Dr. Jen F. Ellis is a geoscientist and leader in mine geology and structural modeling, currently heading the Mine Geology & Resource team at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Copper Mine in Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 15 years of global experience across mining operations, consulting, and research, Dr. Ellis brings deep technical expertise and strategic insight to the forefront of geological modeling and ore body knowledge. Her expertise spans predictive fracture analysis, AI integration in geological workflows, and operational excellence, with a strong focus on safety, culture, and continuous improvement.

Maree is a geologist with 30 years’ experience in the mining industry. Maree is a keen collaborator with strong multi-tasking skills and a focus on efficiency. Maree has a broad range of geological experience acquired ‘from the bottom up’ having worked as a field assistant in exploration and learning her resource and project evaluation skills from experienced industry professionals. Maree has been involved in a wide range of commodities and project styles and enjoys client contact and mentoring. In industry and as a consultant, she has contributed to numerous studies from scoping to definitive feasibility studies and reviews at due diligence level. Maree is a Competent Person for precious and base metal deposits in a variety of settings.

Ron Reid is an experienced geologist with 30 years of experience in the mining and exploration industry, currently serving as Group Resource Geologist for Harmony Australasia. His career spans a diverse range of roles across greenfields and brownfields exploration, geological modelling, resource development and estimation, and mining operations—both open-cut and underground—in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Nicaragua, and Namibia. He has worked extensively in copper and gold, with additional experience in uranium, nickel, base metals, and iron ore. Ron has held senior geology roles in both major mining houses and junior explorers, where he has also contributed as a Resource geologist, GIS geologist and Geological Database Administrator. He is a specialist in structural geology and its controls on mineralisation, and has played a key role in advancing the Wafi-Golpu project by developing a structural model that identified critical thrust faults and folding with significant implications for resource modelling and mine planning. This work forms the basis of his ongoing PhD research. A high-end user of Micromine and Leapfrog Geo, Ron integrates advanced 3D geological modelling with both linear and non-linear resource estimation methods. His software expertise also includes Micromine, Leapfrog, Surpac, Isatis, Vulcan, and MapInfo/Discover.

Matthew has worked as a geologist in various roles for exploration and mining companies across Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand and is currently Oceanagold's Senior Geologist for Resource Development at its Macraes operation in the South Island of New Zealand.

Ranjan is a tech-savvy and passionate geologist with over 20 years of experience across multiple commodities. His expertise spans a wide range of geological services, involving geological modelling, data analysis, geological risk assessment and geostatistics. He excels in mentoring and leading technical teams, with a strong focus on utilizing conditional simulations and emerging data interpretative solutions to enhance drilling optimization and address geological uncertainty in mining activities. Currently, he is working as Superintendent of Geological Modelling at BMA in Brisbane. His family comprises of teenage son, a furry pet daughter, and a loving wife. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and professional cooking.

Adel Vatandoost is leading the Resource Characterisation projects within Fortescue’s Exploration group and plays a key role in advancing geometallurgical programs. With a background in ore characterisation, his work focuses on driving data-informed decisions, technical innovation, and collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams.