Harnessing AI for economic growth in mining: Navigating challenges and future job opportunities

Join the Perth Branch for their May Panel Discussion and Networking event: Harnessing AI for economic growth in mining: Navigating challenges and future job opportunities.

About this event

Mining professionals in larger companies face significant threats from automation and AI, emphasising the need for skill adaptation and training.

This discussion will cover:

• Economic history of industrial revolutions and evolution through technological transitions.
• AI challenges and strategies for small to medium-sized mining companies
• Long-term benefits and challenges of AI adoption
• Importance of industry training

An expert panel will address these themes from multiple perspectives: economics, law, technology deployment, skills transformation, and entrepreneurship. Professionals can reconsider their work approach and future opportunities.

This event offers professionals a chance to engage with experts on this topic and network with like-minded individuals in a setting that encourages entrepreneurship and startups.

Program
5.00pm - 6.00pm: Arrival and pre-event networking
6.00pm - 6.40pm: Presentation and panel discussion
6.40pm - 7.10pm - Q&A
7.10pm - 8.00pm - Post event networking

Finger food and drinks provided.

Speaker/s

Schellie-Jayne (SJ) Price

Partner, Stirling & Rose
LLB, GAICD

Read more Hide

Schellie-Jayne (SJ) is an award-winning technology lawyer and digital translator and leads the AI practice at the law firm Stirling & Rose. She is also a lecturer in law and technology at Murdoch University.  With a deep background in machine learning, she founded and led a multi-disciplinary technology group with over 100 innovation initiatives in 10+ countries in an international resources company. SJ has significant global experience managing the legal complexities of multi-billion-dollar critical infrastructure mega-projects. She sits on the Advisory Board of the WA Data Science Innovation Hub, Australian Centre for Legal Innovation, Law Council of Australia’s Digital Commerce & Financial Services Committee and Murdoch University’s AI Competency Centre.

Charlie Gunningham

Head of Ecosystem Engagement and Meshpoints, Chair of Startup WA
MBA BA(Hons) PGCE GAICD

Read more Hide

Charlie has spent more than 25 years in Perth’s innovation ecosystem. He's been a startup founder, angel investor, media commentator, corporate CEO and university lecturer. Originally from the UK, he worked in Singapore before arriving in Perth in the late 90s. He graduated top of UWA Business School with an MBA and co-founded property listings site aussiehome.com in 1999, which was acquired by REIWA in 2010. He then ran reiwa.com, went on to be CEO of Business News, run Startup News, work for a $485M federal government startup fund and run the WA government's New Industries Fund programs. He is Head of Ecosystem Engagement at Meshpoints, on the WA Government's Innovation Advisory Board, WA Leaders and is Chair of Startup WA. In his 'spare' time you may find him doing a parkrun, playing golf or drums and sipping a Shiraz with friends.

Marko Clemente

BITech, MBA, GACID

Senior Technology Executive and AI strategist

Read more Hide

Marko Clemente is a senior technology executive and AI strategist with over two decades of experience driving digital transformation, enterprise architecture, and AI innovation across complex environments—including extensive work in the mining sector. With a strong foundation in software development, data platforms, and automation, he specialises in translating cutting-edge technologies—such as generative AI, computer vision, and LLMs—into scalable, responsible solutions.

Marko has played a key role in advancing AI-driven workforce transformation within mining, leading initiatives that delivered machine learning platforms, intelligent automation, and operational optimisation at scale. His contributions have significantly enhanced productivity, safety, and digital capability across field and enterprise operations.
He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Information Technology, along with advanced certifications in deep learning and enterprise architecture. An advocate for ethical and impactful AI, Marko is passionate about empowering organisations to innovate with confidence and clarity.

Aldo Souza

FAusIMM

Managing Director, Strategy, Accenture
BEng Mining, MBA

Read more Hide

Aldo is a seasoned C-level executive and the current Strategy Managing Director for the Resources Industry in Australia and New Zealand.
With a rich history at Anglo American Plc and roles on various boards, he excels in organisational restructuring and process design for mining companies.
Aldo holds a Mining Engineering degree from Universidade de Sao Paulo and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, with additional certifications from Singularity University and Colorado School of Mines.

Zane Prickett

Co-Founder of Unearthed and CORE Hub
BSc Eng Chem

Read more Hide

Zane is focused on Building Innovation Infrastructure for the Resource Sector as director of Unearthed & CORE Innovation hub. Zane is a co-founder of Unearthed (unearthed. Solutions), the largest global community of startups, innovators and SMEs making the energy and resources industry more efficient and sustainable. CORE Innovation Hub (corehub.com.au), building ecosystems and innovation infrastructure for the resources and energy sector.

Prior to CORE And Unearthed, Zane earned his degree from Colorado School of Mines and worked 8+ years around the world as an O&G engineer, was a Founding Director of StartupWA (startupwa.org), and launched two startups focused on the use of large geoscience and operation datasets in Oil & Gas applications prior to launching Unearthed and CORE Innovation Hub.