Professor Rick Valenta is Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) at the University of Queensland, one of the world's leading minerals research organisations. With expertise spanning critical minerals strategy, resource investment, and the future of the global metals supply chain, Rick works at the intersection of research, industry, and government to help shape how Australia responds to the commodity needs of tomorrow. SMI's partnerships with over 100 companies and stakeholders across Australia and internationally give Rick a uniquely grounded perspective on where demand is heading, what that means for producers and investors, and how the minerals sector can position itself for the decades ahead.