UQ Tailings Innovation Summit

Speakers and panel members

17 - 20 November 2026

Invited speakers and panel members


We are currently finalising speakers and panel members. Invited speakers are listed below, with profiles and further details to be added as confirmations are received. Please check back regularly for updates.

Speaker / panel member

Organisation

Professor Deborah Terry AC, Vice-Chancellor


Dr Emma Gagen, Director, Data and Research


Professor Rick Valenta, Director


Tábatha Chávez Matus, Manager, Innovation, Data and Research


Associate Professor Evelyn Mervine, Principal Research Fellow


David Smirk, Chief Executive Officer


Associate Professor Steve Micklethwaite, Director, Drones Central Research Program


Dr Juliana Segura-Salazar, Senior Research Fellow


Andrea López Schmidt, Innovation Manager


Bioantika, PhD candidate


Amanda de Ruyter, Principal Advisor - Water, Waste & Tailings


Ana Fernandez-Iglesias, Portfolio Director, Sustainable Mining


Janelle Kerr, Director, Minerals Geoscience


Dr Elin Jennings, Research Fellow


Professor Deanna Kemp, Director


Angelica Andrade, PhD candidate


Dr Olivia Mejías González, Group Leader, MiWATCH


Dr Nicolene Roux, Senior Project Engineer


Dr Loren Nicholls, Principal, Technology Integration & Deployment

Brenton Atkins, Principal Processing Technology

John Plunkett, Head of Tailings and Water

Phil Newman, Vice President Innovation

Leigh Staines, Industry Advisor

The University of Queensland (UQ)

ICMM

Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI)

ICMM

Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining, SMI, UQ

Bioculum

WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre, SMI, UQ

Global Centre of Mineral Security, SMI, UQ

Anglo American, Latin America

Global Centre of Mineral Security, SMI, UQ

Rio Tinto

Arcelor Mittal

Geological Survey of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development

Global Centre of Mineral Security, SMI, UQ

Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, SMI, UQ

Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, SMI, UQ

WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre, SMI, UQ

Fraser Alexander

Regeneration

South 32

MMG Limited

Anglo American

Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer Program, UQ

Additional speakers and panel members will be announced in the coming weeks