Tickets on sale now: QMA 2026 Gala Presentation Dinner

April 30, 2026 Uncategorized 0 Comment

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Queensland Mining Awards Gala Presentation Dinner, proudly sponsored by MyPass — and with more than 600 guests expected on the night, they won’t last.

The Gala Dinner takes place on Wednesday 22 July at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre, held during the Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition. Now in its 12th year, the Queensland Mining Awards is the industry’s premier recognition program, drawing suppliers, contractors, miners and executives together to celebrate the companies and teams driving excellence across the sector.

What’s on

Networking gets underway from 6:00pm, sponsored by Mackay Safety, with formal proceedings following from 6:30pm until late. The evening features a formal sit-down dinner and drinks package, live entertainment from the Red Tie Band (thanks to Slattery Auctions), and a professional MC courtesy of Myndshift Group. An after-party, sponsored by CoxonsGroup, rounds out the night.

Tickets are $250 per person or $2,400 for a table of ten.

The awards

Eight categories of awards will be presented on the night, covering the full breadth of what Queensland’s mining industry does best:

• Productivity — recognising contractors and suppliers who have delivered measurable time or cost savings for a client through an innovative approach or new process

• Innovation (METS) — for mining equipment, technology and services companies that have taken a new concept, technology or process to market with demonstrable results

• Innovation (Miner) — for mining companies whose teams have implemented new technology or processes to achieve significant gains in operational efficiency or project delivery

• Safety — honouring projects or initiatives with quantifiable outcomes in workplace safety improvement

• Environment — recognising innovative approaches to environmental protection, rehabilitation or net zero commitments

• Community, Staff and EEO — celebrating new initiatives in staff engagement, community consultation, or the promotion of equal opportunity across the workforce

• Collaboration — for joint projects between mining companies, contractors and suppliers that have delivered standout results through working together

• Best New Technology — spotlighting a technology launched in the past two years that changes the game in productivity, safety or broader mine operations

The Best New Technology category is new to the Awards in 2026, replacing Best New Product and reflecting the growing role of technology in shaping the future of Queensland mining. Judges will also select a Mining Contractor of the Year from the pool of contractor and supplier finalists across all categories.

The judging panel

Entries are assessed by an independent panel of senior industry leaders, each bringing deep expertise from across Queensland’s resources sector. The 2026 panel is:

• Darren Oliver, Group Manager Procurement, Glencore

• Dr Sharna Glover, Chief Executive Officer, Imvelo (innovation categories)

• Jason Economidis, Managing Director, AURA Mining

• Dan Iliffe, Regional General Manager – Queensland, Whitehaven Coal

• Luiz Sapucaia, General Manager Supply, Stanmore Resources

Every entry is reviewed by the panel, and all finalists receive direct feedback from judges who have engaged seriously with their submissions.

About the event

The Queensland Mining Awards is presented by the Bowen Basin Mining Club and supported by the Queensland Resources Council. The Gala Dinner is the culmination of a rigorous, peer-reviewed awards process that each year uncovers the stories behind Queensland’s most impressive mining achievements — from emerging innovators to established industry leaders.

It’s one of the highlights of QME, as the industry swaps boots for black tie and celebrates the innovators, operators and suppliers who shape the industry.

Secure your seat now.

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