Sagar Rahangdale is a seasoned Manufacturing and Mining IT professional with over 13 years of experience working with different manufacturing and mining plants. Specializing in Level 2 and 3 of ISA 95 for manufacturing, he has a proven track record of driving smart or connected factories initiatives implementation with different tools and technologies. With over a decade of experience in MES/MOM and IT, OT area, he has an expertise in manufacturing processes, digital shifts, Production, Warehouse, Quality and Maintenance management in manufacturing as well as in mine site and processing plants. He frequently speaks at industry conferences on topics related to Digitization in mining, Mine Operations Management, helping mining companies navigate the fast-evolving tech landscape. When not immersed in technology, Sagar enjoys playing outdoor sports and listening music. Sagar currently resides in Singapore with his family.

Luciana Maia holds a degree in Mining Engineering from the Federal University of Pará (2013). She is currently working at Dawson Coal Mine in Central Queensland, where she is responsible for delivering efficient designs to enhance machine performance and operational effectiveness. She also holds an MBA in Finance and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Mining, Metallurgy, and Materials Engineering at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. With extensive experience in mine planning and scheduling, particularly in open-pit strip mining. She has participated in several improvement projects, contributing to innovative and sustainable mining solutions.

Shi Zhao began his research in mechatronics and robotics as a Master by Research student at the University of Adelaide, in the School of Mechanical Engineering, in 2007. Upon completion of his master's, he continued his studies and, in 2016, completed his PhD thesis titled ‘3D Real-Time Stockpile Mapping and Modelling with Accurate Quality Calculation Using Voxels’. Shi's association with the PRIF Mining Consortium began in 2019, focusing on developing a novel stockyard management system that utilizes current mining operational data sets to improve quality control, in collaboration with industry partner Eka and end-user partner BHP. His research interests include mobile robotics and its applications, machine vision, and control systems.

Ismael Soares is an Environmental and Renewable Energy Engineer, holding a Master’s degree in Soil Science and an MBA in Project Management. He has eight years of technical experience in the mining industry, working on multidisciplinary projects related to environmental management, mine planning, and geospatial analysis. He is currently part of the Mine Planning and Mineral Resources team at Mineração Paragominas S.A. (Norsk Hydro), a team responsible for strategic mine planning, resource-to-reserve conversion, and the development of new mining fronts. In this context, his role focuses on medium-term mine planning for a bauxite deposit located in Paragominas, Pará, Brazil. His work is strongly supported by the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies applied to production quality control and the monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs). Additionally, he is responsible for regulatory compliance procedures with the National Mining Agency (ANM) and the State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainability of Pará (SEMAS/PA), including the acquisition of mining concessions and environmental licenses.

Sude Nil Topal is a Mining Engineering graduate from Middle East Technical University (METU), where she completed her undergraduate degree in June 2025. Her academic focus lies in mine planning and simulation, with a strong passion for integrating innovative methodologies into mining operations. She has completed internships at leading organizations, including TÜPRAG (El Dorado Gold), Anagold (SSR Mining), and DAMA Engineering. During these experiences, she contributed to various tasks such as blasting design, process optimization, and mine planning, while gaining hands-on experience with industry-standard softwares like Micromine, Rocscience, and Whittle. Currently, she is leading a research project funded by TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye). This project focused on simulating and assessing the dependencies between mine road quality and design parameters. This work aims to develop a Mine Road Quality Index (MRQI) to support data-driven decision-making in surface mining. Fluent in English and equipped with strong analytical and technical skills, Sude Nil will begin her MSc studies in Mining Engineering at METU in September 2025. She is dedicated to furthering her expertise in mine systems simulation.