Program | Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026

Strategic Mine Planning 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 AWST (Perth, Australia).

Tuesday, November 17, 2026

	Stream 1	Stream 2
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Tuesday)
8:20 AM - 10:15 AM	Session 1 \| Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Welcome to Country, Welcome from the Conference Chair Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University AusIMM Address Stephen Durkin, AusIMM, CEO Why mine plans fail: Value, predictability and flexibility under uncertainty Marcelo Godoy, AngloGold Ashanti Q&A Discussion \| Session 1 Session Chair, Commodity prices have changed. How have you adapted? Gerald Whittle, Whittle Consulting Q&A Discussion \| Session 1 Session Chair,
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM	Morning Tea (Tuesday)
Session 2 10:45 AM - 12:50 PM	Session 2a \| Transforming Planning Practice and Value Delivery Strategic Mine Planning as a Value-Creation Mechanism: Translating Geological Uncertainty into Economic Optionality, Capital-Allocation Quality and Project Success Felipe Bernal, Bhp Localised conditional simulation in mine planning: bridging deterministic and stochastic workflows Tarrant Elkington, Snowden Optiro Best practices for uncertainty management in mineral projects Luis Montiel Petro, Vale Base Metals From risk assessment to stochastic optimization: A systematic approach to de-risk an operating gold mine production schedule Adrienne Rispoli, IAMGOLD Corp. Strategic value optimization for an integrated copper open-pit and underground mining complex Bruno Gadelha, Vale Base Metals	Session 2b \| Risk-Informed Decision Support Value generation in mining: Does mineral resource management still matter? Peter Knights, The University of Queensland Strategic optimisation of the Voisey’s Bay mining and processing value chain Derek Galloway, Vale Effects of Non-Stationary Geostatistical Simulation on Open-Pit Production Scheduling Kadri Dagdelen, Colorado School of Mines Beyond the pit shell: A framework for strategic mine planning to challenge constraints and support value-driven decisions Branwen Price, Rio Tinto Improving confidence in evolutionary mine scheduling via uncertainty discounting William Reid, Maptek
12:50 PM - 1:50 PM	Lunch (Tuesday)
1:50 PM - 2:15 PM	Session 3 \| Keynote Presentation Beyond naive optimimisation, revisited Gavin Yeates, Gavin Yeates Consulting Q&A Discussion \| Session 3 Session Chair, Session Changeover Session Chair,
Session 3 1:50 PM - 4:15 PM	Session 3a \| Geometallurgy, Uncertainty and Mine-to-Mill Integration A geometallurgical framework using operational mining data for plant performance prediction and stochastic mine production scheduling Christian Both, Newmont Quantifying geometallurgical uncertainty for mine planning using machine learning and conditional simulation Cecilia Artica, University of Queensland - SMI Assessing the impact of nonlinear combinations from the geometallurgical models and geological uncertainty within the strategic mine planning Gabriel Gariba, Kpi Mining Solutions Strategic mine-to-mill as a risk-informed value system Farhad Faramarzi, Dassault Systemes	Session 3b \| Equipment Decisions in Strategic Planning A scenario-based sensitivity analysis framework for strategic evaluation of IPCC systems in long-term open-pit mine planning Hooman Askari-Nasab, University of Alberta Strategic conveyor-guided mine sequencing for cost stability and value optimisation in nickel open pit operations Andika Ramdhani Wilogo, PT Roda Jaya Sakti Incorporating maintenance-driven equipment costs into mine planning Mustafa Kumral, McGill University Diesel hazards to zero-emission safety: Techno-economic feasibility of mining fleet electrification at AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem Gold Mine, Ghana Augustine Acheampong, Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM	Afternoon Tea (Tuesday)
Session 4 4:45 PM - 5:35 PM	Session 4a \| Advances in strategic mine planning I Strategic value driven planning through integrated multimine optimisation Felipe Damasceno, VALE SA Blending as an alternative to determine the economic cut-off in open-pit iron ore mining Caio Almeida, Vallourec	Session 4b \| Orebody risk quantification I A kernel mean embedding method for high-order geostatistical simulation in orebody modelling Julien Herrero, McGill University - Department of Mining, Metals and Materials Engineering Risk-aware block support selection: Linking volume variance relationship-based selective mining unit decision to mining dilution-ore loss, and operational mining costs Erkan Aslan, Colorado School Of Mines
5:35 PM - 7:25 PM	Welcome Reception

	Stream 1	Stream 2
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Tuesday)
8:20 AM - 10:15 AM	Session 1 \| Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Welcome to Country, Welcome from the Conference Chair Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University AusIMM Address Stephen Durkin, AusIMM, CEO Why mine plans fail: Value, predictability and flexibility under uncertainty Marcelo Godoy, AngloGold Ashanti Q&A Discussion \| Session 1 Session Chair, Commodity prices have changed. How have you adapted? Gerald Whittle, Whittle Consulting Q&A Discussion \| Session 1 Session Chair,
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM	Morning Tea (Tuesday)
Session 2 10:45 AM - 12:50 PM	Session 2a \| Transforming Planning Practice and Value Delivery Strategic Mine Planning as a Value-Creation Mechanism: Translating Geological Uncertainty into Economic Optionality, Capital-Allocation Quality and Project Success Felipe Bernal, Bhp Localised conditional simulation in mine planning: bridging deterministic and stochastic workflows Tarrant Elkington, Snowden Optiro Best practices for uncertainty management in mineral projects Luis Montiel Petro, Vale Base Metals From risk assessment to stochastic optimization: A systematic approach to de-risk an operating gold mine production schedule Adrienne Rispoli, IAMGOLD Corp. Strategic value optimization for an integrated copper open-pit and underground mining complex Bruno Gadelha, Vale Base Metals	Session 2b \| Risk-Informed Decision Support Value generation in mining: Does mineral resource management still matter? Peter Knights, The University of Queensland Strategic optimisation of the Voisey’s Bay mining and processing value chain Derek Galloway, Vale Effects of Non-Stationary Geostatistical Simulation on Open-Pit Production Scheduling Kadri Dagdelen, Colorado School of Mines Beyond the pit shell: A framework for strategic mine planning to challenge constraints and support value-driven decisions Branwen Price, Rio Tinto Improving confidence in evolutionary mine scheduling via uncertainty discounting William Reid, Maptek
12:50 PM - 1:50 PM	Lunch (Tuesday)
1:50 PM - 2:15 PM	Session 3 \| Keynote Presentation Beyond naive optimimisation, revisited Gavin Yeates, Gavin Yeates Consulting Q&A Discussion \| Session 3 Session Chair, Session Changeover Session Chair,
Session 3 1:50 PM - 4:15 PM	Session 3a \| Geometallurgy, Uncertainty and Mine-to-Mill Integration A geometallurgical framework using operational mining data for plant performance prediction and stochastic mine production scheduling Christian Both, Newmont Quantifying geometallurgical uncertainty for mine planning using machine learning and conditional simulation Cecilia Artica, University of Queensland - SMI Assessing the impact of nonlinear combinations from the geometallurgical models and geological uncertainty within the strategic mine planning Gabriel Gariba, Kpi Mining Solutions Strategic mine-to-mill as a risk-informed value system Farhad Faramarzi, Dassault Systemes	Session 3b \| Equipment Decisions in Strategic Planning A scenario-based sensitivity analysis framework for strategic evaluation of IPCC systems in long-term open-pit mine planning Hooman Askari-Nasab, University of Alberta Strategic conveyor-guided mine sequencing for cost stability and value optimisation in nickel open pit operations Andika Ramdhani Wilogo, PT Roda Jaya Sakti Incorporating maintenance-driven equipment costs into mine planning Mustafa Kumral, McGill University Diesel hazards to zero-emission safety: Techno-economic feasibility of mining fleet electrification at AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem Gold Mine, Ghana Augustine Acheampong, Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM	Afternoon Tea (Tuesday)
Session 4 4:45 PM - 5:35 PM	Session 4a \| Advances in strategic mine planning I Strategic value driven planning through integrated multimine optimisation Felipe Damasceno, VALE SA Blending as an alternative to determine the economic cut-off in open-pit iron ore mining Caio Almeida, Vallourec	Session 4b \| Orebody risk quantification I A kernel mean embedding method for high-order geostatistical simulation in orebody modelling Julien Herrero, McGill University - Department of Mining, Metals and Materials Engineering Risk-aware block support selection: Linking volume variance relationship-based selective mining unit decision to mining dilution-ore loss, and operational mining costs Erkan Aslan, Colorado School Of Mines
5:35 PM - 7:25 PM	Welcome Reception

	Stream 1
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Tuesday)
8:20 AM - 10:15 AM	Session 1 \| Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Welcome to Country, Welcome from the Conference Chair Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University AusIMM Address Stephen Durkin, AusIMM, CEO Why mine plans fail: Value, predictability and flexibility under uncertainty Marcelo Godoy, AngloGold Ashanti Q&A Discussion \| Session 1 Session Chair, Commodity prices have changed. How have you adapted? Gerald Whittle, Whittle Consulting Q&A Discussion \| Session 1 Session Chair,
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM	Morning Tea (Tuesday)
Session 2 10:45 AM - 12:50 PM	Session 2a \| Transforming Planning Practice and Value Delivery Strategic Mine Planning as a Value-Creation Mechanism: Translating Geological Uncertainty into Economic Optionality, Capital-Allocation Quality and Project Success Felipe Bernal, Bhp Localised conditional simulation in mine planning: bridging deterministic and stochastic workflows Tarrant Elkington, Snowden Optiro Best practices for uncertainty management in mineral projects Luis Montiel Petro, Vale Base Metals From risk assessment to stochastic optimization: A systematic approach to de-risk an operating gold mine production schedule Adrienne Rispoli, IAMGOLD Corp. Strategic value optimization for an integrated copper open-pit and underground mining complex Bruno Gadelha, Vale Base Metals
12:50 PM - 1:50 PM	Lunch (Tuesday)
1:50 PM - 2:15 PM	Session 3 \| Keynote Presentation Beyond naive optimimisation, revisited Gavin Yeates, Gavin Yeates Consulting Q&A Discussion \| Session 3 Session Chair, Session Changeover Session Chair,
Session 3 1:50 PM - 4:15 PM	Session 3a \| Geometallurgy, Uncertainty and Mine-to-Mill Integration A geometallurgical framework using operational mining data for plant performance prediction and stochastic mine production scheduling Christian Both, Newmont Quantifying geometallurgical uncertainty for mine planning using machine learning and conditional simulation Cecilia Artica, University of Queensland - SMI Assessing the impact of nonlinear combinations from the geometallurgical models and geological uncertainty within the strategic mine planning Gabriel Gariba, Kpi Mining Solutions Strategic mine-to-mill as a risk-informed value system Farhad Faramarzi, Dassault Systemes
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM	Afternoon Tea (Tuesday)
Session 4 4:45 PM - 5:35 PM	Session 4a \| Advances in strategic mine planning I Strategic value driven planning through integrated multimine optimisation Felipe Damasceno, VALE SA Blending as an alternative to determine the economic cut-off in open-pit iron ore mining Caio Almeida, Vallourec
5:35 PM - 7:25 PM	Welcome Reception

	Stream 2
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Tuesday)
8:20 AM - 10:15 AM	Session 1 \| Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Welcome to Country, Welcome from the Conference Chair Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University AusIMM Address Stephen Durkin, AusIMM, CEO Why mine plans fail: Value, predictability and flexibility under uncertainty Marcelo Godoy, AngloGold Ashanti Q&A Discussion \| Session 1 Session Chair, Commodity prices have changed. How have you adapted? Gerald Whittle, Whittle Consulting Q&A Discussion \| Session 1 Session Chair,
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM	Morning Tea (Tuesday)
Session 2 10:45 AM - 12:50 PM	Session 2b \| Risk-Informed Decision Support Value generation in mining: Does mineral resource management still matter? Peter Knights, The University of Queensland Strategic optimisation of the Voisey’s Bay mining and processing value chain Derek Galloway, Vale Effects of Non-Stationary Geostatistical Simulation on Open-Pit Production Scheduling Kadri Dagdelen, Colorado School of Mines Beyond the pit shell: A framework for strategic mine planning to challenge constraints and support value-driven decisions Branwen Price, Rio Tinto Improving confidence in evolutionary mine scheduling via uncertainty discounting William Reid, Maptek
12:50 PM - 1:50 PM	Lunch (Tuesday)
1:50 PM - 2:15 PM	Session 3 \| Keynote Presentation Beyond naive optimimisation, revisited Gavin Yeates, Gavin Yeates Consulting Q&A Discussion \| Session 3 Session Chair, Session Changeover Session Chair,
Session 3 1:50 PM - 4:15 PM	Session 3b \| Equipment Decisions in Strategic Planning A scenario-based sensitivity analysis framework for strategic evaluation of IPCC systems in long-term open-pit mine planning Hooman Askari-Nasab, University of Alberta Strategic conveyor-guided mine sequencing for cost stability and value optimisation in nickel open pit operations Andika Ramdhani Wilogo, PT Roda Jaya Sakti Incorporating maintenance-driven equipment costs into mine planning Mustafa Kumral, McGill University Diesel hazards to zero-emission safety: Techno-economic feasibility of mining fleet electrification at AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem Gold Mine, Ghana Augustine Acheampong, Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM	Afternoon Tea (Tuesday)
Session 4 4:45 PM - 5:35 PM	Session 4b \| Orebody risk quantification I A kernel mean embedding method for high-order geostatistical simulation in orebody modelling Julien Herrero, McGill University - Department of Mining, Metals and Materials Engineering Risk-aware block support selection: Linking volume variance relationship-based selective mining unit decision to mining dilution-ore loss, and operational mining costs Erkan Aslan, Colorado School Of Mines
5:35 PM - 7:25 PM	Welcome Reception

Wednesday, November 18, 2026

	Stream 1	Stream 2
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Wednesday)
8:30 AM - 10:35 AM	Session 5 \| Opening Plenary Welcome and Opening Remarks \| Day 2 Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University Geology, structural uncertainty and the multi dimensional reality of strategic mine planning Rhonda O'Sullivan, BHP Q&A Disscussion \| Session 5 Session Chair, Unlocking value in mining projects: A stochastic mine planning workflow for complex gold-copper leach operations under geological uncertainty Agung Prawasono, Kinross Gold Corporation Q&A Discussion \| Session 5 Session Chair, From asset review to executable growth transforming strategic mine planning at Vale Base Metals Mario Freitas Silva, Vale Base Metals Q&A Discussion \| Session 5 Session Chair,
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM	Morning Tea (Wednesday)
Session 6 11:05 AM - 1:05 PM	Session 6a \| Integrated Decision Support Mind the Gap: Aligning Strategic Vision with Technical Evidence in Strategic Mine Planning Amit Suchak, BHP Integrating planning horizons and capital investments for mining complexes with uncertainty using multi-level stochastic optimization Liam Findlay, Mcgill University Multi-objective blast optimisation as a decision variable in mine production scheduling Rahad Supriatna, Unsw Dynamic structural modelling for near real-time inputs for geotechnical risk management and optimisation Akash Jani, Rio Tinto Closing the gap between strategic and tactical mine planning Erick Ponce, Agnico Eagle Mines	Session 6b \| AI, Analytics and Intelligent Planning Autonomous intelligence for mining productivity: a multi-agent AI approach to operational value creation Nicolas Guerin, Mines Paris - Psl AI-powered mine reconciliation: enhancing operational efficiency Stephanie Bream, AMC Consultants Learning interpretable dispatch heuristics for real-time open-pit truck dispatching under uncertainty Jingyu Luo, McGill University L2Ofor2SP: Learning to optimize for two-stage stochastic programs Lidiia Shchichko, Concordia University Reinforcement learning-based stochastic optimization of short-term production scheduling and shovel allocation incorporating truck dispatching policies and environmental constraints. Victor Balboa Espinoza, McGill University
1:05 PM - 2:05 PM	Lunch (Wednesday)
2:05 PM - 2:30 PM	Session 7 \| Keynote Presentation Holistic optimisation: Integrating agriculture into mining for sustainable value Brett King, Comet Strategy Pty Ltd Q&A Discussion \| Session 7 Session Chair, Session Changeover Session Chair,
Session 7 2:05 PM - 4:30 PM	Session 7a \| Planning for Sustainability and Closure Integrating closure in the mine plan: Practical ways to reduce risk and cost, and improve ESG outcomes Christine Lison, Curtin University An open-source optimization model for sustainable open-pit mine production scheduling Justina Senam Lotsu, Missouri University Of Science And Technology Digital Solutions for sustainable mining: Optimization methodology for pit limit & extracting sequence definition to reduce the mining impact and closure liabilities Florian Egger, Rio Tinto Regenerative mine planning: Embedding closure, carbon sequestration, and circular land use into mine design Eliakim Chauke, University of the Witswatersrand	Session 7b \| Underground Design and Planning I Transforming mine planning: Auto-design rules for rapid underground layouts in Deswik and Datamine Ashish Saxena, AMC Consultants Simultaneous stochastic optimization of underground mining complexes: production and development scheduling with multiple design alternatives under uncertainty Angus Macrae, Cosmo Stochastic Mine Planning Laboratory Underground mining method selection for narrow veins at depth at Cuiabá Mine Rodolfo Silva, AngloGold Ashanti Cut-off Grade as a variable: An emergent property of multi-constraint mine plan optimisation at Evolution Mining’s Red Lake Operations Blake Talbot, Evolution Mining
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Afternoon Tea (Wednesday)
Session 8 5:00 PM - 5:50 PM	Session 8a \| Advances in strategic mine planning II From file-based workflows to decision support systems: a framework for scalable mine planning in the cloud era Luke Victor, Maptek Incorporating mining direction into strategic mine planning: modelling and implementation Iain Rudge, Dassault Systemes	Session 8b \| Orebody risk quantification II Optimization of selective mining unit (SMU) size through misclassification and economic analysis using sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS): application to a copper deposit Noaman Bouhlali, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University Generative geostatistical simulation using Restricted Boltzmann Machine, Comparison with VAEs and GANs Yanyan Mu, COSMO, McGill University

	Stream 1	Stream 2
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Wednesday)
8:30 AM - 10:35 AM	Session 5 \| Opening Plenary Welcome and Opening Remarks \| Day 2 Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University Geology, structural uncertainty and the multi dimensional reality of strategic mine planning Rhonda O'Sullivan, BHP Q&A Disscussion \| Session 5 Session Chair, Unlocking value in mining projects: A stochastic mine planning workflow for complex gold-copper leach operations under geological uncertainty Agung Prawasono, Kinross Gold Corporation Q&A Discussion \| Session 5 Session Chair, From asset review to executable growth transforming strategic mine planning at Vale Base Metals Mario Freitas Silva, Vale Base Metals Q&A Discussion \| Session 5 Session Chair,
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM	Morning Tea (Wednesday)
Session 6 11:05 AM - 1:05 PM	Session 6a \| Integrated Decision Support Mind the Gap: Aligning Strategic Vision with Technical Evidence in Strategic Mine Planning Amit Suchak, BHP Integrating planning horizons and capital investments for mining complexes with uncertainty using multi-level stochastic optimization Liam Findlay, Mcgill University Multi-objective blast optimisation as a decision variable in mine production scheduling Rahad Supriatna, Unsw Dynamic structural modelling for near real-time inputs for geotechnical risk management and optimisation Akash Jani, Rio Tinto Closing the gap between strategic and tactical mine planning Erick Ponce, Agnico Eagle Mines	Session 6b \| AI, Analytics and Intelligent Planning Autonomous intelligence for mining productivity: a multi-agent AI approach to operational value creation Nicolas Guerin, Mines Paris - Psl AI-powered mine reconciliation: enhancing operational efficiency Stephanie Bream, AMC Consultants Learning interpretable dispatch heuristics for real-time open-pit truck dispatching under uncertainty Jingyu Luo, McGill University L2Ofor2SP: Learning to optimize for two-stage stochastic programs Lidiia Shchichko, Concordia University Reinforcement learning-based stochastic optimization of short-term production scheduling and shovel allocation incorporating truck dispatching policies and environmental constraints. Victor Balboa Espinoza, McGill University
1:05 PM - 2:05 PM	Lunch (Wednesday)
2:05 PM - 2:30 PM	Session 7 \| Keynote Presentation Holistic optimisation: Integrating agriculture into mining for sustainable value Brett King, Comet Strategy Pty Ltd Q&A Discussion \| Session 7 Session Chair, Session Changeover Session Chair,
Session 7 2:05 PM - 4:30 PM	Session 7a \| Planning for Sustainability and Closure Integrating closure in the mine plan: Practical ways to reduce risk and cost, and improve ESG outcomes Christine Lison, Curtin University An open-source optimization model for sustainable open-pit mine production scheduling Justina Senam Lotsu, Missouri University Of Science And Technology Digital Solutions for sustainable mining: Optimization methodology for pit limit & extracting sequence definition to reduce the mining impact and closure liabilities Florian Egger, Rio Tinto Regenerative mine planning: Embedding closure, carbon sequestration, and circular land use into mine design Eliakim Chauke, University of the Witswatersrand	Session 7b \| Underground Design and Planning I Transforming mine planning: Auto-design rules for rapid underground layouts in Deswik and Datamine Ashish Saxena, AMC Consultants Simultaneous stochastic optimization of underground mining complexes: production and development scheduling with multiple design alternatives under uncertainty Angus Macrae, Cosmo Stochastic Mine Planning Laboratory Underground mining method selection for narrow veins at depth at Cuiabá Mine Rodolfo Silva, AngloGold Ashanti Cut-off Grade as a variable: An emergent property of multi-constraint mine plan optimisation at Evolution Mining’s Red Lake Operations Blake Talbot, Evolution Mining
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Afternoon Tea (Wednesday)
Session 8 5:00 PM - 5:50 PM	Session 8a \| Advances in strategic mine planning II From file-based workflows to decision support systems: a framework for scalable mine planning in the cloud era Luke Victor, Maptek Incorporating mining direction into strategic mine planning: modelling and implementation Iain Rudge, Dassault Systemes	Session 8b \| Orebody risk quantification II Optimization of selective mining unit (SMU) size through misclassification and economic analysis using sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS): application to a copper deposit Noaman Bouhlali, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University Generative geostatistical simulation using Restricted Boltzmann Machine, Comparison with VAEs and GANs Yanyan Mu, COSMO, McGill University

	Stream 1
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Wednesday)
8:30 AM - 10:35 AM	Session 5 \| Opening Plenary Welcome and Opening Remarks \| Day 2 Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University Geology, structural uncertainty and the multi dimensional reality of strategic mine planning Rhonda O'Sullivan, BHP Q&A Disscussion \| Session 5 Session Chair, Unlocking value in mining projects: A stochastic mine planning workflow for complex gold-copper leach operations under geological uncertainty Agung Prawasono, Kinross Gold Corporation Q&A Discussion \| Session 5 Session Chair, From asset review to executable growth transforming strategic mine planning at Vale Base Metals Mario Freitas Silva, Vale Base Metals Q&A Discussion \| Session 5 Session Chair,
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM	Morning Tea (Wednesday)
Session 6 11:05 AM - 1:05 PM	Session 6a \| Integrated Decision Support Mind the Gap: Aligning Strategic Vision with Technical Evidence in Strategic Mine Planning Amit Suchak, BHP Integrating planning horizons and capital investments for mining complexes with uncertainty using multi-level stochastic optimization Liam Findlay, Mcgill University Multi-objective blast optimisation as a decision variable in mine production scheduling Rahad Supriatna, Unsw Dynamic structural modelling for near real-time inputs for geotechnical risk management and optimisation Akash Jani, Rio Tinto Closing the gap between strategic and tactical mine planning Erick Ponce, Agnico Eagle Mines
1:05 PM - 2:05 PM	Lunch (Wednesday)
2:05 PM - 2:30 PM	Session 7 \| Keynote Presentation Holistic optimisation: Integrating agriculture into mining for sustainable value Brett King, Comet Strategy Pty Ltd Q&A Discussion \| Session 7 Session Chair, Session Changeover Session Chair,
Session 7 2:05 PM - 4:30 PM	Session 7a \| Planning for Sustainability and Closure Integrating closure in the mine plan: Practical ways to reduce risk and cost, and improve ESG outcomes Christine Lison, Curtin University An open-source optimization model for sustainable open-pit mine production scheduling Justina Senam Lotsu, Missouri University Of Science And Technology Digital Solutions for sustainable mining: Optimization methodology for pit limit & extracting sequence definition to reduce the mining impact and closure liabilities Florian Egger, Rio Tinto Regenerative mine planning: Embedding closure, carbon sequestration, and circular land use into mine design Eliakim Chauke, University of the Witswatersrand
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Afternoon Tea (Wednesday)
Session 8 5:00 PM - 5:50 PM	Session 8a \| Advances in strategic mine planning II From file-based workflows to decision support systems: a framework for scalable mine planning in the cloud era Luke Victor, Maptek Incorporating mining direction into strategic mine planning: modelling and implementation Iain Rudge, Dassault Systemes

	Stream 2
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Wednesday)
8:30 AM - 10:35 AM	Session 5 \| Opening Plenary Welcome and Opening Remarks \| Day 2 Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University Geology, structural uncertainty and the multi dimensional reality of strategic mine planning Rhonda O'Sullivan, BHP Q&A Disscussion \| Session 5 Session Chair, Unlocking value in mining projects: A stochastic mine planning workflow for complex gold-copper leach operations under geological uncertainty Agung Prawasono, Kinross Gold Corporation Q&A Discussion \| Session 5 Session Chair, From asset review to executable growth transforming strategic mine planning at Vale Base Metals Mario Freitas Silva, Vale Base Metals Q&A Discussion \| Session 5 Session Chair,
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM	Morning Tea (Wednesday)
Session 6 11:05 AM - 1:05 PM	Session 6b \| AI, Analytics and Intelligent Planning Autonomous intelligence for mining productivity: a multi-agent AI approach to operational value creation Nicolas Guerin, Mines Paris - Psl AI-powered mine reconciliation: enhancing operational efficiency Stephanie Bream, AMC Consultants Learning interpretable dispatch heuristics for real-time open-pit truck dispatching under uncertainty Jingyu Luo, McGill University L2Ofor2SP: Learning to optimize for two-stage stochastic programs Lidiia Shchichko, Concordia University Reinforcement learning-based stochastic optimization of short-term production scheduling and shovel allocation incorporating truck dispatching policies and environmental constraints. Victor Balboa Espinoza, McGill University
1:05 PM - 2:05 PM	Lunch (Wednesday)
2:05 PM - 2:30 PM	Session 7 \| Keynote Presentation Holistic optimisation: Integrating agriculture into mining for sustainable value Brett King, Comet Strategy Pty Ltd Q&A Discussion \| Session 7 Session Chair, Session Changeover Session Chair,
Session 7 2:05 PM - 4:30 PM	Session 7b \| Underground Design and Planning I Transforming mine planning: Auto-design rules for rapid underground layouts in Deswik and Datamine Ashish Saxena, AMC Consultants Simultaneous stochastic optimization of underground mining complexes: production and development scheduling with multiple design alternatives under uncertainty Angus Macrae, Cosmo Stochastic Mine Planning Laboratory Underground mining method selection for narrow veins at depth at Cuiabá Mine Rodolfo Silva, AngloGold Ashanti Cut-off Grade as a variable: An emergent property of multi-constraint mine plan optimisation at Evolution Mining’s Red Lake Operations Blake Talbot, Evolution Mining
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Afternoon Tea (Wednesday)
Session 8 5:00 PM - 5:50 PM	Session 8b \| Orebody risk quantification II Optimization of selective mining unit (SMU) size through misclassification and economic analysis using sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS): application to a copper deposit Noaman Bouhlali, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University Generative geostatistical simulation using Restricted Boltzmann Machine, Comparison with VAEs and GANs Yanyan Mu, COSMO, McGill University

Thursday, November 19, 2026

	Stream 1	Stream 2
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Thursday)
8:30 AM - 10:35 AM	Session 9 \| Opening Plenary Welcome and Opening Remarks \| Day 3 Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University Institutional memory: Remembering why decisions were made Eduardo Coloma, Maptek Pty Ltd Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair, Evolution of mine planning to include the uncertainty as a critical factor to define the strategy of a mine asset Orlando Leiva, Anglo American Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair, Managing Resource Uncertainty in a Large Mining Organizations Arja Jewbali, Newmont Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair,
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM	Morning Tea (Thursday)
Session 10 11:05 AM - 1:10 PM	Session 10a \| Optimization Under Uncertainty: Models to Decisions Assessing strategic production schedules of mining complexes and project evaluation impacts relating to uncertainty Will Patton, Bhp Generating operational mine schedule using a stochastic block-based simultaneous optimization framework Alisson Mayrink, Kpi Mining Unlocking opportunities through a stochastic production plan optimization of an iron ore greenfield mining project Joao Pedro De Carvalho, Vale SA Hybrid mine planning approach integrating direct block scheduling and genetic algorithms for operational phase design Jose Mamani, Qori Plan Multi-objective genetic algorithm for strategic open pit mine planning: Generating pareto-optimal schedules for value-feasibility trade-offs Jérémy Andre, Maptek	Session 10b \| Underground Design and Planning II Dynamic Optimization of Integrated Mine Value Chains: A Tractable MILP Framework for Adaptive Decision-Making Junlin Qu, The University of Adelaide Geotechnical simulation for block caving: Quantifying rock mass uncertainty to drive long term planning at Carrapateena Shaun Light, Bhp A Stochastic Economic Block-Model Framework for Optimising Underground Stope Layouts Under Grade Uncertainty for a Platinum-Group-Element Deposit Adeodatus Nhleko, Centre for Sustainable Mining, North-West University Planning-driven assessment of open pit–underground mining interactions and transitions: a case-based framework Angelina Anani, University of Arizona Integration of machine learning and mixed-integer programming in underground mine planning Prosper Chimunhu, Wasm
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM	Lunch (Thursday)
2:10 PM - 2:35 PM	Session 11 \| Panel Discussion TBC Panel Moderator Vanessa Lickfold, Independent
Session 11 2:10 PM - 4:15 PM	Session 11a \| Data-Driven Planning and Digital Decision Support Incorporating geological and equipment uncertainty into two-year budget (2YB) planning Ilnur Minniakhmetov, Bhp Debottlenecking underground stoping operations using an integrated mine-to-mill-to-backfill digital twin and optimization model Ashish Kumar, Newmont Pit optimization for large models in the presence of geologic and economic uncertainty Matthew Deutsch, Resource Modeling Solutions AI enabled strategic planning - why people are the mining industry’s real asset Belinda Yaqub, Rio Tinto	Session 11b \| Economic Risk in Planning Strategic capital allocation methods for commodity cycle resilience Liz Deucker, Aurumiq Deterministic and stochastic metal price models and implications for strategic mine planning Steven Hoerger, Peak View Mine Planning LLC The role and application of techno-economics theory in the development of mining projects Michael Fox-Martin, Mventech Leveraging underutilised statistical techniques and low-cost data to drive optimisation and generate value in strategic life-of-mine planning: a case study Leigh Lawrence, Whittle Consulting
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM	Afternoon Tea (Thursday)
4:45 PM - 5:15 PM	Session 12 \| Closing Plenary & Awards Conference Close & Award Presentations Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University

	Stream 1	Stream 2
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Thursday)
8:30 AM - 10:35 AM	Session 9 \| Opening Plenary Welcome and Opening Remarks \| Day 3 Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University Institutional memory: Remembering why decisions were made Eduardo Coloma, Maptek Pty Ltd Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair, Evolution of mine planning to include the uncertainty as a critical factor to define the strategy of a mine asset Orlando Leiva, Anglo American Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair, Managing Resource Uncertainty in a Large Mining Organizations Arja Jewbali, Newmont Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair,
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM	Morning Tea (Thursday)
Session 10 11:05 AM - 1:10 PM	Session 10a \| Optimization Under Uncertainty: Models to Decisions Assessing strategic production schedules of mining complexes and project evaluation impacts relating to uncertainty Will Patton, Bhp Generating operational mine schedule using a stochastic block-based simultaneous optimization framework Alisson Mayrink, Kpi Mining Unlocking opportunities through a stochastic production plan optimization of an iron ore greenfield mining project Joao Pedro De Carvalho, Vale SA Hybrid mine planning approach integrating direct block scheduling and genetic algorithms for operational phase design Jose Mamani, Qori Plan Multi-objective genetic algorithm for strategic open pit mine planning: Generating pareto-optimal schedules for value-feasibility trade-offs Jérémy Andre, Maptek	Session 10b \| Underground Design and Planning II Dynamic Optimization of Integrated Mine Value Chains: A Tractable MILP Framework for Adaptive Decision-Making Junlin Qu, The University of Adelaide Geotechnical simulation for block caving: Quantifying rock mass uncertainty to drive long term planning at Carrapateena Shaun Light, Bhp A Stochastic Economic Block-Model Framework for Optimising Underground Stope Layouts Under Grade Uncertainty for a Platinum-Group-Element Deposit Adeodatus Nhleko, Centre for Sustainable Mining, North-West University Planning-driven assessment of open pit–underground mining interactions and transitions: a case-based framework Angelina Anani, University of Arizona Integration of machine learning and mixed-integer programming in underground mine planning Prosper Chimunhu, Wasm
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM	Lunch (Thursday)
2:10 PM - 2:35 PM	Session 11 \| Panel Discussion TBC Panel Moderator Vanessa Lickfold, Independent
Session 11 2:10 PM - 4:15 PM	Session 11a \| Data-Driven Planning and Digital Decision Support Incorporating geological and equipment uncertainty into two-year budget (2YB) planning Ilnur Minniakhmetov, Bhp Debottlenecking underground stoping operations using an integrated mine-to-mill-to-backfill digital twin and optimization model Ashish Kumar, Newmont Pit optimization for large models in the presence of geologic and economic uncertainty Matthew Deutsch, Resource Modeling Solutions AI enabled strategic planning - why people are the mining industry’s real asset Belinda Yaqub, Rio Tinto	Session 11b \| Economic Risk in Planning Strategic capital allocation methods for commodity cycle resilience Liz Deucker, Aurumiq Deterministic and stochastic metal price models and implications for strategic mine planning Steven Hoerger, Peak View Mine Planning LLC The role and application of techno-economics theory in the development of mining projects Michael Fox-Martin, Mventech Leveraging underutilised statistical techniques and low-cost data to drive optimisation and generate value in strategic life-of-mine planning: a case study Leigh Lawrence, Whittle Consulting
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM	Afternoon Tea (Thursday)
4:45 PM - 5:15 PM	Session 12 \| Closing Plenary & Awards Conference Close & Award Presentations Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University

	Stream 1
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Thursday)
8:30 AM - 10:35 AM	Session 9 \| Opening Plenary Welcome and Opening Remarks \| Day 3 Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University Institutional memory: Remembering why decisions were made Eduardo Coloma, Maptek Pty Ltd Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair, Evolution of mine planning to include the uncertainty as a critical factor to define the strategy of a mine asset Orlando Leiva, Anglo American Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair, Managing Resource Uncertainty in a Large Mining Organizations Arja Jewbali, Newmont Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair,
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM	Morning Tea (Thursday)
Session 10 11:05 AM - 1:10 PM	Session 10a \| Optimization Under Uncertainty: Models to Decisions Assessing strategic production schedules of mining complexes and project evaluation impacts relating to uncertainty Will Patton, Bhp Generating operational mine schedule using a stochastic block-based simultaneous optimization framework Alisson Mayrink, Kpi Mining Unlocking opportunities through a stochastic production plan optimization of an iron ore greenfield mining project Joao Pedro De Carvalho, Vale SA Hybrid mine planning approach integrating direct block scheduling and genetic algorithms for operational phase design Jose Mamani, Qori Plan Multi-objective genetic algorithm for strategic open pit mine planning: Generating pareto-optimal schedules for value-feasibility trade-offs Jérémy Andre, Maptek
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM	Lunch (Thursday)
2:10 PM - 2:35 PM	Session 11 \| Panel Discussion TBC Panel Moderator Vanessa Lickfold, Independent
Session 11 2:10 PM - 4:15 PM	Session 11a \| Data-Driven Planning and Digital Decision Support Incorporating geological and equipment uncertainty into two-year budget (2YB) planning Ilnur Minniakhmetov, Bhp Debottlenecking underground stoping operations using an integrated mine-to-mill-to-backfill digital twin and optimization model Ashish Kumar, Newmont Pit optimization for large models in the presence of geologic and economic uncertainty Matthew Deutsch, Resource Modeling Solutions AI enabled strategic planning - why people are the mining industry’s real asset Belinda Yaqub, Rio Tinto
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM	Afternoon Tea (Thursday)
4:45 PM - 5:15 PM	Session 12 \| Closing Plenary & Awards Conference Close & Award Presentations Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University

	Stream 2
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration Opens I Arrival Networking (Thursday)
8:30 AM - 10:35 AM	Session 9 \| Opening Plenary Welcome and Opening Remarks \| Day 3 Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University Institutional memory: Remembering why decisions were made Eduardo Coloma, Maptek Pty Ltd Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair, Evolution of mine planning to include the uncertainty as a critical factor to define the strategy of a mine asset Orlando Leiva, Anglo American Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair, Managing Resource Uncertainty in a Large Mining Organizations Arja Jewbali, Newmont Q&A Discussion \| Session 9 Session Chair,
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM	Morning Tea (Thursday)
Session 10 11:05 AM - 1:10 PM	Session 10b \| Underground Design and Planning II Dynamic Optimization of Integrated Mine Value Chains: A Tractable MILP Framework for Adaptive Decision-Making Junlin Qu, The University of Adelaide Geotechnical simulation for block caving: Quantifying rock mass uncertainty to drive long term planning at Carrapateena Shaun Light, Bhp A Stochastic Economic Block-Model Framework for Optimising Underground Stope Layouts Under Grade Uncertainty for a Platinum-Group-Element Deposit Adeodatus Nhleko, Centre for Sustainable Mining, North-West University Planning-driven assessment of open pit–underground mining interactions and transitions: a case-based framework Angelina Anani, University of Arizona Integration of machine learning and mixed-integer programming in underground mine planning Prosper Chimunhu, Wasm
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM	Lunch (Thursday)
2:10 PM - 2:35 PM	Session 11 \| Panel Discussion TBC Panel Moderator Vanessa Lickfold, Independent
Session 11 2:10 PM - 4:15 PM	Session 11b \| Economic Risk in Planning Strategic capital allocation methods for commodity cycle resilience Liz Deucker, Aurumiq Deterministic and stochastic metal price models and implications for strategic mine planning Steven Hoerger, Peak View Mine Planning LLC The role and application of techno-economics theory in the development of mining projects Michael Fox-Martin, Mventech Leveraging underutilised statistical techniques and low-cost data to drive optimisation and generate value in strategic life-of-mine planning: a case study Leigh Lawrence, Whittle Consulting
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM	Afternoon Tea (Thursday)
4:45 PM - 5:15 PM	Session 12 \| Closing Plenary & Awards Conference Close & Award Presentations Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University

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