Champions of invention & achievement acknowledged as finalists announced for new SA awards
An eclectic selection of some of South Australia’s best innovators and highest achievers have been unveiled as finalists in the brand new South Australian Resources Industry Awards, with winners set to be named this Wednesday night.
The awards, an initiative of the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) were open for two categories in their first year, the Statewide Super Innovation in Resources Award and the Ocean Partners Commercial Achievement Award.
A judging panel of high profile individuals was selected to guarantee the integrity of the awards, including leaders within industry, research and government, meeting last week. Professor Bill Skinner, who leads the Minerals and Energy strand at the University of South Australia’s new Future Industries Institute, is on the panel and was impressed at the quality of entries but not surprised, as he facilitates research with some of the most progressive resources teams and service developers here, nationally and overseas.
“There was a diverse mix of nominations and it was great to see some smaller players amongst the finalists and some truly world class innovations. For the non-technical expert it could be hard to understand just how game changing for the global industry some of these innovations are.” Professor Skinner commented.
SACOME chose to focus on innovation and commercial achievement in the first year of the awards as these are critical to further productivity, with pioneering approaches having the potential for export to the rest of the world.
Jason Kuchel, Chief Executive of SACOME said “We wanted to highlight that the resources industry is not just about digging holes in the ground, but our Australian mining sector has proven time and time again that it is driven by innovation and that’s what puts this industry at the forefront globally.”
SA’s resources industry remains critically important for South Australia as a key economic contributor and, despite the current downturn, employs close to ten thousand directly and provides millions to the State each year through royalties and taxes, while providing business opportunities, regional benefits and more.
“Contributions at this scale make a significant difference to the State including local services such as health and education.” Mr Kuchel said.
Winners will be announced at SACOME’s annual gala spectacular, the SA Resources Industry Dinner, which will host around 500 industry, government and academia leaders this Wednesday night. The event will also include presentation of the Premiers Community Excellence Awards in Mining & Energy.
The Finalists
The Judges
An eclectic selection of some of South Australia’s best innovators and highest achievers have been unveiled as finalists in the brand new South Australian Resources Industry Awards, with winners set to be named this Wednesday night.
The awards, an initiative of the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) were open for two categories in their first year, the Statewide Super Innovation in Resources Award and the Ocean Partners Commercial Achievement Award.
A judging panel of high profile individuals was selected to guarantee the integrity of the awards, including leaders within industry, research and government, meeting last week. Professor Bill Skinner, who leads the Minerals and Energy strand at the University of South Australia’s new Future Industries Institute, is on the panel and was impressed at the quality of entries but not surprised, as he facilitates research with some of the most progressive resources teams and service developers here, nationally and overseas.
“There was a diverse mix of nominations and it was great to see some smaller players amongst the finalists and some truly world class innovations. For the non-technical expert it could be hard to understand just how game changing for the global industry some of these innovations are.” Professor Skinner commented.
SACOME chose to focus on innovation and commercial achievement in the first year of the awards as these are critical to further productivity, with pioneering approaches having the potential for export to the rest of the world.
Jason Kuchel, Chief Executive of SACOME said “We wanted to highlight that the resources industry is not just about digging holes in the ground, but our Australian mining sector has proven time and time again that it is driven by innovation and that’s what puts this industry at the forefront globally.”
SA’s resources industry remains critically important for South Australia as a key economic contributor and, despite the current downturn, employs close to ten thousand directly and provides millions to the State each year through royalties and taxes, while providing business opportunities, regional benefits and more.
“Contributions at this scale make a significant difference to the State including local services such as health and education.” Mr Kuchel said.
Winners will be announced at SACOME’s annual gala spectacular, the SA Resources Industry Dinner, which will host around 500 industry, government and academia leaders this Wednesday night. The event will also include presentation of the Premiers Community Excellence Awards in Mining & Energy.
The Finalists
- OZ MInerals: Hydromet technology using a new flowsheet arrangement to upgrade iron ore copper gold minerals concentrates and remove impurities for a purer copper product and lower export costs.
- IMP Technology: Super fine crushing technology for the mining and quarrying industries to cost effectively produce fine particles with dramatically reduced energy use.
- Havilah Resources: Development of the Portia gold mine via an innovative mining and funding agreement with local mining contractor, Consolidated Mining & Civil. This may also advance additional SA mines in Havilah’s suite of developments.
- Mechvac Engineering: Heap Leach technology demonstration plant collaboratively designed and built/installed for BHP Billiton Olympic Dam and Bureau Veritas including adaptions and follow on work.
- Hillgrove Resources: Oxide ore treatment to recover copper concentrate in historical ore stockpiles at the Kanmantoo Copper Mine, that were unrecoverable by the conventional flotation process.
- Flinders Logistics: Applying misting fan technology to the discharge of lead concentrates from vessels and in the blast furnace of the Nyrstar Port Pirie Smelter.
- Novafast: Design and engineered GRP piping for the unique seawater transfer and discharge system at the greenhouses for Sundrop Farms.
The Judges
- John Spoehr - Director, Australian Industrial Transformation Institute
- Pauline Carr - Resources industry executive, board member and consultant
- Barry Goldstein - Executive Director – Energy Resources, Department of State Development
- Professor William Skinner - Minerals and Resources Engineering Strand Leader, Future Industries Institute at the University of South Australia
- Wayne Hutton - Business Development Manager, Statewide Super
- Christine Charles - CEO, RREDD, member on a number of advisory boards
- Alice McCleary - Director, Archer Exploration member on a number of boards including the SACOME Council
- David Cruickshanks-Boyd - SA Reginal Director, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff