Panel Session 3 Summary | Opportunities in a Sustainable Future

Session 3 had a strong focus on the importance of a circular economy and how it will assist in improving resilience within the resources sector, the economic development, employment, as well as environmental, social and community initiatives.

Steven Boxall, CEO from the Resources Centre of Excellence lead the discussion along with panel speakers Rowan Kendall, CEO from Novum Energy, Georgine Roodenrys, Partner at Deloitte and Dr Kam Bhowany, Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Mine Waste Transformation Through Characterisation group at WH.H Bruan Mining and Geology Research Centre.

Jarrah Steen from Greater Whitsunday Alliance shared her key take home facts from the session.

Sustainability is about exercising human endeavour within planetary boundaries - we need to re-think the way we do things by -

  • Less non-renewable inputs

  • More sustainable extraction

  • Keeping resources in our system for longer

  • New uses for waste products

Novum Energy provided an excellent case study about the alignment to regionalising operations and reducing emissions through reducing transportation and scaling plants to match the waste needs in region.

The advantage that Australia has in a decarbonising world will be automated manufacturing driven by low energy costs - which will see the reshoring of parts of the supply chain and manufacturing in Australia.  As a region we need to understand what parts of the value chain we are best aligned to capture.

RCOE Admin