Katie Charuga was appointed Director Integrated Operations in July 2023, bringing more than 20 years of mining industry experience, including 16 years with Fortescue. Since joining in 2010, Katie has held a number of senior leadership roles across the business, including Safety Manager, Rail Operations Manager, and General Manager of Solomon, Eliwana, and Port and Rail Operations. She is known for building and leading high-performing teams and driving strong operational outcomes through collaboration, innovation and disciplined execution. Katie is widely recognised for her leadership impact. In 2020, she was named one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining, and in 2021 she received the prestigious 40 Under 40 award. She is passionate about building capable teams and fostering a culture where safety, accountability and performance go hand in hand - and is equally proud of her most important role, being a mum to her two children.

Filipe leads ArcelorMittal’s mining and resources research portfolio as Portfolio Leader, steering global R&D strategy and partnerships to accelerate low‑carbon growth. He oversees technology and innovation programs across laboratories in France, Spain, Brazil, Canada, and the USA, advancing solutions that decarbonise the value chain and enable circular‑economy outcomes. His remit spans technical marketing for iron ore and support to commercial teams, with a strong emphasis on applying digitalization and AI to elevate performance, resilience, and sustainability across mining and primary processing.

Clement is a mineral processing specialist with expertise in flotation and magnetic separation techniques. His research focuses on advancing separation technologies, with particular emphasis on sulphide minerals flotation and iron ore beneficiation. He has a strong interest in applying data analysis methods to optimise mineral processing operations. Outside the laboratory, Clement enjoys playing soccer and staying active.

Mark Drechsler is as an engineering geologist involved in investigation, design and construction of mining, civil and transport infrastructure projects throughout Australia. After 40 years of industry experience Mark started a PhD at the University of South Australia in 2024 researching the energy and mineral processing benefits of the innovative comminution technology Gyratory Roller Crusher (GRolls). Undertaking a PhD on the GRolls technology supports its commercialisation pathway by providing access to research and industry partners that are also committed to improving technical knowledge within the mining industry.

Tebogo Mokgomola is an engineer at Mintek and a PhD student at the University of the Witwatersrand specializing in mineral processing and process modelling. His research focuses on the development of predictive models for gravity separation techniques, particularly spiral concentrators and shaking tables used in the beneficiation of low-grade ores (Iron, chromite, Rare earth elements ores). The current work aims to integrate rougher spiral test data and shaking table performance to design and optimize closed-circuit spiral flowsheets. He has strong interest in mineral process optimization, process modelling, and beneficiation of low grade ores.