The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2025 in Brisbane marked a pivotal moment for the global mining sector. As the industry faces mounting pressure to deliver not just volume, but value—social, environmental, and economic—the conversations at IMARC revealed a clear shift: the next decade of mining will be defined by how fast, how fairly, and how sustainably we deliver.

I had the privilege of leading a roundtable on “Meaningful Community Engagement and Outreach with Responsible Mining Projects.” The session drew insights from across the mining ecosystem, Traditional Owners, industry leaders, regulators, and emerging professionals, with each underscoring that engagement is not a one-off consultation but an evolving partnership grounded in respect, equity, and shared value.

Responsible Mining: Beyond Compliance

Lisa Gibbons (Southern Cross Gold) and Paula Dell McCumstie (Community Engagement) framed responsible mining as a practice that recognises community priorities as integral to operational success. Darren Godwell (Indigenous Business Australia) and Ally Coe (Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation) expanded on this, reminding the audience that Traditional Owners measure responsibility not by policies, but by the tangible legacies left behind—whether jobs, equity, or cultural respect.

This perspective was echoed throughout IMARC, where the importance of embedding Indigenous partnerships and ESG assurance from exploration to closure was repeatedly emphasised.

As governments and industry accelerate critical-minerals project approvals, the challenge is to do so without eroding ESG standards or community trust. The consensus: fast-tracking approvals must go hand-in-hand with strengthening the social licence to operate.

From Dialogue to Partnership

A recurring theme was the tension between genuine dialogue and “tick-box” engagement. True engagement begins with listening, not defending, and continues throughout the mine life. The reality is that when engagement reflects cultural protocols and self-determination, the outcomes are both stronger and more enduring. This sentiment was reflected in discussions about regulatory frameworks, with Jon Crosbie (Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority) highlighting how these are evolving to better embed community voices.
Darren Godwell challenged the sector to move beyond consultation and toward governance models where Indigenous organisations hold decision-making authority. The rise of Traditional Owner-led investment vehicles is a game-changer. “When Traditional Owners are shareholders, not stakeholders, engagement transforms entirely,” he said.

University students at the roundtable brought fresh perspectives, emphasising that the next generation expects transparency, representation, and accountability to be non-negotiable standards. Their voices reinforced the need for mining companies to move beyond compliance and toward genuine partnership.

Courage, Collaboration, and Accountability

Panelists agreed that the future of mining depends on courage, collaboration, and accountability. The industry must embrace new models—such as Social Licence-Ready approval pathways and Infrastructure Concierge Facilities—to coordinate collective investment in high-cost, shared assets. These approaches align miners, Traditional Owners, and governments under a single investment umbrella, unlocking viable operations and measurable local benefit delivery.

IMARC showcased how how many of our integrated capabilities, spanning capital mobilisation, social licence, ESG strategy, and post-mine economic transition, place us in a unique position to respond to this moment. But doing this well will require designing and implementing frameworks that embed community engagement and Indigenous partnerships from exploration to closure.

A Path Forward

Reflecting on the roundtable and the broader conference, it’s clear that meaningful community engagement is not a licence to operate, rather, it’s the path to enduring partnerships and sustainable prosperity.

The mining sector stands at a crossroads. The choices we make now, how we listen, partner, and deliver, will shape not only the future of mining, but the communities and environments we touch. IMARC 2025 was a powerful reminder that our legacy will be measured not by the tonnes we extract, but by the partnerships we build and the value we create together.