QEC: Exploring for solutions
Click here for photo of QEC Chair Kim Wainwright.
Click here to register your attendance to QEC’s FREE Online Event.
There’s just one week to go before Queensland’s resources and exploration leaders converge at an online event to discover the solutions needed to address critical issues impacting exploration across the state.
The Queensland Exploration Council (QEC), together with event partner BDO, will host an upcoming online forum on September 14 to address key barriers to growth identified in its latest Queensland Exploration Scorecard publication.
The QEC is the exploration arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).
QEC Chair Kim Wainwright said the previous scorecard results showed Queensland’s exploration sector was on the cusp of a labour and equipment shortage due to the impact of Covid-19.
“Fast-forward eight months, we have restricted movements across domestic borders and zero overseas workers, which in previous years the industry has been able to rely on in times of skills shortages,” Ms Wainwright said.
“This issue, combined with the trend of reduced university offerings for geoscience, particularly with field work, means attracting young people to work in our sector is becoming increasingly difficult.”
The upcoming QEC event will feature an expert panel comprising Kim Wainwright as moderator; President of the Young Mining Professionals in Brisbane Andrew Dittmann, also MEC Mining’s Technical Services Manager; Peter Hall from the Australian Drilling Industry Association; and Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) Skills & Education Manager Matthew Heskett.
The panel discussion will include a discussion on strategies to address current skills and labour shortages, problems with equipment availability and how to attract a sustainable pipeline of young professionals into the exploration and resources sector.
About the panelists:
Andrew Dittman
President, Young Mining Professionals & Technical Services Manager, MEC Mining
Andrew is a mining engineer with more than 10 years of experience within the mining industry. As co-founder and President of the Young Mining Professionals Brisbane chapter, his focus is on developing an industry platform which develops and provides opportunities for its community members. Andrew is also active at UQ, engaging with students from the Mining and Metallurgical Association and occasionally guest lectures first year engineering students – providing insights on career opportunities within the mining industry.
Peter Hall
Chief Executive Officer, Australian Drilling Industry Association
Peter has 38 years working in the drilling industry across a range of business management and leadership roles. Peter has extensive experience in international business development, contract drilling services, product marketing and equipment fleet services and has held senior positions in these roles. Peter has been Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Drilling Industry Association since May 2016 and is currently based in Adelaide.
Matthew Heskett
Skills & Education Manager, Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy
Matthew has more than 15 years working and volunteering experience as a science communicator across Australia. Following on from a career as an industrial chemist, he has worked as a teacher and science educator for the past 10 years and joined the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) team in 2018. At QMEA, Matthew leads a team of 6 highly talented educators who develop and deliver Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and VET/Trade-focused, curriculum-aligned engagement programs to students in 80 partner schools across Queensland, with the aim to encourage more people to consider a career in the resources sector.
Click here to register your attendance to QEC’s FREE Online Event.
