Program | UGOPS 2025

Underground Operators Conference 2025 Program

The conference program is subject to change at any time, at the discretion of the advisory committee.

All times are listed below in ACST (Adelaide, Australia).

Sunday, April 6, 2025


9:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Workshop \| Mining Contract Management
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Workshop \| Ventilation Planning
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Pre-Conference Networking Function sponsored by Epiroc Sponsored By


9:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Workshop \| Mining Contract Management
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Workshop \| Ventilation Planning
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Pre-Conference Networking Function sponsored by Epiroc Sponsored By


9:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Workshop \| Mining Contract Management
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Workshop \| Ventilation Planning
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Pre-Conference Networking Function sponsored by Epiroc Sponsored By

Monday, April 7, 2025


8:30 AM - 10:00 AM	Session 1 I Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Cliffy Wilson, Kaurna and Narungga Elder Welcome from the Conference Chair Alastair Grubb, Glencore Welcome from AusIMM Chris Carr, AusIMM Ministerial Address and Official Conference Opening Ministerial Representative (TBC), Government of South Australia Keynote \| Mining the Future: the portals of discovery that take us there Laura Tyler, Adriatic Metals Red Cross Presentation Steve Eldridge, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Society Presentation To be announced,
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM	Morning Tea
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM	Session 2 \| Case Studies Expanding Prominent Hill Anne-Marie Ebbels, BHP Mine-scale subsidence at Cannington Mine Andrew Clarkson, South32 Prominent Hill Wira Shaft Sink Daniel Lagace, BHP Remediation of collapsed steel portal tunnel at Yaramoko Mine Colin Thomson, MineGeoTech
12:10 PM - 1:10 PM	Lunch - Monday
1:10 PM - 2:50 PM	Session 3 \| Ventilation, Tunnelling & Technology Case Study - Snowy 2.0 Ventilation Murray Jamieson, BBE Group Evaluation of Underground Haulage Capability for the Carrapateena Mine using Simulation Colin Eustace, Deswik Application of Tunnel Boring Machines for Rapid Underground Mine Development with Civil Contractor Early Involvement Paul Anthony, CPB Contractors Managing Operator Fatigue Underground: The Importance of Management of Change Kimberley Lim, Hexagon
2:50 PM - 3:20 PM	Afternoon Tea - Monday
3:20 PM - 5:05 PM	Session 4 \| Design and Scheduling Learnings from re-orientating the Ernest Henry sublevel cave Eddy Zhang, Evolution Mining An options study for your 12-week plan? Now you can! Dominic Varley, Griffin Mining Establishing a Strategic Mine Plan for a Centuries-Old Mine: Challenges, Optimizations, and Implementations Bastien Fresia, Glencore Zinc Probabilistic Development Rates: Using Data & Stochastic Modelling to Integrate Contingency Blake Hesse, Rio Tinto
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM	Welcome Reception sponsored by Micromine Sponsored By


8:30 AM - 10:00 AM	Session 1 I Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Cliffy Wilson, Kaurna and Narungga Elder Welcome from the Conference Chair Alastair Grubb, Glencore Welcome from AusIMM Chris Carr, AusIMM Ministerial Address and Official Conference Opening Ministerial Representative (TBC), Government of South Australia Keynote \| Mining the Future: the portals of discovery that take us there Laura Tyler, Adriatic Metals Red Cross Presentation Steve Eldridge, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Society Presentation To be announced,
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM	Morning Tea
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM	Session 2 \| Case Studies Expanding Prominent Hill Anne-Marie Ebbels, BHP Mine-scale subsidence at Cannington Mine Andrew Clarkson, South32 Prominent Hill Wira Shaft Sink Daniel Lagace, BHP Remediation of collapsed steel portal tunnel at Yaramoko Mine Colin Thomson, MineGeoTech
12:10 PM - 1:10 PM	Lunch - Monday
1:10 PM - 2:50 PM	Session 3 \| Ventilation, Tunnelling & Technology Case Study - Snowy 2.0 Ventilation Murray Jamieson, BBE Group Evaluation of Underground Haulage Capability for the Carrapateena Mine using Simulation Colin Eustace, Deswik Application of Tunnel Boring Machines for Rapid Underground Mine Development with Civil Contractor Early Involvement Paul Anthony, CPB Contractors Managing Operator Fatigue Underground: The Importance of Management of Change Kimberley Lim, Hexagon
2:50 PM - 3:20 PM	Afternoon Tea - Monday
3:20 PM - 5:05 PM	Session 4 \| Design and Scheduling Learnings from re-orientating the Ernest Henry sublevel cave Eddy Zhang, Evolution Mining An options study for your 12-week plan? Now you can! Dominic Varley, Griffin Mining Establishing a Strategic Mine Plan for a Centuries-Old Mine: Challenges, Optimizations, and Implementations Bastien Fresia, Glencore Zinc Probabilistic Development Rates: Using Data & Stochastic Modelling to Integrate Contingency Blake Hesse, Rio Tinto
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM	Welcome Reception sponsored by Micromine Sponsored By


8:30 AM - 10:00 AM	Session 1 I Opening Plenary Welcome to Country Cliffy Wilson, Kaurna and Narungga Elder Welcome from the Conference Chair Alastair Grubb, Glencore Welcome from AusIMM Chris Carr, AusIMM Ministerial Address and Official Conference Opening Ministerial Representative (TBC), Government of South Australia Keynote \| Mining the Future: the portals of discovery that take us there Laura Tyler, Adriatic Metals Red Cross Presentation Steve Eldridge, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Society Presentation To be announced,
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM	Morning Tea
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM	Session 2 \| Case Studies Expanding Prominent Hill Anne-Marie Ebbels, BHP Mine-scale subsidence at Cannington Mine Andrew Clarkson, South32 Prominent Hill Wira Shaft Sink Daniel Lagace, BHP Remediation of collapsed steel portal tunnel at Yaramoko Mine Colin Thomson, MineGeoTech
12:10 PM - 1:10 PM	Lunch - Monday
1:10 PM - 2:50 PM	Session 3 \| Ventilation, Tunnelling & Technology Case Study - Snowy 2.0 Ventilation Murray Jamieson, BBE Group Evaluation of Underground Haulage Capability for the Carrapateena Mine using Simulation Colin Eustace, Deswik Application of Tunnel Boring Machines for Rapid Underground Mine Development with Civil Contractor Early Involvement Paul Anthony, CPB Contractors Managing Operator Fatigue Underground: The Importance of Management of Change Kimberley Lim, Hexagon
2:50 PM - 3:20 PM	Afternoon Tea - Monday
3:20 PM - 5:05 PM	Session 4 \| Design and Scheduling Learnings from re-orientating the Ernest Henry sublevel cave Eddy Zhang, Evolution Mining An options study for your 12-week plan? Now you can! Dominic Varley, Griffin Mining Establishing a Strategic Mine Plan for a Centuries-Old Mine: Challenges, Optimizations, and Implementations Bastien Fresia, Glencore Zinc Probabilistic Development Rates: Using Data & Stochastic Modelling to Integrate Contingency Blake Hesse, Rio Tinto
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM	Welcome Reception sponsored by Micromine Sponsored By

Tuesday, April 8, 2025


8:30 AM - 10:10 AM	Session 5 I Plenary and Operational Case Studies Keynote Presentation Mark Cutifani, Vale Base Metals New way of dewatering mines Jan Wikstrom, Xylem Water Solutions The Stope Soaker 2000 Christine Miles, Advanced Mining Production Systems
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM	Morning Tea - Tuesday
10:40 AM - 12:20 PM	Session 6 \| Technology The Site Operations Centre – A Carrapateena Story Ben Edwards, BHP The application of computer vision technology to provide real-time measurements and insights into mining productivity. Vic Fitzmaurice, Hatch Drill Safety Systems - Improvement through collaboration: Epiroc and BHP Olympic Dam Justin Quigley, Epiroc
12:20 PM - 1:20 PM	Lunch - Tuesday
1:20 PM - 3:00 PM	Session 7 \| Feasibility and Contracting Striving to re-enter the 500 Orebody: Informing project and operational risk with trial development Alastair Grubb, Glencore Optimizing Transverse Stoping at the Musselwhite Mine Ismail Ozen, Newmont A practical guide to collaborative contracting in the mining industry Michael Radi, Barminco
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM	Afternoon Tea - Tuesday
3:30 PM - 5:10 PM	Session 8 \| Backfill and Safety Considerations on Paste Fill Inrush Exclusion Zones Leandro Maia, Operational Geotechs Stoping Under Paste - The Binder versus Dilution Tradeoff Matthew Helinski, Minefill Services Managing large open voids throughout the production cycle at Olympic Dam Glen Mungur, BHP Panel Discussion \| To be announced To be announced,
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM	Networking Hour sponsored by Sandvik Sponsored By
6:30 PM - 10:30 PM	Conference Dinner sponsored by Byrnecut Sponsored By


8:30 AM - 10:10 AM	Session 5 I Plenary and Operational Case Studies Keynote Presentation Mark Cutifani, Vale Base Metals New way of dewatering mines Jan Wikstrom, Xylem Water Solutions The Stope Soaker 2000 Christine Miles, Advanced Mining Production Systems
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM	Morning Tea - Tuesday
10:40 AM - 12:20 PM	Session 6 \| Technology The Site Operations Centre – A Carrapateena Story Ben Edwards, BHP The application of computer vision technology to provide real-time measurements and insights into mining productivity. Vic Fitzmaurice, Hatch Drill Safety Systems - Improvement through collaboration: Epiroc and BHP Olympic Dam Justin Quigley, Epiroc
12:20 PM - 1:20 PM	Lunch - Tuesday
1:20 PM - 3:00 PM	Session 7 \| Feasibility and Contracting Striving to re-enter the 500 Orebody: Informing project and operational risk with trial development Alastair Grubb, Glencore Optimizing Transverse Stoping at the Musselwhite Mine Ismail Ozen, Newmont A practical guide to collaborative contracting in the mining industry Michael Radi, Barminco
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM	Afternoon Tea - Tuesday
3:30 PM - 5:10 PM	Session 8 \| Backfill and Safety Considerations on Paste Fill Inrush Exclusion Zones Leandro Maia, Operational Geotechs Stoping Under Paste - The Binder versus Dilution Tradeoff Matthew Helinski, Minefill Services Managing large open voids throughout the production cycle at Olympic Dam Glen Mungur, BHP Panel Discussion \| To be announced To be announced,
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM	Networking Hour sponsored by Sandvik Sponsored By
6:30 PM - 10:30 PM	Conference Dinner sponsored by Byrnecut Sponsored By


8:30 AM - 10:10 AM	Session 5 I Plenary and Operational Case Studies Keynote Presentation Mark Cutifani, Vale Base Metals New way of dewatering mines Jan Wikstrom, Xylem Water Solutions The Stope Soaker 2000 Christine Miles, Advanced Mining Production Systems
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM	Morning Tea - Tuesday
10:40 AM - 12:20 PM	Session 6 \| Technology The Site Operations Centre – A Carrapateena Story Ben Edwards, BHP The application of computer vision technology to provide real-time measurements and insights into mining productivity. Vic Fitzmaurice, Hatch Drill Safety Systems - Improvement through collaboration: Epiroc and BHP Olympic Dam Justin Quigley, Epiroc
12:20 PM - 1:20 PM	Lunch - Tuesday
1:20 PM - 3:00 PM	Session 7 \| Feasibility and Contracting Striving to re-enter the 500 Orebody: Informing project and operational risk with trial development Alastair Grubb, Glencore Optimizing Transverse Stoping at the Musselwhite Mine Ismail Ozen, Newmont A practical guide to collaborative contracting in the mining industry Michael Radi, Barminco
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM	Afternoon Tea - Tuesday
3:30 PM - 5:10 PM	Session 8 \| Backfill and Safety Considerations on Paste Fill Inrush Exclusion Zones Leandro Maia, Operational Geotechs Stoping Under Paste - The Binder versus Dilution Tradeoff Matthew Helinski, Minefill Services Managing large open voids throughout the production cycle at Olympic Dam Glen Mungur, BHP Panel Discussion \| To be announced To be announced,
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM	Networking Hour sponsored by Sandvik Sponsored By
6:30 PM - 10:30 PM	Conference Dinner sponsored by Byrnecut Sponsored By

Wednesday, April 9, 2025


9:00 AM - 10:45 AM	Session 9 I Blasting Subtek 4D™: Optimised underground blasting performance through improved energy distribution and control. Mick Brayshaw, Orica Overslept production rings - a post-weather event analysis Matt Bouwmeester, Evolution Mining Improving Underground Development Efficiency by Optimizing Tunnelling Drilling and Blasting Processes Edward Wargem, Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Unlocking potential of the gold fields, St Ives Gold Mine using wireless blasting technology Ricardo Massabki, Orica
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM	Morning Tea - Wednesday
11:15 AM - 1:00 PM	Session 10 \| Plenary and Sustainability Keynote \| Out from Underground: Planning to Produce - Operational ESG for mine development and operations Bruce Harvey, Resolution88 Hydropower energy recovery in mines: Pump As Turbine technology and case studies Aonghus McNabola, RMIT University Advancing In-Place Recovery (IPR): Innovations in Underground Leaching Operations for Sustainable Mineral Extraction Armineh Hassanvand, Orica The impact of enhanced ESG outcomes on the optimal open pit to underground transition Andrew Hall, AMC Consultants Pty Ltd
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM	Lunch - Wednesday
2:00 PM - 3:45 PM	Session 11 \| Closing Plenary and Geotechnical Twin strand cables replaced with Falcon Bolts at Tomingley Gold Operations Robert Galluzzi, Jennmar Establishing a comprehensive underground geotechnical convergence monitoring program using the latest slam technology Evan Jones, Engenex Innovative Geotechnical Management at the Wira Shaft Rachael Coad, pitt&sherry Enhancing Raiseboring Stability Assessments through Back Analysis of Overbreak Delia Sidea, pitt&sherry Conference Close & AusIMM Awards Alastair Grubb, Glencore


9:00 AM - 10:45 AM	Session 9 I Blasting Subtek 4D™: Optimised underground blasting performance through improved energy distribution and control. Mick Brayshaw, Orica Overslept production rings - a post-weather event analysis Matt Bouwmeester, Evolution Mining Improving Underground Development Efficiency by Optimizing Tunnelling Drilling and Blasting Processes Edward Wargem, Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Unlocking potential of the gold fields, St Ives Gold Mine using wireless blasting technology Ricardo Massabki, Orica
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM	Morning Tea - Wednesday
11:15 AM - 1:00 PM	Session 10 \| Plenary and Sustainability Keynote \| Out from Underground: Planning to Produce - Operational ESG for mine development and operations Bruce Harvey, Resolution88 Hydropower energy recovery in mines: Pump As Turbine technology and case studies Aonghus McNabola, RMIT University Advancing In-Place Recovery (IPR): Innovations in Underground Leaching Operations for Sustainable Mineral Extraction Armineh Hassanvand, Orica The impact of enhanced ESG outcomes on the optimal open pit to underground transition Andrew Hall, AMC Consultants Pty Ltd
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM	Lunch - Wednesday
2:00 PM - 3:45 PM	Session 11 \| Closing Plenary and Geotechnical Twin strand cables replaced with Falcon Bolts at Tomingley Gold Operations Robert Galluzzi, Jennmar Establishing a comprehensive underground geotechnical convergence monitoring program using the latest slam technology Evan Jones, Engenex Innovative Geotechnical Management at the Wira Shaft Rachael Coad, pitt&sherry Enhancing Raiseboring Stability Assessments through Back Analysis of Overbreak Delia Sidea, pitt&sherry Conference Close & AusIMM Awards Alastair Grubb, Glencore


9:00 AM - 10:45 AM	Session 9 I Blasting Subtek 4D™: Optimised underground blasting performance through improved energy distribution and control. Mick Brayshaw, Orica Overslept production rings - a post-weather event analysis Matt Bouwmeester, Evolution Mining Improving Underground Development Efficiency by Optimizing Tunnelling Drilling and Blasting Processes Edward Wargem, Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Unlocking potential of the gold fields, St Ives Gold Mine using wireless blasting technology Ricardo Massabki, Orica
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM	Morning Tea - Wednesday
11:15 AM - 1:00 PM	Session 10 \| Plenary and Sustainability Keynote \| Out from Underground: Planning to Produce - Operational ESG for mine development and operations Bruce Harvey, Resolution88 Hydropower energy recovery in mines: Pump As Turbine technology and case studies Aonghus McNabola, RMIT University Advancing In-Place Recovery (IPR): Innovations in Underground Leaching Operations for Sustainable Mineral Extraction Armineh Hassanvand, Orica The impact of enhanced ESG outcomes on the optimal open pit to underground transition Andrew Hall, AMC Consultants Pty Ltd
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM	Lunch - Wednesday
2:00 PM - 3:45 PM	Session 11 \| Closing Plenary and Geotechnical Twin strand cables replaced with Falcon Bolts at Tomingley Gold Operations Robert Galluzzi, Jennmar Establishing a comprehensive underground geotechnical convergence monitoring program using the latest slam technology Evan Jones, Engenex Innovative Geotechnical Management at the Wira Shaft Rachael Coad, pitt&sherry Enhancing Raiseboring Stability Assessments through Back Analysis of Overbreak Delia Sidea, pitt&sherry Conference Close & AusIMM Awards Alastair Grubb, Glencore

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