GMG COLLABORATORY: SYDNEY
AUGUST 4-5, 2026
Collaborate. Innovate. Transform Mining.
A working event where peers co-create solutions to mining’s biggest challenges.
Global Events Partner
Program
Interactive Working Sessions
Engage in hands-on, solution-focused sessions designed to tackle real operational challenges together.
Industry Game-Changing Insights
Hear from leaders driving practical innovation and challenging the industry to think differently.
Cross-Sector Knowledge Exchange
Connect with peers across the mining ecosystem to share lessons, compare approaches, and learn from real-world experience.
Practical Solutions & Case Studies
Explore proven deployments and operational examples that offer actionable guidance for your own sites.
Shaping Mining’s Future Together
Collaborate with the global GMG community to define the next steps for safer, smarter, and more sustainable mining.
August 4 - DAY 1 | Rethink Mine Design
As mining operations evolve, mine design must adapt to support new technologies, changing operating models, and long-term sustainability goals. The input gathered here will help finalize GMG’s Rethink Mine Design Foundations White Paper.
8:30 am
Welcome from the University of New South Wales
Prof. Serkan Saydam, Chair of Mining Engineering, School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering UNSW Sydney
8:40 am
Welcome, Safety Share
Andrew Scott, Interim CEO, Global Mining Guidelines Group
9:00 – 9:30 am
NextGenMin Hub and its Relevance to Rethink Mine Design
Prof. Serkan Saydam, Chair of Mining Engineering, School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering UNSW Sydney
The NextGenMIN Hub (Next Generation Mining Methods Hub) is an ARC (Australian Research Council) Research Hub based at UNSW Sydney’s School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering. It was announced in July 2025 with $5 million in federal government funding (with total funding reported at around $12.75 million including industry contributions).
What it does: The Hub focuses on developing innovative and sustainable approaches to extracting critical and strategic minerals. Its goals centre on three “zeros”:
- Zero waste — reducing environmental impact and mining waste
- Zero emissions — advancing decarbonisation of mining operations
- Zero human entry — using autonomous systems and intelligent digital controls for safer mining
9:30 – 10:00 am
Adoption of Robotics in Mining
Sue Keay, Director, University of New South Wales AI Institute
Leveraging her experience in the mining industry, and as the Founder and Chair of the Robotics Australia Group, Sue will provide her perspective on the challenges related to the adoption of robotics in the mining industry.
10:00 – 10:30 am
Rethink Mine Design Project Update
Cailli Knievel, Technical Lead, Underground Mining, AMC Consultants
11:00 – 12:30 pm
Designing for Change: Rethinking Mine Design for Technology Implementation
Interactive Working Session
As technology becomes more integrated into operations, mine design must evolve to support long-life assets in a rapidly changing environment. This session explores how design and operational planning can better anticipate ongoing technology change—moving beyond one-time implementation toward more adaptable, future-ready systems. Participants will share lessons learned and explore pracTLIGHTtical approaches to embedding flexibility into mine design.
1:30 – 2:00 pm
Future of Mine Planning
Alastair Mathias, Partner, Imvelo
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Designing for Change: Rethinking Mine Design for Technology Implementation
Interactive Working Session
Building on the morning’s working session.
4:00 – 4:45 pm
University Presentations
4:45 – 5:00 pm
Wrap up
August 5 - DAY 2 | Zero Entry / Zero Exposure
While eliminating human exposure to risk is central, the impact goes far beyond health and safety. Zero entry approaches open the door to greater productivity, lower capital intensity, lower operating costs, access to new orebodies, and more sustainable, efficient mining systems — on surface, underground, and in processing. Input from today’s sessions will build on the published Zero-Entry Mining: An Exploratory White Paper and highlight the areas of work needed.
8:30 am
Opening, Safety Share and Reflections from Day 1
Andrew Scott, Interim CEO, Global Mining Guidelines Group
8:50 – 9:20 am
The Need for Zero Entry / Zero Exposure
Ewan Sellers, Manager of Mining and Geotechnical, BHP Invent
Ewan will emphasize the current challenges of the mining environment and why many organizations are looking to increase the removal of people from harm’s way. The presentation will consider the main risks in mines as they go deeper, the implication of different mine designs and the challenges for Zero entry.
9:20 – 9:50 am
Zero Entry / Zero Exposure Project Update
Geoff Liggins, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Western Australia, and
Graeme Mitchell, Independent
9:50 – 10:30 am
Working Session Primer
Andrew Scott, Interim CEO, Global Mining Guidelines Group
11:00 – 12:30 pm
Preparing for Zero-Entry Mining: Integration, Automation, and What Comes Next
Interactive Working Session
As automation advances, concepts like zero-entry mining and safe mixed fleets are moving closer to reality. This session explores what needs to be considered today—from system integration to operational models—to enable these future states. Discussions will focus on the increasing complexity of interconnected technologies and what it takes to implement them safely and effectively at scale.
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Preparing for Zero-Entry Mining: Integration, Automation, and What Comes Next – Continuation
Interactive Working Session
3:30 – 4:10 pm
University Presentations
4:15 – 4:45 pm
Introducing ARIAM and Future of Robotics
Ian Manchester, Director of Australian Centre of Robotics / Australian Robotic Inspection and Asset Management (ARIAM) Hub
4:45 pm
Wrap up and Next Steps
Can’t join DAY 1 in person but would love to be involved? Join us virtually by clicking on the link below.
Can’t join DAY 2 in person but would love to be involved? Join us virtually by clicking on the link below.
Social Event
Tue, 4 Aug, 5:30pm – 9pm AEST
Please join us for a relaxing drink by the harbour, overlooking some of Australias famous icons.
Industry Game Changers
Meet the people driving mining forward. These industry leaders and innovators are tackling today’s toughest challenges, sharing lessons learned, and inspiring new ways of thinking about the future of mining. More speaker information to come.
Partner, Imvelo
Alastair Mathias
Partner, Imvelo
Alastair has over 35 years of experience in the resources industry, having worked globally in operations, technology, and corporate roles. His focus is on strategizing, implementing, analysing and supporting automation and technology projects throughout the entire value chain. He has hands-on experience in evaluating and delivering projects across various regions, including Africa, Australia, North America, and South America.
He had a significant career at Rio Tinto, where he worked in both site-based operations and technical roles across multiple commodities and locations. Later, he transitioned to central roles focused on operational improvement, project assessment, due diligence, and Integrated Operations. His positions included General Manager of Mining Automation and Analytics and Head of Automation Centre of Excellence, where he worked on developing and enhancing automation platforms, such as Autonomous Drilling Systems (ADS) and the Mine Automation System (MAS & RTVis™).
Alastair then became the Head of Mine Modernisation at Anglo American, where he evaluated and deployed different OEM truck automation products in South America and continued his work with ADS in Australia, Africa and South America, working with both surface and underground operations.
Alastair is a passionate advocate for a holistic systems approach to automation and technology initiatives, encompassing vital aspects such as bolstering communication infrastructure, optimizing data analysis and reporting, and sustaining change by building effective processes to support implementation teams.
Alastair holds a first-class Master’s in Mining Engineering from the Royal School of Mines at Imperial College, London.
Andrew Scott
Interim CEO, Global Mining Guidelines Group
Andrew Scott
Interim CEO, Global Mining Guidelines Group
Andrew has been involved in the mining innovation arena since the very beginning of his career more than 35+ years ago. Having studied biotechnology and computer science at the University of Queensland, he was drawn to the mining industry as a means of funding his ongoing study (partially because of being the son of a geologist/geochemist). As a young field assistant, he quickly found himself fulfilling the role of “go-to” person for any new technology that needed to be investigated or implemented. Working for Placer Dome, Barrick Gold, as Senior Director Innovation on the “Mining Company of the Future” and supporting 28 mining operations and exploration activities on every continent shaped and nurtured Andrew to hone his deep collaboration capability. He is a true Collaborative Native. Pioneering work across multiple industries, Andrew was responsible for arranging the first Space act agreement between a mining company and NASA and has always seen opportunities between space and the resource sector. Andrew continues to push the envelope, exploring what the true meaning of “collaborative advantage” is.
Ultimately, Andrew is focused to make the world a better place through innovation and appropriate use of technology! Develop deep symbiotic collaboration to stimulate, accelerate, promote, and realize positive outcomes for humanity and planet earth.
Andrew was at the beginning of GMG becoming the first GMG Incoming Chairman, with Tim Skinner as Chairman, to then follow Tim as Chairman, Outgoing Chairman and Working Groups Chair. He thoroughly enjoys working with motivated and passionate people to improve the industry through collaboration, guidelines, and innovation.
Cailli Knievel
Underground Manager / Principal Mining Engineer, AMC Consultants
Cailli Knievel
Underground Manager / Principal Mining Engineer, AMC Consultants
Cailli is a highly skilled mining engineer with over 30 years of experience, including 20 years of site-based roles in Australia, Africa, Europe, South America and the USA, as well as a further ten years in various corporate and consulting roles. Cailli joined AMC as Underground Manager and Principal Mining Engineer in October 2024. Prior to this, Cailli was the Manager of Mine Planning at AngloGold Ashanti Australia from 2020 to 2024, where she was responsible for the underground mine planning function for the Australian operations. Cailli played a crucial role in developing the regional strategy and ensuring the business objectives of the strategic mine plan were met. From 2018 to 2020, Cailli was the Chief Engineer at Nevada Gold Mines, overseeing the long-term planning, infrastructure, and hydrology groups at Cortez, and planning, survey, geotechnical, and projects at Leeville. Her earlier roles include Director of Underground Mining at Newmont Mining Corporation, Technical Services Manager at Troy Resources NL, and Planning Manager at Orvana Minerals Corporation. Throughout Cailli’s career, she has demonstrated strong leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to innovation and data management in mining operations.
Ewan Sellers
Manager for Mining and Geotechnical, BHP Invent
Ewan Sellers
Manager for Mining and Geotechnical, BHP Invent
Dr Ewan Sellers is a senior resources industry executive with over 30 years of global experience leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver innovative, high-value solutions across the mining sector. He is currently Manager for Mining and Geotechnical in the BHP Invent innovation team, driving improved mining safety and productivity through the application of advanced technologies.
He brings a unique and broad perspective to minerals value chain optimisation, having contributed to innovations and operational improvements for hundreds of mining operations and projects worldwide. His technical expertise spans, geomechanics, blasting, automation, spatial machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Outside of his professional role, Ewan has also contributed his expertise to a number of not-for-profit boards and committees.
Geoffrey Liggins
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Western Australia
Geoffrey Liggins
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Western Australia
Geoff is an inventor and thought leader in field automation for mining. Geoff’s research focus is on automation of the mining process not the automation of mining equipment. At Oxbotica, Geoff developed solutions for industrial operational challenges in mining and other heavy industries. He got his start in mining automation technology through INCO’s Mining Automation Programme where he developed automated drill and blast technologies by introducing robotics, advanced controls, and machine vision. These are more commonplace now but then they were rare in the mining environment. Following on in the theme of automating blasting, Geoff headed Orica’s Global Delivery Systems Technology Team developing novel means to automate the charging of blast holes. Then at BHP he developed improvements to mine planning and led research and development in next generation robotics and automation at BHP as the Principal of Autonomous Operations. In addition to his industrial roles, Geoff is an Adjunct Professor of Engineering at the University of Western Australia.
Ian Manchester
Director of Australian Centre of Robotics / Australian Robotic Inspection and Asset Management (ARIAM) Hub, University of Sydney
Ian Manchester
Director of Australian Centre of Robotics / Australian Robotic Inspection and Asset Management (ARIAM) Hub, University of Sydney
B. Eng (Electrical) Hons 1, PhD UNSW
Ian Manchester received BE and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from the University of New South Wales in 2002 and 2006, respectively. From 2006-2009 he was a post-doctoral researcher at Umea University, Sweden, and from 2009-2012 he was a Research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Since 2012 he has been a faculty member at the University of Sydney, Australia, where he is currently Professor of Mechatronic Engineering. In 2018 he became Director of Research for the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR), in 2019 he become co-Director of the Sydney Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems and was awarded a Sydney Research Accelerator Fellowship Award (SOAR).
In 2021 Professor Manchester was announced as the Director of the ACFR and led a team of academic and industry partners to found the ARC Research Hub in Intelligent Robotic Systems for Asset Management.
His current research interests are in algorithms for control, estimation, and identification of nonlinear dynamical systems. A particular focus is planning and control for challenging problems in robotics, including dynamic walking robots and multi-robot systems. He has also worked in applications in biomedical engineering, forestry, mining automation, and commercial aviation.
Prof Manchester has been an Associate Editor for IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and has served on organising and editorial committees for many international conferences including IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Robotics: Science and Systems, and Conference on Robot Learning.
Serkan Saydam
Chair of Mining Engineering, School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering, University of New South Wales
Serkan Saydam
Chair of Mining Engineering, School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering | University of New South Wales
Serkan Saydam received his BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Mining Engineering from the Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey and completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He then worked at De Beers for three years as a project manager in Johannesburg, South Africa. Serkan joined the School of Mining Engineering as a Senior Lecturer in 2006 and since 2017 he has been working as a professor. He is currently Chair of Mining Engineering at the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering at UNSW. A key focus of his research is to address the current needs and future challenges the minerals industry faces. These are generally complex engineering problems as mining environments become more extreme and constraints are imposed due to increasing social, environmental, and health and safety standards.
His fields of research include space resources engineering, ground control, mine systems design, mine internet of things, and technology integration and management. He established research collaborations with NASA, ESA and Luxembourg Space Agency, and KICT, as well as more than 40 research organisations and universities globally. He has more than 250 publications and graduated with 20 PhD students. Serkan attracted more than $15M in research grants. Serkan is known for founding and chairing the AusIMM’s International Future Mining Conference Series and co-chairs AusIMM’s AusRock Conference Series and Off-Earth Mining Forums.
Professor Saydam received multiple academic awards, including the 2020 UNSW Dean’s Award for Global Impact, the 2019 UNSW Vice Chancellor’s Postgraduate Research Supervision Award and the 2017 Society of Mining Professors’ International Tim Shaw Innovation in Teaching Award. Serkan is currently a Fellow Member of the AusIMM; President of the ISRM Commission on Planetary Rock Mechanics; Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER) at UNSW; Deputy Secretary-General and Council Member of the SOMP (The Society of Mining Professors). Prof Saydam was also President for 2023/2024 of the SOMP.
Sue Keay
Director, AI Institute, University of New South Wales
Sue Keay
Director, AI Institute, University of New South Wales
Dr Sue Keay is an expert in robotics, AI and automation. She is the Director of the UNSW AI Institute and founded Robotics Australia Group, the peak body for the robotics industry. With a background in science and a passion for cutting-edge technologies, Sue has led successful initiatives that bridge the gap between research and practical applications. Her expertise lies in leveraging robotics, AI and automation to solve complex challenges across various sectors.
Sue is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), a member of the Kingston AI Group and Chief Executive Women, and serves on numerous advisory boards, including the board of the computer vision start-up, Visionary Machines. Sue holds an MBA from The University of Queensland Business School, a PhD in Earth Sciences from ANU and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.
The GMG Sydney Collaboratory isn’t a traditional conference.
It’s a high-engagement, highly collaborative working event where mining leaders, operators, OEMs, OTMs, researchers, and technology partners co-create practical solutions to the sector’s most urgent challenges.
Interactive & collaborative
Across two days, participants move fluidly between interactive working sessions, open-floor discussions, rapid-fire knowledge exchanges, and hands-on collaborative activities designed to accelerate learning and strengthen cross-industry alignment.
Driving actionable outcomes
Every GMG Collaboratory is built around shared problem-solving, and Sydney will be no different: expect conversations that get specific, insights that come straight from operations, and collective thinking that drives actionable outcomes.
You won’t sit and listen —
You’ll actively shape the ideas and frameworks that move the industry forward. This Collaboratory is for anyone responsible for shaping the future of mining, including:
- Mining operators and decision-makers
- OEMs, OTMs, and integrators
- Technology and digital leaders
- Researchers, consultants, and innovators
- Sustainability, safety, and transformation leaders
Sponsorship
Support industry collaboration and position your company at the forefront of mining’s transformation.
Sponsor the forum.
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