Dr Penny Stewart

MAusIMM

CEO, PETRA Data Science

Keynote presentation: What is orebody learning and how is it being used to achieve best practice?

Penny is a mining engineer and the founder and CEO of mining AI software company PETRA Data Science. Penny worked on mine sites for five years before obtaining her Queensland 1st Class Mine Managers’ Certificate of Competency. It was during her time working in the underground and open pit mines of WA and Tasmania that she learnt how geological uncertainty affects our ability to mine to plan. This experience led her PhD studies and formal training in data analysis and modelling, where her she proved the benefits of sites building their own data models instead of relying upon generalised empirical models. In 2015, Penny founded PETRA with the hypothesis that using machine learning to feedback 10s to 100s of millions of tonnes of actual mine performance data to build site-specific operating models enables low cost and long-term mine-to-mill value creation. Five years later PETRA’s flagship product, MAXTA digital mine to mill for value chain optimisation does exactly that.