Transcription of The Stock Network Interview with IMARC event director, Sherene Asnasyous
Lel Smits: The International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo, more commonly known as IMARC, is one of the flagship events on Australia’s mining calendar. Taking place in Sydney between the 21st and the 23rd of October this year, this marquee event delivers a comprehensive program across six concurrent conferences spanning the entire mining value chain. It also provides a dynamic line of networking sessions and industry forums hosted by local and international organizations.
IMARC event director Sherene Asnasyous joins me to discuss this upcoming conference. Sherene, welcome to the Stock Network.
Sherene Asnasyous: Thank you. Thanks for having me here today.
Lel Smits: Pleasure. Now, for those that are less familiar with IMARC, how would you describe the event?
Sherene Asnasyous: The International Mining and Resources Conference is the largest mining resources event in Australia and it’s actually one of the most significant now globally in its 14th year this year in Sydney in October.
It’s positioned as a premier platform for leaders across the mining investment and technology ecosystem and so therefore we cover the entire value mining chain. It’s a global meeting point that brings together not just the mining industry but also the stakeholders across the mining and resources sector, so that includes government officials, investors, innovators, service providers from across the world. In fact, of the 10,000 attendees that we’ve got coming to IMARC this year, about 25% of them are actually international so it’s not an Australia-only event.
It is a global mining industry event. We have the exhibition floor that’s made up of 20,000 square meters of 550 different types of exhibitors but then we’ve also got a conference program that looks after more of that thought leadership side of the conference and industry, so everything from exploration and investment right through to innovation, decarbonisation, critical minerals, mining, value chain issues as well. So I guess if I was to explain it to everyone, it’s this all-encompassing mining and resources event that looks after the entire value chain.
Lel Smits: Fantastic, and what unique insights can we expect from this year’s event?
Sherene Asnasyous: Yeah look, I think from this year, first and foremost would be the fact that the program’s honing in on three key pressures that are facing the global mining industry. One is obviously strengthening supply chains, the second is optimising costs and the third is driving productivity. So the topics reflect the urgent need I guess to respond to geopolitical volatility, economic uncertainty and a lot of the operational efficiencies that the industry’s facing.
The other thing that I would probably look at in terms of insights into IMARC is the global political engagement that we’ve got this year. As I mentioned before, you know 25% of the attendance is international, of which there are probably about 15 to 18 international mining ministers that will converge at IMARC, including a number of the Australian government and state governments here as well. So that kind of brings in that whole trade investment supply chain opportunity across that political landscape of the industry.
The other thing that I would probably highlight is the inclusive experiences at IMARC this year. So we’ve opened up the event to include more mining operators. We’ve in fact doubled the number of mining operators that we will see at IMARC, which means that you’re getting more operational personnel with technical expertise, the people that look after procurement and innovation as well.
And then I would probably also say that the third key thing or insight that I would have for you is the number of expected meetings that we’re probably going to have at IMARC this year. So we have the amazing IMARC Connect platform and app where you go on and you put your profile and you’re able to connect with people that you’re looking to have meetings with, whether that’s investment specific meetings, whether it’s requirements and capability type conversations, or if it’s you know about meeting some of the best practices across the industry.
Lel Smits: Excellent. Well, I was going to ask you what features from this year’s programme are most relevant for investors, but that Connect platform seems like it would be up there.
Sherene Asnasyous: Definitely. That Connect platform is probably used most by the mining junior companies, the investors that take part.
But interestingly, the investors that we have at IMARC is expanded as well. So we’re not just talking about, you know, institutional investors that come along to IMARC, the brokering firms. We’re also seeing a number of retailers join IMARC now as well.
But more so than anything, we’re also seeing a number of off-take partners and international downstream and OEMs coming to IMARC. This obviously expands that, I guess, investment profile that we have at IMARC, obviously increasing the opportunities for mining companies who are looking to connect with them. But the other things I guess that are of interest to investors is obviously the mining investment hub.
You know, we’ve got some great showcasing of Trigg Minerals, Southern Cross Gold, Carios Minerals that are all doing some really great stuff in the industry. So, yeah, that opportunity to sort of showcase their projects and what they are doing is obviously of great interest to investors. The Mines and Money at IMARC actual conference programme obviously highlights a number of mining spotlights that are, you know, great for early stage opportunities, also allowing investors to hear, you know, what is coming out of these particular projects.
But more so than that is that opportunity to network across the industry as well. So we’ve introduced an innovation and investment alley. So if an investor is looking at both a mining project, but also looking at what technology and innovation is also coming up that has commercialisation opportunities, IMARC’s also got that for them too.
Lel Smits: Brilliant. And finally, what’s the best way for investors to secure registration for IMARC 2025?
Sherene Asnasyous: Yeah, it’s as easy as going to our IMARC website, clicking onto our registration link, and you’ll see a specific pass that is for investors. It’s obviously a complimentary pass for investors to come along to IMARC, as long as they are having some meetings with our junior miners.
Log on, you put in your details and we’ll contact you for your confirmation for registration.
Lel Smits: Brilliant. Well, Sherene, I look forward to seeing you and all those many mining companies and investors along at IMARC coming up in October very soon.
Sherene Asnasyous: Amazing. We look forward to welcoming you then.
Ends