Coming soon
Get Your Plant AI-Ready
A Pragmatic Guide to AI Foundations in Processing Plants
Monday 3rd November 2025
2.30pm Registration for 3pm start
Location: Perth
AI promises smarter, more efficient mineral processing – but what does it actually take to get there? And how do you avoid costly mistakes along the way?
The second event in The Path of Progress series is designed to give you clear, actionable steps for building AI readiness where it matters most: at the plant level. No theory, no hype. Just practical insights from industry leaders on fixing data foundations, integrating technology without disruption, and creating the cultural shift needed to make AI work.
What to expect
Two fireside chats with industry leaders: Real stories from processing plants that are on an AI journey: what it took to get ready, what’s worked, what didn’t, and where the early quick wins/opportunities are.
Panel discussion: What’s actually required to be AI-ready? A candid conversation with industry experts on what it takes to get your 12-month AI readiness roadmap in order. It’s not just tech: it’s people, data and mindset.
Networking time: Enjoy a drink and a chance to talk to others in your industry who are or have faced the same challenges as you.
Who should attend?
- Plant General Managers
- Processing and Operations Managers
- Plant Metullurgical Team
- Corporate Project, Operational Excellence or Innovation Teams.
Why attend?
- Discover where to start without overinvesting in unnecessary tech.
- Learn how to fix data foundations before investing in advanced models.
- Understand the role of people and culture in successful AI adoption.
- Walk away with actionable steps, not a theoretical roadmap.
Agenda
Opening introductions (15:00 – 15:20)
Eddie De Rivera, Mipac
Get your plant AI-ready: setting the right foundations (15:20 – 15:50)
Fireside chat | A deep dive into digitisation and standardisation of plant data and systems.
>>Exciting speaker announcement coming soon!<<
No silver bullets: wins and near-misses in AI foundations (15:50 – 16:20)
Fireside chat | Real-world lessons from piloting AI in mineral processing.
>>Exciting speaker announcement coming soon!<<
Looking ahead: the essentials for your 12-month AI readiness roadmap (16:30 – 17:20)
Panel | It’s not just tech: it’s people, data and mindset.
Dom Stoll, Mipac (Host)
>>Exciting speaker announcement coming soon!<<
Closing remarks (17:20 – 17:30)
Eddie De Rivera, Mipac
Networking drinks (17:30 – 19:00)
Speakers
Paul Lucey
Paul Lucey is a global leader in mining, energy, robotics and AI, with 35 years’ experience across four continents. Currently Director of Project 412, he has also held senior roles including VP of Innovation & Technology at a multi-national gold mining company. Paul has been involved in various companies and initiatives such as Unearthed, METSignited, AARP (Australian Automation and Robotics Park), EMC (Electric Mine Consortium) and RoboWest. Passionate about sustainable mining, he leverages automation, AI and robotics to drive productivity, decarbonisation and regional technology growth, while building high-performing, collaborative teams.
Matthew Schneider
Matthew Schneider is an AI thought leader and strategic advisor with over two decades of experience building intelligent systems across mining, energy, finance, and industrial technology. He has a strong track record in designing platforms where AI, data and systems thinking converge to create adaptable, purpose-driven solutions. Matthew serves on the advisory boards of UWA, Curtin, and Murdoch University, and has held senior technology leadership roles including Chief Technology Officer at Idoba and Founder & CEO of Optika Solutions. He is currently focused on advancing agentic AI, autonomous decision systems and intelligence infrastructure that enables industries and people to thrive with greater freedom, insight and resilience.
Iain Murray AM
John Curtin Distinguished Professor Iain Murray AM leads the Intelligent Automation and Industrial Automation Lab at Curtin University. His research interest include; embedded sensors in health applications, the Internet of Things/Industrial IoT in critical mineral processing and assistive technology. He founded the “Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired” in 2002 to deliver ICT training to vision impaired people globally. He has supervised 26 research students’ completions and published in excess of 150 peer reviewed articles in the fields of IoT, engineering education and assistive technology.
Rob Johnston
Rob Johnston is Manager of IS Solutions Delivery at CITIC Pacific Mining, with extensive experience leading digital transformation programs across mining and metals operations, including MineStar, fatigue management, asset health and production analytics platforms. He has a strong background in agile software delivery and data analytics and co-chairs the Global Mining Guidelines Group’s AI & Applications of Data working group. Rob holds a Master of Science in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Data Science from Harvard University.
Sophia Marmara
Sophia Marmara is Metallurgy Lead at Northern Star Resources, with a career spanning operational and leadership roles across gold and base metals operations. With a background in chemical and mechanical engineering, she has focused on improving plant performance and driving innovation. At The Path to Progress Fireside Chat, Sophia will share how digitalisation and the standardisation of plant data and systems lay the essential foundations for AI-ready operations.
Neil Freeman
Neil Freeman is an innovation expert with more than three decades’ experience in the global resources sector, including senior roles at Rio Tinto and Honeywell. A Master’s-qualified metallurgist from Oxford University, he has held senior roles at Honeywell and Rio Tinto, where he launched award-winning innovation programs connecting people, technology and business value. Neil is a frequent conference presenter, judge of the WA Innovator of the Year awards and holds three patents in mining technology.
Dominic Stoll
Dominic Stoll, Solutions Manager at Mipac, is a minerals process engineer with 19 years of experience across Australia, Asia and Africa in operations, consulting, project delivery and leadership roles. At Mipac, he draws on his background in mineral processing, technology commercialisation and stakeholder engagement to help mining operations achieve sustainable performance improvements. Dominic is passionate about building high-performing teams and fostering innovative partnerships that deliver long-term value for clients and communities.