Gold shone bright at this year’s Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum as 1,900 delegates converged in Kalgoorlie, marking its first time without visitors from overseas and interstate.

With COVID-19 restrictions and a two-month delay, the vibe was high at the event held in Australia’s gold capital, with some speakers delivering their presentations via live stream and delegates outside of the home state viewing the Forum online.

The week started at the Super Pit Sundowner to celebrate the marriage of Northern Star Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings, with the Western Australian Premier the Hon. Mark McGowan making a special appearance to announce an extension of the mine which will see the creation of 700 jobs.

The Premier opened the conference, entertaining the crowd and commending the State's resources sector for its efforts to keep WA safe and strong during COVID-19, saying it set an example for the rest of the nation and around the world. His closing message was to “bet big on WA”.

Gold dominated the three-day program featuring 14 members, with Gold Industry Group (GIG) Director Stuart Tonkin opening day one, sharing their progress and future growth prospects, with a strong focus on environmental, social and corporate governance.

Here are some of the GIG's highlights from the 29th year of the Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum.

(L-R) Saracen Mineral Holdings MD Raleigh Finlayson, WA Premier Hon. Mark McGowan, Northern Star Resources CEO Stuart Tonkin, and Northern Star Resources Executive Chair Bill Beament.

GIG and Deloitte’s breakfast panel (L-R): Northern Star Resources NED Mary Hackett, Pilbara Minerals COO Dale Henderson, IGO Head of Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary Joanne McDonald, and Deloitte Director Sustainability and Climate Change Services Michael Wood.

GIG and Deloitte’s annual breakfast event drew a 90-strong crowd to explore the transition to low carbon mining.

GOLD EVENTS

KCGM owners Northern Star Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings, kicked off the Forum with an event on Sunday 11 October at the Super Pit lookout, with the Premier delivering an address and The Furnace film trailer airing for the first time.

The GIG held its annual breakfast event in conjunction with Deloitte focusing on decarbonisation at the WA School of Mines Graduate Hall on Tuesday 13 October. Northern Star Resources Non-Executive Director Mary Hackett, IGO Head of Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary Joanne McDonald, Deloitte Director Sustainability and Climate Change Services Michael Wood, and Pilbara Minerals Limited Chief Operations Officer Dale Henderson shared valuable insights into strategies companies are implementing in the transition to a low carbon future.

(L-R) Deloitte Director Sustainability and Climate Change Services Michael Wood, Northern Star Resources NED Mary Hackett, Pilbara Minerals COO Dale Henderson, Deloitte Corporate Finance Partner Nicki Ivory, IGO Head of Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary Joanne McDonald, GIG Chairman and Perth Mint CEO Richard Hayes and GIG Executive Officer Rebecca Johnston.

The panel and 90-strong crowd in attendance agreed there were more opportunities than challenges, with companies urged to factor technological advancement in their development plans. Read more in the Deloitte report on how transitioning to low-carbon mining is the next great economic opportunity.

Later that evening, the WA School of Mines Alumni (WASMA) and Women in Mining and Resources WA (WIMWA) held their annual Sundowner. WASMA Vice President Christian Price and WASM Director and WIMWA founder Sabina Shugg spoke of the ongoing importance of industry education, their new strategies to increase student enrollment in the sector's disciplines and on supporting females in the industry.

GOLD INDUSTRY IMPACTS

GIG Chairman and Perth Mint CEO Richard Hayes’ opening address at the GIG and Deloitte breakfast event talked to some of the GIG’s project highlights over the year, and included the official release of a new industry-wide brochure outlining the sectors vast social and economic contributions to Australia.

The new resource is a valuable tool for the industry, helping to further cultivate understanding and awareness of gold’s value to the social fabric of Australia and the significant role it plays in the national economy.

It also complements the GIG’s broad range of existing programs and will be integrated into the national Gold Jobs hub, Heart of Gold Australia app and Gold Education Program, as well as content campaigns.

GOLDEN RECOGNITION

The event culminated at the annual WesTrac Gala Dinner, sponsored by The Perth Mint, where gold took out the prestigious company awards. Congratulations to the following worthy winners:

  • Northern Star Resources and Saracen Minerals Holdings – The hot topic on everyone’s lips was the recent merger-of-equals announced in early October, following the two companies’ purchase of the Super Pit gold mine. It was therefore no surprise that they received the joint Dealer of The Year Award.

  • Ramelius Resources – Recognised for its outstanding 420% increase in net profit after tax over the past financial year, Ramelius took out the Digger of the Year Award.

  • De Grey Mining – The junior Pilbara gold explorer took out Best Emerging Company Award.

  • Georgia Kerr – Set to be a future female leader in mining, Ms Kerr received the Ray Finlayson Medal for Leadership and Academic Excellence, sponsored by the WA School of Mines Alumni.

  • Dominic Piper – Honoured for his 15-year coverage of mining and exploration news throughout Australia, Asia and Africa, the Australia’s Paydirt and Gold Mining Journal editor received the Media Award.

  • Gina Rinehart – Ms Rinehart made history as the first woman to win the prestigious GJ Stokes Memorial Award for her contributions to the industry.

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