IMARC 2025 brought 11,000 delegates from 120 countries together at ICC Sydney, creating a rare chance to connect with people shaping the future of mining. This year, we took our Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface podcast on the road, recording live from the conference floor and talking with government and industry leaders about the challenges and innovations driving mining today.
NSW Premier Chris Minns opened the conference, while international and state figures explored how collaboration, technology and innovation are shaping decarbonisation and productivity across the sector.
The expanded Mining Operators Series offered practical sessions on optimisation, risk assessment, technology adoption and mine design, while more than 500 exhibitors, from Hexagon and FLS to McLanahan and Epiroc, demonstrated the latest solutions.
For @ The Coalface, the real highlights were the conversations with people on the ground. From operational strategy to the human side of mining, these discussions captured the energy, challenges and breakthroughs that make our industry tick.
With over 550 speakers IMARC was a reminder that mining is as much about people as it is about technology. Taking the podcast there meant sharing those stories with listeners around the world, giving a glimpse into the ideas, innovations and experiences shaping mining today.
MICHELLE MANOOK
Michelle Manook is the Chief Executive of Future Coal. She has been in the role for six years championing coal right around the world.
“I saw a huge opportunity for coal despite all the anti-coal sentiment that was around at the time. I think what we weren’t doing right was talking about the total contribution of coal and the story of coal.
“The coal value chain is more important than a coal producer or supplier, it’s where that collaboration lies.”
NICK JORSS
Nick Jorss is the founder of Coal Australia, and at the moment the Executive Chairman of Bowen Coking Coal after the mine tragically went into administration earlier this year.
“There was a consensus that we needed to do something – so I got them in a room, had a couple of beers and said, ‘why don’t we start standing up for ourselves?’ Coal Australia was born.
“I think people are starting to get pretty concerned about what’s happening to our industry and I think that is starting to penetrate the broader consciousness of Queenslanders.”
JODIE CURRIE
Jodie Currie started the Bowen Basin Mining Club 15 years ago. Fast forward to 2025 and not only is she still the Director, but she has also started the Hunter Mining Club in NSW.
“When I look back it’s amazing where we’ve come from. We’ve been through a lot. The last couple of years there have been royalty changes that have significantly affected the industry, and now we’re dealing with lower coal prices and add that to higher labor and supply costs it’s a triangle of things that are causing pressure.
“There’s not panic but there’s discontent on the ground in Queensland at the moment.”
STEVE KOVAC
Idemitsu Australia is diversifying their business, not only mining coal but moving into critical minerals and combining traditional mining with renewables on their coal mining sites.
CEO Steve Kovac is passionate about the business and how they are expanding their horizons.
“Mining isn’t going anywhere any time soon and there’s been a better realisation of that the last couple of years. We need the materials mining produces.”
DALE LAST
Dale Last is the Queensland Minister for Resources and Mines. He is also the Member for Burdekin, taking in about 60 per cent of the state’s mines so he’s passionate about mining and the regional areas getting their fair share.
He admits, it is a challenging time.
“I’ll be the first to admit that at the bottom of the cycle with coal prices the way they are, the production costs going up it is a challenging time for our coal miners, but we are giving them the certainty that they need. We know they were blindsided, but we are working with them.”
| You can download all of the episodes on all your favourite podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeart Radio, YouTube and here: https://thecoalface.net.au/podcasts/ |
