This year's Diggers & Dealers saw near-record numbers with a strong gold presence and a focus on emerging discoveries and the future of mining.
Here are some of the Gold Industry Group's highlights from the 27th year of Diggers & Dealers:
IN MEMBER NEWS
• Gold Industry Group Board of Directors welcomes Andrea Maxey and Stuart Jenner
• Deloitte Australia's Mining Matrix report details the four major trends facing the industry
• Gold Fields and Gold Road Resources Gruyere gold project update
• St Barbara looking to diversify portfolio
• Ausdrill seeks expansion under new leadership
• AngloGold Ashanti Australia to ramp up Sunrise Dam exploration
• Kirkland Lake Gold celebrates significant year with title award
• Gold Fields warns of mining skills shortage
• Miners to rebuild trust on training and jobs to retain workers
• Golden companies to make up 21% of Diggers & Dealers presenters
• Dynamic women set an example for next generation in mining
• Saracen says sustainability key to survival
• Australian gold to set sights on US competition
• Evolution calls for long-term solution to skills shortage
• Ausdrill founder humbled to receive memorial award
150 strong crowd at GIG & Deloitte's Mining Matrix breakfast
THE MINING MATRIX
The Gold Industry Group held its annual breakfast in conjunction with Deloitte on Tuesday at Diggers & Dealers, with a 150 strong crowd showing up to hear from an expert panel on the future opportunities and challenges for the industry.
The gold panel featuring Northern Star Resources Chief Executive Officer and Gold Industry Group Director Stuart Tonkin, Gold Fields Australia Vice President Mining Kate Sommerville, Cannings Purple Managing Director Warrick Hazeldine and Deloitte Partner Julie Harrison, discussed four pillars of development: innovation, the image of mining, future work and digital.
Attendees were also asked to share their insights with the biggest opportunity voted innovation followed by the image of mining. The biggest barrier was voted image of mining followed by the future of work.
Read the wrap in The Kalgoorlie Miner and discover more insights by downloading Deloitte's Mining Matrix report.
GOLD TRAIL MARKING PADDY’S FIND EDUCATES NEXT GENERATION
The Gold Industry Group’s recent launch of its second virtual #heartofgold Discovery Trail in Kalgoorlie on June 9 links to the importance of education as highlighted at its Mining Matrix breakfast, with Primary and Secondary teacher resources available.
Many Diggers & Dealers delegates took to the trail in between the conference program to discover their own piece of golden history and shared their experience.
Resources Roadhouses’ Wally Graham follows the #heartofgold walking trail in Kalgoorlie prior to Diggers & Dealers.
Starting outside Market Arcade and finishing at the Museum of the Goldfields, the trail offers a fun and interactive educational experience for everyone. A driving tour to 15 Points of Interest throughout the Goldfields region is also available via the app and includes some historic locations from the early gold rushes. The free Heart of Gold Australia app is available to download from iTunes or Google Play.
The Kalgoorlie #heartofgold Discovery Trail is sponsored by Saracen Mineral Holdings, The Perth Mint, Ausdrill, Northern Star Resources, Silver Lake Resources, Gold Fields, St Barbara, Gold Road Resources, AngloGold Ashanti Australia, Mining Education Australia and City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
The #heartofgold Discovery Trails are the first of their kind to give the community an interactive ‘gold’ experience via the Heart of Gold Australia app, which excite and engage students, residents and tourists alike as they tell the story of a city and nation built on gold. Stay tuned for the next trail to be released in 2019.
WOMEN IN GOLD
WA School of Mines student Victoria Arrowsmith wins the Ray Finlayson Award, presented by The Perth's Mint's James Ross, major sponsor of the awards.
Gold Fields Australia Vice President Mining Kate Sommerville, AngloGold Ashanti Vice President Corporate affairs, Community & Human Resources Andrea Maxey, Gold Road Resources Corporate General Manager Sharon Goddard and Gold Industry Group Executive Officer Rebecca Johnston were featured in The Kalgoorlie Miner during the week as strong role models for young girls and women in mining. They unanimously agreed educating the next generation is paramount to the industry’s future and success.
The Gold Industry Group recently appointed Ms Maxey to the Board of Directors, adding to the Board's diversity and experience.
In November, the Gold Industry Group will hold their third annual Women in Gold Great Debate in conjunction with Women in Mining WA and sponsored by Gold Fields. Fast becoming one of the largest and most influential gender diversity events in the mining industry on the Perth calendar, the event follows the success of 2017's debate.
GOLDEN WINNERS
Kirkland Lake Gold were crowned Digger of the Year, in recognition of the rapid production increase across its assets in Australia and Canada during 2017.
Ausdrill founder Ron Sayers, recipient of the GJ Stokes Award, was presented with the honour for his work transforming the Kalgoorlie-Boulder company founded in 1987 into a global mining services provider.
WASM student Victoria Arrowsmith received the Ray Finlayson Medal for Leadership and Academic Excellence. The West Australian's Stuart McKinnon won the Media Award.
VALE
The Gold Industry Group would like to respectfully acknowledge the recent passing of John Langford, a passionate mining industry advocate, who led the Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum onto become a globally-recognised event, and who will be missed by all.
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