across exploration, mining, processing, and recycling
- Gaining insights into global best practices shaping the next decade of battery mineral supply and demand
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON ESG CIRCULARITY AND TRUST IN BATTERY MINERALS
10:10 - 10:35
AUSTRALIA'S CRITICAL FUTURE IN A DECARBONISED FUTURE – A REGULATORY ROUNDUP
Neil van Drunen
AMEC
- Offering an up-to-date view of the evolving regulatory environment while highlighting key shifts across the sector
- Exploring how AMEC proposes to streamline and strengthen regulations to support mining and exploration growth
- Examining how market forces are shaping regulatory developments and what this means for Australia’s next steps
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON AUSTRALIA'S DECARBONISED REGULATORY FUTURE
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
11:00 - 11:25
NEXT GENERATION SPODUMENE CONVERSION FLOWSHEETS
Duncan Faulkner
Hatch
- Examining the limitations of current spodumene conversion routes and outlining opportunities for advancement
- Exploring how fourth-generation LFP technology influences intermediate lithium products and processing needs
- Discussing innovative approaches to enhance circularity, reduce waste, and maximise overall project value
11:25 - 11:30
Q&A SESSION ON NEXT GENERATION SPODUMENE FLOWSHEETS
11:30 - 11:55
SPODUMENE INDUSTRY LESSONS LEARNT – THE EVOLUTION FROM TESTWORK TO OPERATIONAL OUTCOMES
Robert Simmons
Sedgman
- Noting how many concentrators have missed grade and recovery targets over the past decade
- Recognising how testwork interpretation and scale-up factors often explain these performance gaps
- Applying better prediction methods to help ensure more reliable and successful operations
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON SPODUMENE INDUSTRY LESSONS AND OPERATIONAL OUTCOMES
12:00 - 12:25
CSIRO'S CRITICAL MINERALS CAPABILITIES AND INNOVATIONS
Joanne Loh
CSIRO
- Exploring CSIRO’s expertise across the lithium-ion battery value chain from start to finish
- Discovering groundbreaking approaches to advancing the supply of critical mineral resources
- Enhancing sustainability and reducing waste through innovative recycling methods
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON CRITICAL MINERALS CAPABILITIES AND INNOVATIONS
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH AND VISITING THE BATTERY MINERALS AND SUPPLY CHAIN EXHIBITION
13:30 - 13:55
DESIGNING A BLUEPRINT FOR EFFECTIVE MODERN SLAVERY DUE DILIGENCE IN THE MINING SECTOR
Stephen Morse
Unchained Solutions
- Examining the global impact of modern slavery in mining and its implications for supply chains
- Assessing the rise of business and human rights due diligence directives across global markets
- Exploring good practice approaches to address modern slavery risks in operations and suppliers
13:55 - 14:00
Q&A SESSION ON THE BLUEPRINT FOR MODERN SLAVERY DUE DILIGENCE IN MINING
14:00 - 14:25
ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE VALUE ACROSS THE BATTERY MINERALS VALUE CHAIN
Silvia Black
Amira Global
- Exploring innovations that enhance environmental stewardship while improving operational efficiency
- Examining advanced lithium production methods alongside responsible exploration and mining practices
- Discussing strategies for transparent ESG reporting to deliver lasting benefits to all stakeholders
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON SUSTAINABLE VALUE IN THE BATTERY MINERALS VALUE CHAIN
14:30 - 14:55
TRANSLATING WESTERN AUSTRALIA CRITICAL MINERALS INTO METAL AIR BATTERIES
Muhammad Azhar
Edith Cowan University
- Mapping Western Australia mineral resources to metal air electrodes and catalysts
- Explaining processing routes, material requirements, and performance drivers for batteries
- Discussing scale-up lessons, manufacturability, durability, and value chain impacts
14:55 - 15:00
Q&A SESSION ON METAL AIR BATTERIES TRANSLATION FROM MINERALS VALUE CHAIN
15:00 - 15:15
FEEDBACK AND RAFFLE DRAW
15:15 - 15:30
CLOSING REMARKS
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