Mining momentum: GRX25 wrap-up

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The inaugural Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX25) wrapped up in Brisbane last month, marking a significant milestone for the mining and METS (Mining Equipment, Technology and Services) sectors in Australia and abroad. Held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 20–22 May, GRX25 brought together over 1,300 delegates from across the globe to explore the technologies, people and partnerships shaping the future of resources. 

A joint venture between Austmine and AusIMM, GRX25 represented a fresh take on industry collaboration by encouraging and embracing meaningful conversations, cutting-edge innovation, and a renewed focus on sustainability and transformation.

The opening plenary session set a clear agenda for the days ahead, and what was obvious was a clear focus on bold yet tangible evolution for the industry. With insights from Chris Gibbs Stewart (Austmine CEO), Stephen Durkin (AusIMM CEO), Dale Last (Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, QLD), Adam Lancey (Asset President, BHP Mitsubishi Alliance), and more, the tone was one of purposeful optimism. 

Sessions throughout the event dug into both the strategic and the operational. Whether tackling emissions reduction, automation, ESG, or workforce development, there was a strong emphasis on practical steps and sector-wide responsibility. 

The Women in STEM breakfast was a standout moment. With speakers like Marita Cheng AM, Sonia Winter, and Sara Wodyk, it drew a full room and high praise for its energy and substance—even at 7:30am, which is made much easier in warm, sunny Brisbane.

Nowhere was the Expo’s forward momentum more visible than the Accenture Innovation Zone, where exhibitors demonstrated how new technologies are already reshaping mining.

Some standouts companies include:

• Jevons Robotics: Producing battery-electric robots purpose-built to operate in blast and mucking zones, meaning fewer people in high-risk areas and more efficient autonomous operations underground. 
• Loop Hydrometallurgy: Their Halion Loop™ is a breakthrough in copper extraction, using a saltwater-based process that removes the need for fresh water or high temperatures. 
• Pointerra: Specialising in geospatial intelligence, they enable teams to visualise, analyse, and collaborate on 3D spatial data. 
• Theia Simulation: Their platform helps miners simulate the decarbonisation of heavy vehicle fleets with real-world modelling and real-time strategy. 
• Nomad Atomics: Who have developed ultra-compact quantum sensors that provide gravity-based data for exploration, unlocking subsurface insights that traditional methods can’t detect.

The GRX25 Industry Leaders & Awards Dinner was a chance to celebrate the achievements of individuals and companies moving the needle. 

Among the winners: 

• Austin Engineering Ltd received the Craig Senger Excellence in Export Award, supported by Austrade, for its global growth in manufacturing. 
• BluVein won Outstanding Innovative METS Company, sponsored by Coal Australia, for its dynamic charging system for electric haulage. 
• Roy Hill was awarded Exceptional Innovation in Mining (Sandvik) for its AI-driven rail fatigue detection system, TrackDefectX. 
• Dr John Russell, Founder of Russell Mineral Equipment, earned the Champion of Innovation Award (Emesent) for reshaping concentrator maintenance across 64 countries. 
• Thomas Taylor (Fortescue) receivedAusIMM’s new Excellence in Resources by a New Professional Award, recognising early-career impact.

GRX25’s Collaborative Conversations offered space and time for attendees to engage on complex issues without oversimplifying them. 

Topics ranged from post-mining land use and waste reduction, to innovation in extreme environments and setting shared research priorities. The emphasis throughout was on building alignment amongst various parties and stakeholders for long term, sustainable growth, rather than incremental change.

GRX25 delivered something many have been asking for—an event that invites real exchange, showcases real solutions, and doesn’t shy away from difficult questions. 

The sector now looks to GRX26 in Perth (5–7 May 2026) with higher expectations and a clear sense of what’s possible when collaboration is genuine. 

Until then, credit to everyone who made GRX25 what it was—thoughtful, energising, and above all, grounded in what the sector needs next.