Program | Mill Operators Conference 2026

Mill Operators Conference 2026 Program

The conference program is subject to change at any time, at the discretion of the advisory committee.

All times are listed below in AEST (Brisbane, Australia).

Please note that the pre-conference and post-conference workshops are not included in the registration price.

Monday, October 19, 2026


7:30 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens & Arrival Networking (Day 1)
8:30 AM - 10:10 AM	Session 1 \| Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Welcome to Country, Welcome from the Conference Chair Reg Radford, Gold Fields Welcome from AusIMM Stephen Durkin, AusIMM Ministerial Address Presenter TBC, Keynote \| Substitution as the solution to mineral shortages: The case of copper Martin Lynch, Keynote Q&A with Session Chair Session Chair,
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM	Morning Tea (Day 1)
10:40 AM - 12:05 PM	Session 2 \| Brownfields Upgrades - Flotation Applying modern flotation technology to improve fine particle recovery at Cadia Isaac Heath, Newmont Advanced flotation solutions for Sepon: Boosting concentrate grade and fine particle recovery in gold processing Homie Thanasekaran, Eriez Everything that glitters may be gold – Flash flotation in Ernest Henry’s Regrind Circuit Lindsey Killer, Evolution Mining - Ernest Henry Operaitons The success of the Jameson Cell rougher scalper at Prominent Hill Jessica van Sliedregt, Glencore Technology Q&A with Session Chair (Session 2) Session Chair,
12:05 PM - 1:05 PM	Lunch (Day 1)
1:05 PM - 2:45 PM	Session 3 \| Comminution (Part 1) Pebble crushing in AG/SAG circuits: Operation, dynamics and solutions Richard Bearman, Bear Rock Solutions Pty. Ltd. Issues with determining the SAG mill specific energy – Key drivers influencing mill selection Rajiv Chandramohan, Ausenco Success factors in HPGR circuit ramp-up and operation Bjorn Dierx, Weir Evaluating grinding circuit efficiency metrics at the Newmont Tanami Operation Aidan Giblett, Black Swan Metallurgy Pty Ltd Reinstating regrind for recovery: Spiral technology and sulfide circuit upgrade at St Ivese Shawn Chan, Gold Fields Q&A with Session Chair (Session 3) Session Chair,
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM	Afternoon Tea (Day 1)
3:15 PM - 5:00 PM	Session 4 \| Geometallurgy Development of geometallurgical testing program for Oak Dam West, South Australia Yan Li, BHP Using the Geopyörä breakage test in a mine to mill application at a large copper mine Leonardo Lara, Geopyora Bridging the gap between historical test work and process design Adam Shaikh, Lycopodium Accelerating process decision-making through AI-based mineralogical analysis Henry Beal, Evolution Mining Application of advanced mineralogy to optimise flotation at the Hillgrove Gold–Antimony Project Nick Bristow, Larvotto Resources Q&A with Session Chair (Session 4) Session Chair, Day 1 Closing Remarks Presenter TBC,
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Welcome Reception


7:30 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens & Arrival Networking (Day 1)
8:30 AM - 10:10 AM	Session 1 \| Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Welcome to Country, Welcome from the Conference Chair Reg Radford, Gold Fields Welcome from AusIMM Stephen Durkin, AusIMM Ministerial Address Presenter TBC, Keynote \| Substitution as the solution to mineral shortages: The case of copper Martin Lynch, Keynote Q&A with Session Chair Session Chair,
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM	Morning Tea (Day 1)
10:40 AM - 12:05 PM	Session 2 \| Brownfields Upgrades - Flotation Applying modern flotation technology to improve fine particle recovery at Cadia Isaac Heath, Newmont Advanced flotation solutions for Sepon: Boosting concentrate grade and fine particle recovery in gold processing Homie Thanasekaran, Eriez Everything that glitters may be gold – Flash flotation in Ernest Henry’s Regrind Circuit Lindsey Killer, Evolution Mining - Ernest Henry Operaitons The success of the Jameson Cell rougher scalper at Prominent Hill Jessica van Sliedregt, Glencore Technology Q&A with Session Chair (Session 2) Session Chair,
12:05 PM - 1:05 PM	Lunch (Day 1)
1:05 PM - 2:45 PM	Session 3 \| Comminution (Part 1) Pebble crushing in AG/SAG circuits: Operation, dynamics and solutions Richard Bearman, Bear Rock Solutions Pty. Ltd. Issues with determining the SAG mill specific energy – Key drivers influencing mill selection Rajiv Chandramohan, Ausenco Success factors in HPGR circuit ramp-up and operation Bjorn Dierx, Weir Evaluating grinding circuit efficiency metrics at the Newmont Tanami Operation Aidan Giblett, Black Swan Metallurgy Pty Ltd Reinstating regrind for recovery: Spiral technology and sulfide circuit upgrade at St Ivese Shawn Chan, Gold Fields Q&A with Session Chair (Session 3) Session Chair,
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM	Afternoon Tea (Day 1)
3:15 PM - 5:00 PM	Session 4 \| Geometallurgy Development of geometallurgical testing program for Oak Dam West, South Australia Yan Li, BHP Using the Geopyörä breakage test in a mine to mill application at a large copper mine Leonardo Lara, Geopyora Bridging the gap between historical test work and process design Adam Shaikh, Lycopodium Accelerating process decision-making through AI-based mineralogical analysis Henry Beal, Evolution Mining Application of advanced mineralogy to optimise flotation at the Hillgrove Gold–Antimony Project Nick Bristow, Larvotto Resources Q&A with Session Chair (Session 4) Session Chair, Day 1 Closing Remarks Presenter TBC,
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Welcome Reception


7:30 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens & Arrival Networking (Day 1)
8:30 AM - 10:10 AM	Session 1 \| Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Welcome to Country, Welcome from the Conference Chair Reg Radford, Gold Fields Welcome from AusIMM Stephen Durkin, AusIMM Ministerial Address Presenter TBC, Keynote \| Substitution as the solution to mineral shortages: The case of copper Martin Lynch, Keynote Q&A with Session Chair Session Chair,
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM	Morning Tea (Day 1)
10:40 AM - 12:05 PM	Session 2 \| Brownfields Upgrades - Flotation Applying modern flotation technology to improve fine particle recovery at Cadia Isaac Heath, Newmont Advanced flotation solutions for Sepon: Boosting concentrate grade and fine particle recovery in gold processing Homie Thanasekaran, Eriez Everything that glitters may be gold – Flash flotation in Ernest Henry’s Regrind Circuit Lindsey Killer, Evolution Mining - Ernest Henry Operaitons The success of the Jameson Cell rougher scalper at Prominent Hill Jessica van Sliedregt, Glencore Technology Q&A with Session Chair (Session 2) Session Chair,
12:05 PM - 1:05 PM	Lunch (Day 1)
1:05 PM - 2:45 PM	Session 3 \| Comminution (Part 1) Pebble crushing in AG/SAG circuits: Operation, dynamics and solutions Richard Bearman, Bear Rock Solutions Pty. Ltd. Issues with determining the SAG mill specific energy – Key drivers influencing mill selection Rajiv Chandramohan, Ausenco Success factors in HPGR circuit ramp-up and operation Bjorn Dierx, Weir Evaluating grinding circuit efficiency metrics at the Newmont Tanami Operation Aidan Giblett, Black Swan Metallurgy Pty Ltd Reinstating regrind for recovery: Spiral technology and sulfide circuit upgrade at St Ivese Shawn Chan, Gold Fields Q&A with Session Chair (Session 3) Session Chair,
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM	Afternoon Tea (Day 1)
3:15 PM - 5:00 PM	Session 4 \| Geometallurgy Development of geometallurgical testing program for Oak Dam West, South Australia Yan Li, BHP Using the Geopyörä breakage test in a mine to mill application at a large copper mine Leonardo Lara, Geopyora Bridging the gap between historical test work and process design Adam Shaikh, Lycopodium Accelerating process decision-making through AI-based mineralogical analysis Henry Beal, Evolution Mining Application of advanced mineralogy to optimise flotation at the Hillgrove Gold–Antimony Project Nick Bristow, Larvotto Resources Q&A with Session Chair (Session 4) Session Chair, Day 1 Closing Remarks Presenter TBC,
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Welcome Reception

Tuesday, October 20, 2026


8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens & Arrival Networking (Day 2)
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM	Session 5 \| Comminution (Part 2) Consultant Society James Carpenter, SRK Day 2 Welcome & Opening Remarks Presenter TBC, Keynote \| Cyclones don't grinding Brian Putland, Orway Mineral Consultants Keynote Q&A with Session Chair Session Chair, Mill lining for performance: A case study of the Hidden Valley SAG Mill Jarrod Pyke, Metso Engineering reliability in Cadia’s 40ft SAG Mill Alexandra McDonough, Newmont Improved gold recovery with milling aid Pionera L-800 during processing of high viscosity ores at Sepon mine Thomas Stauder, Borregaard AS Q&A with Session Chair (Session 5) Session Chair, The Consultants Soc Presenter TBC,
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM	Morning Tea (Day 2)
11:00 AM - 12:20 PM	Session 6 \| Process Control & Automation Grinding and flotation APC integration at Goldex Mine Ethan Kulbak, Woodgrove Technologies Inc. Smarter CIL at Hidden Valley: Pavilion8 MPC with soft sensors for real‑time optimisation Erin Daley, Rockwell Automation Review of an AI-driven advanced process control system for closed-loop flotation optimisation at MMG Dugald River Mine: 18 months post commissioning Warwick Smith, Hatch Digital twin for gold production at Ikkari mine, Finland Cesar Araujo, Metso Oyj Q&A with Session Chair (Session 6) Session Chair,
12:20 PM - 1:20 PM	Lunch (Day 2)
1:20 PM - 3:00 PM	Session 7 \| Design & Commissioning Extracting new value from old assets: A concentrate thickener upgrade project Edward Jarvie, Metso Autoclave preservation and recommissioning at Porgera Mine, Papua New Guinea Lai Pundi, New Porgera Limited Woodlawn mine restart (take 2) Carl Dorsch, Develop Operational readiness journey of the Mungari plant expansion Matthew Thompson, Evolution Mining Design, commissioning and operation of the Sabodala Massawa BIOX® Plant Johan Waldemar Olivier, Metso South Africa (Pty) Ltd Q&A with Session Chair (Session 7) Session Chair,
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM	Afternoon Tea (Day 2)
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Session 8 \| Data, Modelling & Hydromet Data is the new gold: Accelerating digital transformation at Northern Star Resources Hans Liang, Mipac Development and application of a Model-Based Tails Leach Optimisation Tool for uranium recovery at Olympic Dam Samuel Oliver, Mathworks Thirteen lessons from the battle field of metal accounting Rodolfo Espinosa-Gomez, Mineralis Consultants Pty Ltd Investigating un-leached gold in leach tails for optimum recovery Kylie Blackwell, WASM Curtin University Q&A with Session Chair (Session 8) Session Chair, Day 2 Closing Remarks Presenter TBC,
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM	Pre-dinner Networking Drinks
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM	Stand Up Conference Dinner


8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens & Arrival Networking (Day 2)
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM	Session 5 \| Comminution (Part 2) Consultant Society James Carpenter, SRK Day 2 Welcome & Opening Remarks Presenter TBC, Keynote \| Cyclones don't grinding Brian Putland, Orway Mineral Consultants Keynote Q&A with Session Chair Session Chair, Mill lining for performance: A case study of the Hidden Valley SAG Mill Jarrod Pyke, Metso Engineering reliability in Cadia’s 40ft SAG Mill Alexandra McDonough, Newmont Improved gold recovery with milling aid Pionera L-800 during processing of high viscosity ores at Sepon mine Thomas Stauder, Borregaard AS Q&A with Session Chair (Session 5) Session Chair, The Consultants Soc Presenter TBC,
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM	Morning Tea (Day 2)
11:00 AM - 12:20 PM	Session 6 \| Process Control & Automation Grinding and flotation APC integration at Goldex Mine Ethan Kulbak, Woodgrove Technologies Inc. Smarter CIL at Hidden Valley: Pavilion8 MPC with soft sensors for real‑time optimisation Erin Daley, Rockwell Automation Review of an AI-driven advanced process control system for closed-loop flotation optimisation at MMG Dugald River Mine: 18 months post commissioning Warwick Smith, Hatch Digital twin for gold production at Ikkari mine, Finland Cesar Araujo, Metso Oyj Q&A with Session Chair (Session 6) Session Chair,
12:20 PM - 1:20 PM	Lunch (Day 2)
1:20 PM - 3:00 PM	Session 7 \| Design & Commissioning Extracting new value from old assets: A concentrate thickener upgrade project Edward Jarvie, Metso Autoclave preservation and recommissioning at Porgera Mine, Papua New Guinea Lai Pundi, New Porgera Limited Woodlawn mine restart (take 2) Carl Dorsch, Develop Operational readiness journey of the Mungari plant expansion Matthew Thompson, Evolution Mining Design, commissioning and operation of the Sabodala Massawa BIOX® Plant Johan Waldemar Olivier, Metso South Africa (Pty) Ltd Q&A with Session Chair (Session 7) Session Chair,
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM	Afternoon Tea (Day 2)
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Session 8 \| Data, Modelling & Hydromet Data is the new gold: Accelerating digital transformation at Northern Star Resources Hans Liang, Mipac Development and application of a Model-Based Tails Leach Optimisation Tool for uranium recovery at Olympic Dam Samuel Oliver, Mathworks Thirteen lessons from the battle field of metal accounting Rodolfo Espinosa-Gomez, Mineralis Consultants Pty Ltd Investigating un-leached gold in leach tails for optimum recovery Kylie Blackwell, WASM Curtin University Q&A with Session Chair (Session 8) Session Chair, Day 2 Closing Remarks Presenter TBC,
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM	Pre-dinner Networking Drinks
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM	Stand Up Conference Dinner


8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens & Arrival Networking (Day 2)
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM	Session 5 \| Comminution (Part 2) Consultant Society James Carpenter, SRK Day 2 Welcome & Opening Remarks Presenter TBC, Keynote \| Cyclones don't grinding Brian Putland, Orway Mineral Consultants Keynote Q&A with Session Chair Session Chair, Mill lining for performance: A case study of the Hidden Valley SAG Mill Jarrod Pyke, Metso Engineering reliability in Cadia’s 40ft SAG Mill Alexandra McDonough, Newmont Improved gold recovery with milling aid Pionera L-800 during processing of high viscosity ores at Sepon mine Thomas Stauder, Borregaard AS Q&A with Session Chair (Session 5) Session Chair, The Consultants Soc Presenter TBC,
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM	Morning Tea (Day 2)
11:00 AM - 12:20 PM	Session 6 \| Process Control & Automation Grinding and flotation APC integration at Goldex Mine Ethan Kulbak, Woodgrove Technologies Inc. Smarter CIL at Hidden Valley: Pavilion8 MPC with soft sensors for real‑time optimisation Erin Daley, Rockwell Automation Review of an AI-driven advanced process control system for closed-loop flotation optimisation at MMG Dugald River Mine: 18 months post commissioning Warwick Smith, Hatch Digital twin for gold production at Ikkari mine, Finland Cesar Araujo, Metso Oyj Q&A with Session Chair (Session 6) Session Chair,
12:20 PM - 1:20 PM	Lunch (Day 2)
1:20 PM - 3:00 PM	Session 7 \| Design & Commissioning Extracting new value from old assets: A concentrate thickener upgrade project Edward Jarvie, Metso Autoclave preservation and recommissioning at Porgera Mine, Papua New Guinea Lai Pundi, New Porgera Limited Woodlawn mine restart (take 2) Carl Dorsch, Develop Operational readiness journey of the Mungari plant expansion Matthew Thompson, Evolution Mining Design, commissioning and operation of the Sabodala Massawa BIOX® Plant Johan Waldemar Olivier, Metso South Africa (Pty) Ltd Q&A with Session Chair (Session 7) Session Chair,
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM	Afternoon Tea (Day 2)
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Session 8 \| Data, Modelling & Hydromet Data is the new gold: Accelerating digital transformation at Northern Star Resources Hans Liang, Mipac Development and application of a Model-Based Tails Leach Optimisation Tool for uranium recovery at Olympic Dam Samuel Oliver, Mathworks Thirteen lessons from the battle field of metal accounting Rodolfo Espinosa-Gomez, Mineralis Consultants Pty Ltd Investigating un-leached gold in leach tails for optimum recovery Kylie Blackwell, WASM Curtin University Q&A with Session Chair (Session 8) Session Chair, Day 2 Closing Remarks Presenter TBC,
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM	Pre-dinner Networking Drinks
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM	Stand Up Conference Dinner

Wednesday, October 21, 2026


8:30 AM - 9:00 AM	Registration Opens & Arrival Networking (Day 3)
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM	Session 9 \| Panel Discussion Day 3 Welcome & Opening Remarks Presenter TBC, AI & Data Visualisation in Processing Plants Panel Discussion, MetSoc Presenter TBC,
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM	Morning Tea (Day 3)
10:45 AM - 12:25 PM	Session 10 \| Flotation 2 Replacing MIBC with Syensqo’s OREPREP F-501EU and OREPREP X-133EU Frothers at Harmony Gold Morobe Consolidated Goldfields Limited Flotation Plant Igor Ametov, Syensqo Opening up flotation hydrodynamics: Linking gas hold-up with recovery Natasha Walter, Kemtec Mineral Processing From laboratory to industry: Accelerating NaHS Oxidation to increase Cadia’s Molybdenum Plant run time Phil Sharman, Newmont Commissioning coarse flotation at BHP Carrapateena Rhys Jones, BHP The application of guar gum as a talc depressant improving copper concentrate grades in the Deflector Gold-Copper flotation circuit, Vault Minerals, Western Australia Germán Dario Figueroa Salguero, Vault Minerals Q&A with Session Chair (Session 10) Session Chair,
12:25 PM - 1:25 PM	Lunch (Day 3)
1:25 PM - 3:00 PM	Session 11 \| Emerging Technology & Tailings CSIRO’s recent developments in real-time monitoring of Slurry mineralogy and elemental content Yves Van Haarlem, CSIRO Integration of PGNAA for ore blending control at Kanmantoo Garry Noble, Themo Fisher Scientific Filter aid for fine and ultrafine particles: Laboratory to scale technological aspects of iron ore tailings filtration Livia Marques Faustino, Clariant Sensor-based ore sorting at Sky Metals Tallebung Tin Project Xingshi Yang, Tomra Q&A with Session Chair (Session 11) Session Chair, Presentation Awards & Conference Close Reg Radford, Gold Fields


8:30 AM - 9:00 AM	Registration Opens & Arrival Networking (Day 3)
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM	Session 9 \| Panel Discussion Day 3 Welcome & Opening Remarks Presenter TBC, AI & Data Visualisation in Processing Plants Panel Discussion, MetSoc Presenter TBC,
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM	Morning Tea (Day 3)
10:45 AM - 12:25 PM	Session 10 \| Flotation 2 Replacing MIBC with Syensqo’s OREPREP F-501EU and OREPREP X-133EU Frothers at Harmony Gold Morobe Consolidated Goldfields Limited Flotation Plant Igor Ametov, Syensqo Opening up flotation hydrodynamics: Linking gas hold-up with recovery Natasha Walter, Kemtec Mineral Processing From laboratory to industry: Accelerating NaHS Oxidation to increase Cadia’s Molybdenum Plant run time Phil Sharman, Newmont Commissioning coarse flotation at BHP Carrapateena Rhys Jones, BHP The application of guar gum as a talc depressant improving copper concentrate grades in the Deflector Gold-Copper flotation circuit, Vault Minerals, Western Australia Germán Dario Figueroa Salguero, Vault Minerals Q&A with Session Chair (Session 10) Session Chair,
12:25 PM - 1:25 PM	Lunch (Day 3)
1:25 PM - 3:00 PM	Session 11 \| Emerging Technology & Tailings CSIRO’s recent developments in real-time monitoring of Slurry mineralogy and elemental content Yves Van Haarlem, CSIRO Integration of PGNAA for ore blending control at Kanmantoo Garry Noble, Themo Fisher Scientific Filter aid for fine and ultrafine particles: Laboratory to scale technological aspects of iron ore tailings filtration Livia Marques Faustino, Clariant Sensor-based ore sorting at Sky Metals Tallebung Tin Project Xingshi Yang, Tomra Q&A with Session Chair (Session 11) Session Chair, Presentation Awards & Conference Close Reg Radford, Gold Fields


8:30 AM - 9:00 AM	Registration Opens & Arrival Networking (Day 3)
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM	Session 9 \| Panel Discussion Day 3 Welcome & Opening Remarks Presenter TBC, AI & Data Visualisation in Processing Plants Panel Discussion, MetSoc Presenter TBC,
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM	Morning Tea (Day 3)
10:45 AM - 12:25 PM	Session 10 \| Flotation 2 Replacing MIBC with Syensqo’s OREPREP F-501EU and OREPREP X-133EU Frothers at Harmony Gold Morobe Consolidated Goldfields Limited Flotation Plant Igor Ametov, Syensqo Opening up flotation hydrodynamics: Linking gas hold-up with recovery Natasha Walter, Kemtec Mineral Processing From laboratory to industry: Accelerating NaHS Oxidation to increase Cadia’s Molybdenum Plant run time Phil Sharman, Newmont Commissioning coarse flotation at BHP Carrapateena Rhys Jones, BHP The application of guar gum as a talc depressant improving copper concentrate grades in the Deflector Gold-Copper flotation circuit, Vault Minerals, Western Australia Germán Dario Figueroa Salguero, Vault Minerals Q&A with Session Chair (Session 10) Session Chair,
12:25 PM - 1:25 PM	Lunch (Day 3)
1:25 PM - 3:00 PM	Session 11 \| Emerging Technology & Tailings CSIRO’s recent developments in real-time monitoring of Slurry mineralogy and elemental content Yves Van Haarlem, CSIRO Integration of PGNAA for ore blending control at Kanmantoo Garry Noble, Themo Fisher Scientific Filter aid for fine and ultrafine particles: Laboratory to scale technological aspects of iron ore tailings filtration Livia Marques Faustino, Clariant Sensor-based ore sorting at Sky Metals Tallebung Tin Project Xingshi Yang, Tomra Q&A with Session Chair (Session 11) Session Chair, Presentation Awards & Conference Close Reg Radford, Gold Fields