Annual Lunch: The role of technology in the future of mining

Amy has over 28 years of experience within the mining industry and holds degrees in Chemical Engineering (BS), Metallurgical Engineering (MS) and an executive MBA. She volunteers on the Production Centre Advisory Council for the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland and is a graduate of the AICD Directors’ course.
Amy’s expertise spans multi-commodity technical and production management, strategy development, strategic planning and project management. She has held operational and corporate roles in Rio Tinto and MMG.
Passion for the mining industry and experience in facilitating transformational change has placed Amy well to serve the AusIMM community. Meeting the future needs of the industry by supporting development of competent, ethical and innovative professionals is her focus as a member of the AusIMM Board.

John has a PhD in Chemical Engineering has had a diverse career in technology development having worked as an academic at The University of Melbourne, a Transformational Technology Program Manager for Alcoa and as a Technology Transfer Manager, for the Global Bauxite and Alumina Research Groups, of Rio Tinto. He has made significant contributions in the fields of alumina refining, aluminium waste remediation and the processing of titanium minerals and coal as evidenced by 14 patents and over 40 publications.

John’s industry experience includes leading the development of new technologies with global research providers and solving industrial problems as a consultant. John is currently the Associate Director for Business and Technology Transition, for the Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre (SLWDAC) at RMIT University and has responsibility for growing and managing business development and Defence funding opportunities including delivering “best practice” in technology development and IP management. John is a member of the SLWDAC Industry Advisory Board and is secretary to RMIT’s Defence Steering Committee which is chaired by the Vice Chancellor.

Elizabeth Lewis-Gray is co-founder and Chair of Gekko Systems, Non-Executive Director of Toronto-based Kirkland Lake Gold, Chair of start-up Gekko Medical, and Founder and Patron of CEEC International Ltd (a not-for-profit focusing on reducing energy consumption in mining).

Elizabeth has been a strong advocate for innovation, collaboration and the METS Industry for almost two decades with long serving roles on the Board of Austmine (including Chair), CSIRO’s Mineral Advisory Board and the Federal Government’s Innovation Australia Board. Her own business, Gekko Systems, is a world leader in gold and silver processing technology, consulting, and energy efficient modular processing solutions. The award-winning company has diversified its operations into the renewable energy and medical technology sectors utilizing its world class innovation, technical, logistics, manufacturing and operating systems. These three businesses and divisions operate as Gekko Medical, Gekko Systems, and Gaia EnviroTech.

Elizabeth is a Fellow of the Academy of Technology Science (FTSE) and Engineering and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM). In addition she is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Federation University for services to mining and a recipient of Australian 100 Women of Influence Awards and the Warren Engineering Innovation Heroes Award. In 2019, she was delighted to be the second person to be honoured with Life Time membership of Austmine.