Sydney will once again host Australia’s biggest business event, when the International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo (IMARC) returns in 2025.

The announcement was made today at the ICC, where a record 9000 delegates from 115 countries wrapped up three days of intensive networking, learning and deal-making, culminating in the much-anticipated Gala Dinner.

Chief Operating Officer at IMARC Anita Richards said the event has not only become a cornerstone of our industry but also a beacon of innovation and collaboration, thanks to the efforts of IMARC’s Founding Partners and the enthusiastic support of the NSW Government as Host Partner.

“As we celebrate the remarkable success of another IMARC, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our Founding Partners, Austmine, AusIMM and Mines and Money and our Host Partner the NSW Government, for their unwavering support,” Ms Richards said.

“A special thank you must also go to our sponsors and exhibitors, whose invaluable contributions are propelling us into the future. I also want to acknowledge our incredible team, whose dedication and passion drive this event forward.

“I am excited by the transformations taking place in the mining sector as we embrace the energy transition and pursue a more sustainable future. Looking ahead, we are committed to elevating IMARC to new heights, continuing to forge meaningful connections, showcasing groundbreaking advancements, and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

“Together, we will not only shape a sustainable and prosperous future for our industry but also redefine what is possible.”

Even as the 2024 event is wrapping up, global and Australian mining and resources companies are already turning their attention to 2025, which has already sold around 70% of exhibition space.

Steve Maxwell, Global Account Manager for Aveda, the software arm of Schneider, said this year’s event had ticked all the boxes when it comes to engagement, lead generation and brand presence, and they’d be back again in 2025.

“It’s been a fantastic week of meetings and networking for us this year,” he said.

“We had a much larger presence this year and also had speakers on the program, so this increased our presence ensured we were prominent, with a stand that was of the right size

and space to host meetings, meet with our Australian clients, and generally maintain our profile.”

Kristen Walsh, Regional Managing Director - Asia Pacific, Minerals Division, Weir said: “This year's IMARC has delivered great results in terms of Weir brand visibility and engagement with partners and customers. The week was filled with productive meetings and valuable networking opportunities.

“Our role in the speaker program provided visibility, helped us secure important meetings, and positioned us well with our customers.”

Kimberley Lim from Hexagon said she had watched IMARC grow to become Australia’s leading industry event, and 2024 has been the most successful to date for Hexagon and its partners.

“For our incredibly passionate team, this week has been all about connecting with key mining leaders, technology partners and the broader mining ecosystem and be part of hard-hitting discussions and work towards the common long-term goal of a sustainable mining future,” she said.

“IMARC is well positioned as the leading technology conference for the mining industry. We know that by being part of the conversation, not only are we helping shape the future of mining, but we are also with like-minded customers and partners who are instrumental in our technology development.”

“As a global business ourselves, we appreciate the singular touch-point the conference has created to connect with customers and partners from all over the world. Bringing them to Australia offers a different perspective – Australia is one of the leading, if not the leader, in the METs space. Having our international guests in Australia provides a different experience than if we had connected at other mining shows.”

Peter Lowenhoff, National Sales Manager for Maspro, said IMARC 2024 had been “wildly successful”, particularly in how easily his team could connect with customers and stakeholders.

“The event itself is such a great opportunity for brand exposure and marketing, as well networking, learning and staying in touch with global issues and opportunities.

“But from a business point of view, the IMARC App and the way the meetings are scheduled in particular have been an invaluable platform for us to do business this week.

“It has definitely been a great return on investment, and we look forward to next year’s event.”

As Australia’s premier business event, IMARC 2024 has once again seen some amazing deals done, and market moves.

Asian Battery Metals announced a major copper discovery on Monday, sending the stock up 79%, which saw Managing Director Gan-Ochir presenting to a packed room at IMARC.

The message was clear that Mongolia was open for business, and fund managers, mining executives and investors were lining up to speak with Gan-Ochir about the Oval discovery.

And at the other end of the scale, small cap miners, too, have been reaping the benefits of being part of the biggest mining and resources event in Australia.

Andrew Patterson, MD for Great Boulder Resources, said: “We had really strong support as a result of our presence here at IMARC, and pleased to say we are over-subscribed. We went out looking for $5 million and ended up around $6.3 in total and could have raised up to $8 million yesterday, so we are overwhelmed by the support.”

Wayne Sterley from EPIRCO said this year’s event was a success in strengthening connections and generating interest in Epiroc’s latest innovations, particularly the zero-emission Scooptram 18 Smart and Green (ST18 SG), which dominated the Expo floor and was one of the heaviest items ever brought into the ICC.

“We’ve had an exceptional week of engagement and networking,” he said.

“Our increased presence allowed us to connect with new clients and reconnect with existing ones. The ST18 SG has garnered significant interest as part of our commitment to supporting the energy transition and accelerating the transformation toward a more sustainable mining future.”