From August 3–5, Kalgoorlie became the epicentre of the Australia’s mining industry once again, hosting the 35th annual Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum.
Attending this year’s event, Paul Howard (Global Mining Sector Leader) and Ivan Zuvela (Managing Partner for Perth) enjoyed meeting with a wide range of mining organisations, service providers, investors and industry leaders. Here they report back with insights on the trends, challenges and opportunities that currently shape this sector.
A new home for Diggers & Dealers
The unveiling of a new dedicated event pavilion was a notable change for Paul, having attended Diggers & Dealers for 20 years. “As well as creating a more permanent and professional setting, the new multipurpose pavilion reflects the importance of the event and provides a strong platform for future growth,” he says.
Designed to host crowds of up to 2,100 people, the new all-weather venue allows Kalgoorlie to stage a wider range of large-scale corporate, cultural and community events, bringing much-needed trade to the region.
Same crowd, different feel
While Diggers & Dealers was well attended by the usual cohort of mining companies, service providers and industry participants, there was a subtle shift in atmosphere. “The presentations were informative and there was still plenty of activity, but the mood on the ground was decidedly more measured,” says Ivan. “Often there’s a real buzz in the air but the sentiment this year was one of getting on with business.”
Paul also noted a slight decline in representation from traditional investors. “Diggers & Dealers has always been an important forum for bringing mining companies and investors together, so it was interesting to see fewer investors there this year,” he says. “That said, the event still attracted a strong industry presence.”
Gold remains firmly in the spotlight
Gold continued to dominate many of the mid-tier mining presentations, reflecting the commodity’s strength and ongoing optimism around the longer-term outlook.According to Paul, the strong market conditions for gold have put additional pressure on a workforce that’s already stretched thin.
“Gold is a labour-intensive commodity to mine, so when the market is strong and companies are looking to expand their remote operations, the workforce challenge becomes even more significant,” says Paul. “For gold producers, having access to the right leadership and technical capability will remain critical in taking advantage of these and future market conditions.”
Lithium and copper also featured strongly throughout the three-day program. While both commodities have experienced significant volatility, the need to deliver on the energy transition and electrification agenda will ensure the longer-term fundamentals remain attractive for explorers, producers and investors in this space.
Turning to geopolitics for broader industry perspective
Delivered by Australia’s former Ambassador to the United States, the Hon. Joe Hockey, this year’s keynote address provided valuable insight into the changing dynamics of US politics and the global implications of the Trump administration.
“As well as being highly insightful and entertaining, Mr Hockey’s presentation was a reminder of the close linkages between mining and broader geopolitical environment,” says Paul. “It also reaffirmed the implications of decisions made by the US and other leading economies, on global investment, trade and supply chains.”
Leadership remains a critical requirement
While the sentiment was more subdued, demand remains strong for high calibre executive talent.
By bringing together many of the decision makers that shape Australia’s mining and resources sector,
Diggers & Dealers provides a great opportunity for Gerard Daniels to strengthen its talent network and build a deeper understanding of what’s happening across the industry. From their conversations at the event, Paul and Ivan agree that there’s still a clear need for experienced senior leaders to guide mining organisations through sustained growth and evolution and to navigate the many challenges and opportunities the sector faces.
For Paul, these market conditions also highlight the value of deep sector knowledge for identifying and assessing senior talent. “Mining is a specialised industry, so appointing the right talent involves more than simply matching a set of skills with a job description,” he says. “It requires a deep understanding of commodities, the operating environment, investor and other stakeholder expectations and the culture of an organisation. Successful appointments also rely on established global talent networks to find and connect the right individuals with the right opportunities – wherever they may be.”
