Panel Synopsis: Australia’s push to capture greater value from its critical minerals is driving renewed interest in government-backed common user facilities, shared testbeds designed to de-risk scale-up, accelerate flowsheet development and enable industry to validate processing at commercial-relevant scale. From Queensland’s Resources Common User Facility (QRCUF), which will allow miners to trial production processes and produce market-ready samples, to Western Australia’s proposed Critical Minerals Advanced Processing (CMAP) facility, focused on demonstration-scale downstream and midstream processing, states are competing to attract investment and position themselves as hubs for onshore refining. This panel brings that contest to life in a lively, state of origin style debate, Queensland versus Western Australia, government versus industry, exploring whether these facilities truly unlock commercialisation, how they should be governed and funded, and where the balance lies between public infrastructure and private capability. Expect a robust, good-humoured exchange on what it will take for Australia to move from resource supplier to processing powerhouse.

Paul Holden currently serves as the head of Critical Minerals Queensland (CMQ), where he leads the state’s efforts to become a global leader in the critical minerals sector. Tasked with executing Queensland’s Critical Minerals Strategy, Paul is driving initiatives to unlock the state’s vast mineral wealth. His leadership focuses on building strong partnerships across government, industry, and communities to fast-track project approvals and create sustainable jobs, especially in regional hubs like Townsville and Mount Isa. With over 25 years of experience in senior executive roles, including at the Office of the Coordinator-General and the Department of State Development, Paul has a proven track record in delivering major infrastructure and resource projects. He is highly skilled in navigating regulatory frameworks, securing project financing, and facilitating complex stakeholder negotiations. Paul’s extensive expertise covers sectors such as minerals, water, agriculture, and tourism, making him a trusted figure in Queensland’s development landscape. Originally from Mount Isa, and currently living in Townsville, Paul is deeply passionate about fostering economic growth in regional Queensland. Under his leadership, CMQ is not only driving investment in critical minerals but also promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, positioning Queensland as a sustainable powerhouse in the global energy transition.

Appointed Chief Executive Officer in November 2018, Nicole joined MRIWA after spending 15 years at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia coordinating industry input on a variety of government regulatory and policy issues and facilitating collaboration within the resources sector. Nicole holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from the University of Western Australia (UWA) and a Master of Risk Management from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Helen Degeling is a geologist and recognised, influential advocate for minerals development that delivers positive ESG outcomes and meets the demands of a just transition towards decarbonisation. She has previously held roles as a researcher, exploration and mine geologist, and exploration manager for junior precious, base and critical metal explorers, as well as leadership positions in critical minerals and sustainable mining across government and industry. Helen is now Director of Geoscience and Sustainability at Mining3, where she combines her traditional geological expertise and passion for circularity, sustainability and traceability to drive innovation and deliver practical solutions for the resources industry’s ‘next generation’ challenges.