Sustainable Minerals Institute Next Generation HDR Student Conference 2025

Connecting Emerging Researchers and Industry Leaders to Shape the Future of Mining

The SMI Next Generation HDR Student Conference aims to facilitate knowledge sharing, networking, and industry engagement within the SMI and EAIT student communities doing research related to the minerals industry.

Registrations now open! Click here to register. 
Call for abstracts is now open! Click here to submit your abstract.

Themes | Keynote Speakers | Program | Call for Abstracts | Register | Guidelines | Sponsors | Contact 

Conference Themes

The conference is hosted by the Sustainable Minerals Institute Higher Degree by Research Candidate Advisory Committee and will feature a diverse range of presentation formats designed to cater to different aspects of student research:

Student Engagement:

• Presentations: A combination of 10-minute presentations with Q&A to allow for concise yet insightful sharing of research work.
• Poster Presentations: A dedicated poster session to provide an opportunity for students to present research visually and engage with the audience – 5 min presentations.

Industry Engagement:

• Dedicated Industry Session: A dedicated session for industry representatives, focusing on company introductions and placement opportunities for HDR students. This will create opportunities for students to learn more about the mining industry and potential career paths.
• Panel discussions: Several industry partners are participating in a panel discussion on the dedicated topic.
• Keynote speakers: Several keynote speakers with extensive industrial experience will be invited to present in morning and Afternoon sessions. Keynote speakers should be chosen outside of UQ.

The conference themes encompass the entire mining project lifecycle—from planning to feasibility and production and closure—focusing on research challenges and innovative solutions within the following themes:

• The Environmental Management and Rehabilitation session offers a platform for HDR researchers to showcase their cutting-edge research on minimising and mitigating the environmental impact of mining. Presentations will highlight advancements in areas such as innovative remediation technologies, sustainable mining practices, ecological rehabilitation and monitoring, and the application of digital tools for environmental management and decision-making.

• The Social Responsibility and Governance session offers those engaged in social sciences research opportunities to share their preliminary research findings with a wider audience in the mining sector. It aims to cover a variety of topics in social aspects of mining, including but not limited to community engagement, displacement & resettlement, Indigenous rights, tailings management, and working conditions of miners.

• The Safe and Sustainable Mineral Exploration, Extraction and Processing session brings together research and insights on improving safety and sustainability across the minerals value chain. It explores advancements in technologies and approaches that address the challenges of complex operations, with a focus on reducing environmental impacts, enhancing resource efficiency, integrating safety practices, and applying innovative tools or strategies throughout the mineral lifecycle—from exploration and extraction to milling and tailings management and reprocessing.

Keynote Speakers

Fiona Sartain (Theme:Social Responsibility and Governance)

Fiona Sartain is the Head of Sustainability at MMG Limited. With a strong background in the mining industry and social enterprises, she leads MMG's global Sustainability Framework and programme of work, overseeing corporate sustainability strategies and their implementation across MMG’s global portfolio. This includes managing internal and external sustainability and ESG reporting, providing guidance across MMG's operations. In her interim role, she provides leadership of the Social Performance portfolio, focusing on MMG's Social Performance Standard and Human Rights Framework. Her prior experience includes work at MMG Las Bambas in Peru, where she contributed to the development of the social performance strategy, reporting and project delivery. Fiona is bilingual in English and Spanish and has extensive experience in social enterprises and NGOs, with a focus on sustainability, human rights and conflict resolution, both internationally and in Australia.

Dr. Evelyn Mervine (Theme: Environmental Management and Rehabilitation)

Dr. Evelyn Mervine is a geoscientist and carbon management expert. She has extensive experience working in the mining industry in Australia, North America, South America, and Africa. She currently works as a Carbon Mitigation Principal at Anglo American and is also an Adjunct Fellow in the School of the Environment at the University of Queensland. Dr. Mervine has extensive experience leading collaborative industry-academia projects, with a focus on carbon mineralization and carbon accounting. She has a B.A. degree in Earth Sciences from Dartmouth College, an M.Sc. degree in Carbon Management from the University of Edinburgh, and a Ph.D. degree in Marine Geology that was jointly awarded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Dr. Mervine's book "Rocks & Minerals: An Illustrated Field Guide" was published by HarperCollins in 2023. 

Roxanne O’Donnell (Theme: Safe and Sustainable Mineral Exploration, Extraction and Processing)

Roxanne O’Donnell is a Senior Metallurgist with 10 years’ experience in the mining industry across both production and project roles. She has worked with a range of commodities, including base metals and gold, contributing to operations at sites in Australia and across the globe. With a strong foundation in flotation and mineralogy, Roxanne specialises in developing and implementing efficient, data-driven solutions tailored to complex metallurgical challenges. Her passion lies in optimising processes and driving innovation to improve performance and recovery outcomes. Known for her analytical mindset and hands-on approach, she thrives in dynamic environments where critical thinking and adaptability are key. Roxanne is committed to continuous improvement and enjoys collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver impactful, sustainable results

Program 

The SMI Next Generation Student Conference offers a dynamic two-day program designed to showcase student research, promote knowledge exchange, and foster professional connections. The schedule features keynote addresses, technical sessions, poster presentations, and opportunities for networking with peers, academic mentors, and industry partners. Below is the detailed program for each day:

Day 1

Day 2

Registration

Registration for the SMI Next Generation HDR Student Conference is now open! All HDR students, academic staff, and industry guests are welcome to attend in this two-day event celebrating innovative research in the minerals industry.

Details:

• Registration deadline: June 30, 2025
• Registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/xM7uRYhzH4

How to Register:
Please complete your registration via the link above. Early registration is encouraged as spaces may be limited. Further event details, including the full program and venue information, will be shared with registered participants closer to the event date.

Note: All presenting authors must register to attend the conference.

Call For Abstracts

We are now accepting abstract submissions for the SMI Next Generation Student Conference, a two-day event dedicated to highlighting HDR student research in the minerals industry. This is your opportunity to present your work, through an oral presentation or poster session, to a diverse audience of fellow researchers, academic staff, and industry representatives.

Abstracts that focus on research challenges and innovative solutions within the following themes will be welcomed:

• Environmental Management and Rehabilitation
• Social Responsibility and Governance
• Safe and Sustainable Mineral Exploration, Extraction and Processing

Timeline:

Abstract submission deadline: June 9, 2025, 11:59 PM AEST

Abstract decision notification: TBA

Submission Instructions:

Please submit your abstract through this link: https://forms.office.com/r/5MrFysf0Sv

You must select your preferred presentation format: oral presentation or poster

• Submission must follow the format outlined in the abstract template (Abstract Template-SMINextGen2025.docx) //please upload file
• Once your abstract is accepted, please follow the presentation and poster preparation guidelines that will be provided after the committee approves your submission.

Presentation/Poster Guidelines

This conference provides a platform for disseminating high-quality research, emerging innovations, and interdisciplinary perspectives across the minerals industry. Further details will be shared with the authors of accepted abstracts.

Oral Presentation Guidelines

• Standard presentations should be 10 minutes long, followed by 5 minutes for Q&A (strictly observed).
• Prepare slides in 16:9 widescreen format (PowerPoint or PDF).
• Begin with a title slide that includes presenter name(s), affiliation(s), and presentation title.
• Use clear, readable fonts and keep text minimal to enhance audience engagement.

Poster Presentation Guidelines

• Presenters must be available during the designated poster session for a 5-minute oral discussion and Q&A.
• Posters should be maximum A1 size (594mm x 841mm), portrait orientation.
• The title, author(s), and affiliation(s) must be clearly displayed at the top.
• Text should be legible from at least 1 meter away.
•  Posters must be printed and brought to the venue by the presenter; mounting materials will be provided.

Sponsors

We are currently seeking sponsors to support this event and help us celebrate academic excellence, collaboration, and innovation.

Sponsorship is a great way to increase your organisation’s visibility, connect with emerging researchers and industry leaders, and show your support for the research community.

If your organisation is interested in partnering with us, please get in touch.

This page will be updated soon

For any inquiries or interest, please email: smihdrcac@uq.edu.au

Contact

Contact details:

Please send an email to smihdrcac@uq.edu.au

Conference organisers 

SMI HDR Candidate Advisory Committee Members