QME 2020 Virtual Seminar Series

Adrian is the Chief Executive Officer for METS Ignited. As a global industry leader, he brings extensive experience in the application of technology to the mining sector.
Adrian is passionate about collaborative transformation, business efficiency, and maximising the effectiveness of operations for the benefit of all stakeholders.

With a technical background in mineral processing, Adrian’s career spans project delivery, product technology strategy, small-scale technology start-ups and mining operations. Most recently, Adrian has held global executive strategy roles within two of the world’s largest industrial technology organisations.

As METS Ignited moves into the execution phase of its growth initiatives, Adrian is focussed on strategy delivery, further extending the reach of Australia’s leading Mining Equipment, Technology and Services sector.

Cori Stewart is CEO of the ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Hub, headquartered in Brisbane, Australia. The Hub is a world-leading technology centre in robotics and design-led manufacturing that accelerates industry’s digital transformation. The Hub draws together the best scientists, technical specialists, designers and engineers working side by side to develop commercial robotic solutions – transforming high potential ideas into new products and services and accelerating adoption to generate economic growth.

Ian Macfarlane is the Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, a non-executive director of Woodside Petroleum, the Chairman of the Innovative Manufacturing Co-operative Research Centre, a member of the University of Queensland Rural Clinical School Toowoomba Community Advisory Committee, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ian was elected to Federal Parliament as the Member for Groom in October 1998 and is Australia’s longest serving Federal Resources and Energy Minister and the Coalition’s longest serving Federal Industry and Innovation Minister with over 14 years of experience in both Cabinet and shadow ministerial positions. Ian has extensive experience across the resources and energy, agribusiness, science and innovation, skills and training and manufacturing and industry sectors. Ian retired from the Federal Parliament in May 2016.

Before entering federal politics, Ian was one of the country's most active agripoliticians. He previously farmed peanuts, sorghum and wheat, and ran cattle in Queensland's Burnett region. Ian was President of the Queensland Graingrowers Association for seven years, President of the Grains Council of Australia for two years, and simultaneously held executive positions on the Queensland and National Farmers' Federations.

Easily recognisable as one of the Bowen Basin's industry thought leaders, Jodie is the Director and founder of the Bowen Basin Mining Club (BBMC), as well as a co-founder of Strategic Mining Communications, a consultancy business working with mining industry leaders. 

Jodie started the BBMC in 2010 after seeing a need for mining industry suppliers to work together through all stages of the industry's cycle. By bringing high-profile speakers to regular regional networking events, Jodie has facilitated countless business partnerships and helped to strengthen businesses across the Bowen Basin. 

In addition to connecting businesses through networking, Jodie has established the BBMC Yearbook, an annual thought leadership publication, as well as recognising the industry's achievers through the Queensland Mining Awards. In 2020, Jodie launched the BBMC's newest extension, The Crib Room podcast.

Jonathan is Professor in Robotics at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). His main research interests are in the areas of Field Robotics, Design Robotics and Medical Robotics. Jonathan was a co-inventor of the UAV Challenge, an international flying robot competition. Before joining QUT, Jonathan was the Research Director of CSIRO's Autonomous Systems Laboratory where he developed projects in the area of museum robotics and telepresence. Jonathan is a Past President of the Australian Robotics & Automation Association, was a member of the Founding Editorial Board of the IEEE Journal of Robotics and Automation Letters and currently serves as a Senior Editor. 

Kylie Porter is the Chief Executive Officer of Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3).  GW3 is the peak independent, economic development organisation for the Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday region. The organisation is a strategic and coordinated point of contact for local, national and international networks and advocates for, and promotes prosperity across the broader region.   GW3’s focus is not centred on one specific industry and has a remit to deliver across all key driving industries in the region including mining and METS, agriculture, tourism, bio-futures and others.  Kylie more than 25 years professional marketing and corporate communications experience, and is well versed on all the big issues the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region today.  She also sits on the board of Regional Development Australia and is a Director of C-Res, a company which delivers the Local Buying Program across Australia in partnership with BHP.  

Shaun is a Principal at AlphaBeta, a leading economic, strategy and data analytics consultancy. He specialises in analysing and understanding the impacts of technology on corporate and government strategy. Prior to joining AlphaBeta, Shaun worked for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in their London energy team advising FTSE 50 clients on corporate strategy and operational transformation. He has also worked as a senior government advisor at the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit in the UK and as an advisor to the Presidents of Rwanda and Liberia as part of the Office of Tony Blair. 

Shaun holds a Master of Science from Oxford University where he was a Commonwealth Scholar, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of New South Wales.

Sue set up the world's first robotic vision research centre, and now leads CSIRO's Data61 Cyber-Physical Systems program. Last year, she developed Australia's first Robotics Roadmap highlighting how advances in robotics (and AI) will impact on every sector of the Australian economy.

With a PhD in Geoscience and an MBA, Sue combines science with business. She has interests in entrepreneurship and disruptive technologies, and started QUT's social robotics program. Sue serves on the Board of the CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction and the Expert Advisory Panel of Queensland.AI. She is a judge for the James Dyson Awards and the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sue has been recognised as one of RoboHub's 2018 “ 25 Women in Robotics you need to know about", as one of Queensland's most influential people (Courier Mail's Power 100), as a Superstar of STEM (Science and Technology Australia), and is responsible for bringing the Grace Hopper Celebration to Australia.