Mike Apfel is a mining professional with over 30 years’ experience across open pit and underground operations, supported by a mining engineering background and an MBA. Since joining Rio Tinto in 2006, he has held senior technical and operational roles, and is currently Senior Manager Technical & Strategy for the Simandou project, leading Technical Services and Resource Evaluation teams. His career spans operational management, mine planning, technical services, consulting, and technology deployment, including autonomous haulage implementation. Mike has worked across major gold and iron ore operations and now resides in the United Kingdom.

Jillian James is a Senior Strategic Resource Geologist with 15+ years’ experience across multi-commodity mining operations. She specialises in geostatistics, resource estimation, and uncertainty quantification, delivering models that support strategic planning and risk management. At BHP, she leads resource modelling initiatives across WA Iron Ore, applying advanced methods to define recoverable resources. Jillian is recognised for her technical expertise, collaborative leadership, and ability to translate complex data into practical business outcomes, while mentoring emerging geoscientists.