Critical minerals, global supply chains, mining investment and the race to develop new projects will dominate discussions as the International Mining and Resources Conference + Expo (IMARC) opens in Sydney this morning. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns, NSW Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos and Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King will deliver opening addresses at IMARC 2026, which is expected to attract over 12,000 global mining executives, investors, government ministers, diplomats and industry leaders for three days of discussions on the future of the resources sector. 

The Minns Labor Government further cemented New South Wales as a world leader in critical minerals mining with the release of its Critical Minerals Skills Plan, detailing actions to develop the critical minerals workforce of the future. Minister King and Minister Houssos will also today launch the NextGenMIN Hub, a collaboration between UNSW, Governments and industry focussed on advancing zero waste, zero emissions and zero human entry mining projects.. 

Under the theme From Strategy to Execution: Delivering Responsible, Resilient and Viable Resources, this year's IMARC will focus on how governments and industry can translate critical minerals strategies, investment commitments and technological advances into commercially viable projects. 

Today's program highlights include: 

• 8.40am – Opening addresses 

Premier Chris Minns and Minister Houssos will address delegates from 8.40am, followed by Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King at 8.50am. 

• 9.10am – The Global Resources Reset: Geopolitics, Industrial Policy and the Race for Strategic Supply Chains 

Dr Gracelin Baskaran, Director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), will examine the impact of geopolitics, industrial policy and the international race to secure strategic mineral supply chains. 

• 9.20am - NSW Government Booth (H07) - Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos will be joined by Federal Minister for Resources Madeleine King to discuss Australia and NSW’s vital mining and critical minerals sector. (Registration essential) 
• 9.30am – Building resilient mineral supply chains 

Former Australian Chief of the Defence Force and current Ambassador to the European Union, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg, Angus Campbell, will join senior European government representatives to discuss international cooperation on mineral supply security. 

• 10.15am - Dr David Brat, US Ambassador to Australia 

Dr David Brat took up his appointment as US Ambassador to Australia on 29 September 2026 and will deliver the United States Ambassadorial Address. 

• 10.20am – The US critical minerals strategy 

Senior representatives of the US Departments of Commerce, Energy and War will discuss America’s critical minerals strategy and opportunities to build secure supply chains with Australia and allied partners. 

The panel comes amid growing international competition for the minerals essential to defence, advanced manufacturing and clean energy technologies. 

• 10.30am – Oman announcement, Oman Pavilion 
• 10.50am – Can Australia turn global demand into new projects? 

IGO Managing Director and CEO Ivan Vella, Alcoa Australia President Elsabe Muller, Minerals Council of Australia Chief Economist Ross Lambie and Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia CEO Aaron Morey will examine Australia’s competitive position and the challenges of converting demand into investment, processing capability and economic growth. 

• 11.30am – From mine to manufacturing 

Senior representatives from Lynas Rare Earths, Metso, PT Freeport Indonesia and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will discuss what is needed to establish competitive mineral processing and refining capability. 

• 12.35pm – Mining through the cycles 

Evolution Mining Chair Jake Klein will discuss capital discipline, productivity and project delivery, followed by an afternoon investment program examining the outlook for gold, copper and other commodities. 

• 1.00pm - NextGenMin Hub Launch 

UNSW, NSW Government, BHP and Epiroc officially launch NextGenMIN, a $28 million research hub developing safer, smarter and more sustainable ways to mine critical minerals, at IMARC 2026. 

• 3.00pm – Coal’s future under scrutiny 

A special IMARC Exchange roundtable will examine how the industry can change the conversation about coal’s future, featuring representatives from the Minerals Council of Australia, AMEC and the Australian Coal Industry’s Research Program. 

Coming up at IMARC 

IMARC is a three-day event. Day 2 and Day 3, presentations and themes include: 

Wednesday 28 October – Investment and project delivery 

• 9.00am – Why aren't more mining projects being built? Senior representatives from Jefferies, Traxys, Argonaut and NioCorp will examine the barriers preventing investment capital from translating into new mining developments. 
• 10.00am – Who will finance the next generation of critical minerals projects? Export Finance Australia CEO John Hopkins, KfW IPEX-Bank CEO Belgin Rudack and US EXIM Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Alyssa Pettus will discuss how export credit agencies are supporting critical minerals investment and project development. 

Thursday 29 October – Technology and the future of mining 

• 8.30am – The mine of the future. BHP Vice President Innovation Marley Palin will examine the next wave of mining innovation, followed by a panel featuring Fortescue, Thiess and Hexagon on the practical application of AI and automation. 
• 10.30am – Can mine waste become a valuable new mineral resource? A specialist roundtable will examine the commercial and regulatory barriers to reprocessing mine waste, with further sessions exploring how resources companies can extract value from waste and improve environmental outcomes.