Professor Peter Knights is the Discipline Lead for Mining Engineering with the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering at the University of Queensland. From 1996-2015 he was an Assistant and subsequently Associate Professor with the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, based in Santiago, Chile. He holds a B.Eng. (Mech) from the University of Melbourne, a M.Eng (Systems) from RMIT University and a PhD (Mining) from McGill University, Canada. His research interests focus on mining systems, asset management and mine design and planning. Prof Knights developed the Jack-knife approach for classifying chronic unplanned maintenance downtime events, now incorporated into GE Wabtec’s APM software which is in regular use by a number of large mining companies. More recently, his work has focused on zero entry mining systems, safety improvements related to wheel and tyre handling for mining haul trucks, and mine design for ESG, a philosophy whereby ESG risks and opportunities are incorporated into early stage mine design.

Derek Galloway is a Principal Engineer in Vale’s Strategic Planning team, with over a decade of international experience specialising in underground mine planning, long range strategy and value driven optimisation. He has worked across multiple countries, commodities and underground mining methods, building a broad technical foundation and a global perspective on creating long term value. Derek’s career spans the full project lifecycle from conceptual studies through pre feasibility and feasibility to execution and operational integration. He focuses on developing strategic, practical and economically optimised plans that translate robust analysis into executable outcomes for underground operations. An advocate for modern planning practices, Derek has implemented advanced mine design and optimisation tools, automated workflows and planning procedures that improve decision quality, cycle time and final project value. His current interests include stochastic planning, cut‑off selection and sequence optimisation. He emphasises value delivery and schedule robustness, supported by practical outputs such as executable schedules with realistic constraints and repeatable workflow

Dr. Kadri Dagdelen is a professor in the Mining Engineering Department at Colorado School of Mines, where he has been shaping the future of mining engineering education and research since 1992. Holding a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering with a focus on geostatistics from the Colorado School of Mines and a Master of Engineering from L’ecoledes Mines de Paris, Dr. Dagdelen brings a robust academic and practical background to his teaching and research activities. Dr. Dagdelen’s expertise encompasses mine planning, optimization, and geostatistics. He has developed and taught a variety of courses, ranging from computer applications to advanced geostatistical ore reserve estimation to operations research applications in mining. His professional tenure at Homestake Mining Company as a Manager and Senior Mine Planning Engineer saw him spearheading numerous innovative projects that significantly advanced technical computing and ore control functions in U.S. mine operations. His scholarly contributions include over 38 technical publications and presentations at international conferences, underscoring his prominent role in the global mining engineering community. Dr. Dagdelen's commitment to the field is further evidenced by his awards from SME and his long-standing involvement in this leading professional society.

Branwen Price is a dedicated mining engineer whose career is defined by her expertise in strategic planning, modelling, and long‑horizon value optimization. With a strong analytical mindset and a passion for creating resilient, data‑driven frameworks, she has become a trusted leader in integrating geology, operations, and market dynamics into cohesive strategic plans. Her work focuses on improving decision‑quality across the mine lifecycle—ensuring that technical insight, economic modelling, and enterprise‑level strategy align to deliver sustainable long‑term value. Throughout her career, Branwen has championed cross‑disciplinary collaboration, helping organizations modernize their planning processes and adopt more agile, interoperable decision‑support systems. She is known for her ability to translate complex modelling outputs into clear recommendations that support capital allocation, portfolio optimization, and organizational alignment. Outside of her professional pursuits, Branwen finds balance and inspiration in the outdoors. An avid trail runner, she spends countless hours exploring mountain terrain, where the rhythm of running and the solitude of high alpine environments fuel her creativity and clarity of thought. Whether navigating rugged switchbacks or planning the next strategic initiative, she brings the same resilience, curiosity, and forward‑looking perspective to every challenge she meets.

Will Reid is a Global Development Strategy Manager at Maptek, where he supports software teams across blast management, mine scheduling, and geospatial data operations. With a background in Software Engineering from the University of Adelaide, Will's career has spanned both major tech and the mining technology sector. Will is passionate about applying new approaches to solve complex challenges in mining. He is also driven by the potential of cloud services to improve accessibility and connect teams across the industry.