Founded by members of the Turrbal Tribe, Turrbal Dippil is committed to ensuring the survival and continuous sharing of Turrbal culture, and to developing self-sustaining communities.

Associate Professor Côte has more than 20 years’ experience in environmental and water resources management for a range of sectors. She has held a number of roles in research and consulting engineering, before setting up the Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry with Prof Chris Moran. She has engaged extensively with mining operations in Australia, Africa, Chile and Canada to address water and sustainability issues, documenting and implementing leading practices. She has extensive industry experience as she worked for the Anglo American Metallurgical Coal Business unit from 2011 to 2018, where she provided technical expertise on environmental and water-related topics, including a range of water quality challenges, particularly in Canada. She designed and implemented the water strategy and supported a range of environmental compliance topics, such as the development of innovative software for tracking legal obligations. She also led novel approaches to improving mine closure planning and the management of final voids. In her role at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, she is seeking to promote environmental excellence through the mining cycle, based on capacity building and targeted research programs on water and environmental management, closure planning and beneficial post-mining land uses that minimise residual risks.

Having personally led six major business transformations over his 30 year career, Stephen Durkin is regarded as a seasoned change agent. Since May 2017 Stephen has been CEO of the AusIMM, the peak body for professionals in the mining industry, following the five years prior as CEO of Engineers Australia. In both instances Stephen has led widely applauded transformations of these long-standing Institutes to rebuild them to be more contemporary, financially sustainable, and with a stronger external brand. Prior to these positions leading professional associations, Stephen was at National Australia Bank for 15 years in a number of senior executive leadership roles including as State Manager, Retail Bank NSW/ACT. Stephen Durkin holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours). Stephen has extensive experience in business and association management, and possesses highly-regarded skills in government, media and community relations. Stephen's leadership sets out the importance of teams and culture in building high performance organisations.

Prior to being elected to represent Townsville Scott worked in education for 28 years; serving as a Principal and teacher in several high schools. During his time in education Scott established a 'boxing' program at one of his schools, aimed at helping under-achieving indigenous students re-engage with schooling by learning how to control their frustrations through the discipline of boxing. Scott remains passionate about education and supporting schools – both staff and students. Scott and his wife Jackie moved to Townsville more than 18 years ago to raise their three children, and since that time, he’s watched it grow to become the largest city in Northern Australia. He is an active participant within the community, volunteering his time as a Rotarian as well as sitting on several committees including the NQ Stadium Activation Group, Community Aviation Consultation Group, CBD Taskforce, Regional Economic Development Sub-Committee, Palm Island Economic Development and Palm Island Liveability Project. He holds a Bachelor of Education and Masters Degree from the Queensland University of Technology. In his spare time Scott loves spending time with his family, attending his beloved North Queensland Cowboys home games and is also an avid Townsville Fire (basketball) supporter.

Kia Dowell is a Gija woman from Warmun Community (Turkey Creek) in the East Kimberley of Western Australia. Her traditional Aboriginal name is Wadjbarreyal and her skin name is Nangala. She joined the Board of Gelganyem in 2017 and was appointed as Chairperson shortly after. Immediately recognizing the urgent need to enact a plan for change, grounded in the cultural values of Traditional Owners of the Barramundi Dreaming where Rio Tinto's Argyle Diamond Mine is located, she sought to empower her community. In 2018, negotiations led by Kia with Rio Tinto commenced with a focus on accountability, equity and transparency. In 2022, Gelganyem continues to advocate for structural change, empower Traditional Owners, push for greater accountability and consequences regarding the performance and delivery of the 8 Management Plans and ensure the Sustainability Fund will continue to benefit generations to come. With greater connections with First Nations communities around the world, Kia looks forward to the day when thousands of stories and experiences are shared, heard and acted upon. Kia is passionate about working to support the growth of profitable and sustainable organisations that serve a greater social purpose for Aboriginal communities. She leverages her experiences (personal and professional) as a past participant of the Global Ambassadors Program, a partnership between Vital Voices and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a finalist in the 2016 AIMWA and The West Australian’s West Business Pinnacle Awards for Emerging Business Excellence, a 2015 Business News 40under40 Award Winner and her MBA in International Business from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to identify and implement transformational and sustainable initiatives that deliver shared value. She has spent time with school, community and corporate audiences in the US, Vanuatu, Turkey, Mexico and across Australia sharing her experiences of the power of business, cultural identity, resilience and the power of female leadership. Her most ambitious and important role is as mum to her two daughters, Lila and Naiyah.

Associate Professor Côte has more than 20 years’ experience in environmental and water resources management for a range of sectors. She has held a number of roles in research and consulting engineering, before setting up the Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry with Prof Chris Moran. She has engaged extensively with mining operations in Australia, Africa, Chile and Canada to address water and sustainability issues, documenting and implementing leading practices. She has extensive industry experience as she worked for the Anglo American Metallurgical Coal Business unit from 2011 to 2018, where she provided technical expertise on environmental and water-related topics, including a range of water quality challenges, particularly in Canada. She designed and implemented the water strategy and supported a range of environmental compliance topics, such as the development of innovative software for tracking legal obligations. She also led novel approaches to improving mine closure planning and the management of final voids. In her role at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, she is seeking to promote environmental excellence through the mining cycle, based on capacity building and targeted research programs on water and environmental management, closure planning and beneficial post-mining land uses that minimise residual risks.

Loren Nicholls is a PhD candidate at the Sustainable Minerals Institute researching secondary prospectivity of mine wastes for critical metals and economic rehabilitation. The project is investigating the potential for Co endowment and recovery within tailings at Capricorn Copper Mine using geometallurgical characterisation and improved processing technologies. Loren has 10+ years’ experience in exploration and mining geology around the Asia-Pacific region, working primarily in gold and copper systems. Her interests are in geochemistry, mineralogy, integrated ore body knowledge and project generation. Loren is now transitioning into geometallurgy, mine waste characterisation and developing circular economy principles in the mining sector via her PhD research. During this period of study, Loren is also part-time consulting on ESG projects and greenfield critical mineral and REE exploration.

Amelia Lee Zhi Yi is a multi-disciplinary environmental scientist with experiences in the public sector on an international and national scale. Prior to joining UQ, she worked as a consultant in nuclear emergency preparedness for food and agriculture at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and a REDD+ safeguards consultant at the Malaysian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). She attained her Masters in Environmental Sciences from the University of Tokyo, Japan (2015), and Bachelors in Geology from Bryn Mawr College, USA (2013).

Dr Samar Amari specialises in the adoption of innovative solutions to improve the mining value chain with a specific focus on carbon footprint analyses, energy analyses and decarbonisation techniques in the mining sector. Samar is an expert in geopolymerisation technology, circular economy and sustainable use of mineral resources and synthesising valuable products using minerals tailings.

Associate Professor Côte has more than 20 years’ experience in environmental and water resources management for a range of sectors. She has held a number of roles in research and consulting engineering, before setting up the Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry with Prof Chris Moran. She has engaged extensively with mining operations in Australia, Africa, Chile and Canada to address water and sustainability issues, documenting and implementing leading practices. She has extensive industry experience as she worked for the Anglo American Metallurgical Coal Business unit from 2011 to 2018, where she provided technical expertise on environmental and water-related topics, including a range of water quality challenges, particularly in Canada. She designed and implemented the water strategy and supported a range of environmental compliance topics, such as the development of innovative software for tracking legal obligations. She also led novel approaches to improving mine closure planning and the management of final voids. In her role at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, she is seeking to promote environmental excellence through the mining cycle, based on capacity building and targeted research programs on water and environmental management, closure planning and beneficial post-mining land uses that minimise residual risks.