Marc Twining

Chair – SAEMC Organising Committee, AusIMM

Welcome

TBA

Welcome to Country

To be confirmed

Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP

South Australian Minister for Energy and Mining

Opening address 

Tom was raised in the western suburbs. He attended Cowandilla and Netley Primary Schools before attending Adelaide High School and going on to study at Adelaide University.

The son of Greek migrants, Anthony and Dimitra, Tom joined the Australian Labor Party at a young age with the encouragement of Labor stalwart and former SA Deputy Premier, the late Jack Wright. Tom first volunteered in Jack Wright’s office when he was 14.

Tom was elected to the South Australian State Parliament on 11 October 1997, at age 26. Tom was elevated to the Ministry on 3 March 2009 and remained in Cabinet until the 2018 State election. Over this period, he served as Minister for Correctional Services, Youth and Volunteers, Gambling, Small Business, Transport, Planning and Infrastructure, Mining and Energy, State Development and as Treasurer.

He is SA Labor’s longest serving MP.

Dr Suzanne Hunt

Director, Geological Survey of South Australia (GSSA) –
Department for Energy and Mining

SA Exploration & Mining Review 

TBA

Ian Garsed

Principal Geologist, Barton Gold

Session 1: TBA

Bio to come.

Caroline Tiddy

MinExCRC

Session 1: How MinEx CRC can change the way you explore… and what comes next

Caroline Tiddy is a Professor of Geosciences at Adelaide University’s Future Industries Institute and Chief Scientific Officer of MinEx CRC, the world’s largest collaborative research effort in mineral exploration, bringing together industry, government and academia. Her research focuses on developing more environmentally responsible approaches to mineral exploration and ensuring a sustainable supply of the metals needed for renewable energy technologies and the transition to a low-carbon future.

Caroline is a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in STEM and contributes to research programs and committees focused on advancing these priorities. She is also a Board Director of AuScope, which is a NCRIS-funded project that provides research infrastructure to Australia’s geoscience community. Caroline is a Science & Technology Australia Superstar of STEM alumna (2023–2024) and has received the Geological Society of Australia’s Garry Davidson Medal (2021) for her contributions to applied geochemistry and the Nell Ludbrook Medal (2026) for championing an inclusive culture within the Earth sciences community.

Peter Reid

CEO – Petratherm

Session 2: The Muckanippie Titatium Project: A Significant Critical Mineral Discovery

Peter Reid is the founder and CEO of Petratherm Limited which was spun out from Minotaur Resources in 2004. With over 30 years experience in mineral and geothermal exploration he was part of the Prominent Hill discovery team. 

Brendan Harris

Chief Executive Officer, Sandfire

Session 2: TBA

Bio to come.

Barbara Duggan

Head of Regional Exploration, Indiana Resources

Session 2: TBA

Bio to come.

Lachlan Wallace

Managing Director – Investigator Resources

Session 3: Australia’s only pure silver project

Bio to come.

Nick Jervis-Brady

Geoscience Lead, Alligator Energy

Session 3: TBA

Bio to come.

Travis Bienke

Chief Executive Officer, Australian Rare Earths

Session 3: TBA

Bio to come.

Andrew Alesci

Exploration Manager, Cobra

Session 3: TBA

Bio to come.

Lachlan Cole

Head of Geology, Rex Minerals

Session 4: TBA

Bio to come.

David Christensen

Managing Director, Renascor

Session 4: TBA

Bio to come.

Kathy Ehrig

Principal Geometallurgist, BHP

Session 4: TBA

Dr Kathy Ehrig is recognised internationally as a leader in geometallurgy, establishing Olympic Dam’s geometallurgy program 2006. She completed her Bachelor of Science in geology at California State University, Fresno in 1984 and earned a PhD in geology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1991.