AusIMM Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026 in Perth

August 27, 2026
5 min read

The Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026 (SMP2026) is heading to Perth, Australia, and it’s one of the important technical mining events on the 2026 calendar. Organised by AusIMM, this conference brings together mine planners, orebody modellers, and mining decision-makers from across the world to discuss the future of strategic mine planning. If you are a mining company, technology provider, or service supplier, SMP2026 is a great platform to exhibit and connect with the right audience.

About Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026 Perth

The Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026 (SMP2026) is an international mining conference focused on the latest developments in mine planning and orebody modelling. This conference will be held from 17–19 November 2026 at the Residence on Langley Park, a riverside venue in the Perth CBD overlooking the Swan River. The event theme this year is “Connecting SMP and orebody modelling,” with a strong focus on digitalisation and intelligent systems that are transforming mineral value chains.

While SMP2026 is primarily a technical conference, it also features an exhibition floor where companies can showcase products, services and technologies to a focused audience of mining professionals. Delegates include mining engineers, geologists, resource modellers, and academics who are actively working on mine planning problems.

The program offers 24 professional development (PD) hours, which makes it a valuable event for AusIMM members and Chartered Professionals. SMP2026 marks the return of the Strategic Mine Planning symposia series to Perth after several years, giving companies a fresh opportunity to reconnect with this niche but influential community.

Who Should Exhibit at SMP2026?

SMP2026 is best suited for companies that serve the mine planning and orebody modelling value chain. This includes:

Mine planning and scheduling software providers
Orebody modelling and geological software companies
Mining consultancies and engineering firms
Mine optimisation and simulation technology providers
Data analytics, AI, and automation solution providers for mining
Equipment and technology suppliers linked to mine design and production planning
Sustainability, ESG, and tailings management solution providers

If your business offers tools, services, or technology that help mining companies plan, model, or optimise their operations, this conference puts you directly in front of the professionals who make those buying decisions.

Who Attends SMP2026?

SMP2026 attracts a highly technical and senior audience. Expect delegates such as:

Mining engineers and mine planners
Resource geologists and orebody modellers
Optimisation and technical services specialists
Operations and technical managers from mining companies
Consultants and software vendors in the planning space
Researchers and postgraduate students in mining and geosciences

Because the event is focused on strategic mine planning and orebody modelling specifically, the room is filled with people who work on these problems daily, not general industry visitors. This makes the conversations more relevant for exhibitors selling technical products.

Why Should Mining Companies Exhibit at SMP2026?

SMP2026 gives exhibitors a dedicated platform to demonstrate their products and services to an engaged, technical audience. Whether you offer planning software, orebody modelling tools, or mining technology, having a custom exhibition stand in this conference gives you direct visibility with professionals who understand and need what you offer.

Connect With Mining Decision-Makers

SMP2026 is designed around technical and strategic discussions, which means exhibitors can meet people who understand the challenges and their solutions. The conference draws technical managers, directors, and senior planners from major mining companies. This is a chance to build relationships with the people who influence or approve purchasing decisions for planning and modelling solutions

Generate Qualified Leads and Business Opportunities

SMP2026 offers exhibitors the chance to connect with relevant mining professionals and have meaningful conversations about their products and services. These interactions can help identify potential leads, new projects and business partnerships while building valuable industry relationships.

Build Brand Visibility in the Mining Industry

Exhibiting at SMP2026 can increase your visibility and also adds credibility to your brand among mining professionals who are actively exploring better planning and operational solutions AusIMM is the peak body for mining professionals, and association with SMP2026 helps position your company as an active, trusted player in the strategic mine planning space.

What Will Be Covered at SMP2026?

The SMP2026 program is structured around several key conference themes, grouped broadly into the following areas:

Strategic Vision and Value Creation

This theme focuses on how mining companies connect geology, planning, processing and markets to improve long-term value. Topic includes enterprise-level portfolio optimisation and strategic capital allocation to maximise long-term value while maintaining shareholder alignment.

For exhibitors, the key opportunity is to explain how your solution contributes to better business outcomes. Link product features to stronger decisions, improved returns, lower risk or more effective use of capital.

Orebody Knowledge, Risk and Uncertainty

This theme covers orebody knowledge and geological uncertainty, data-driven modelling, and integrated risk management. Topics also include geometallurgical modelling, production planning in mining complexes, and advances in stochastic and AI-driven orebody modelling to quantify geological risk.

This theme is highly relevant to companies that help mining teams improve resource confidence, compare scenarios, visualise risk or make decisions despite incomplete information.

Emerging Technologies and Operational Transformation

SMP2026 will examine feedback-driven scheduling, open-pit and underground production planning, sensors, machine learning, real-time analytics, electrification and emissions reduction. The program will also explore how intelligent systems can support more adaptive and connected mining operations.

Technology exhibitors should demonstrate how their products fit into existing workflows and how they can help bridge the gap between strategic plans, tactical schedules and daily operations.

Implementation, Change and Knowledge Transfer

New technology only creates value when people can use it effectively. This theme covers technology adoption, change management, human factors, organisational readiness, education and skills development.

Exhibitors can stand out by showing more than product features. Explain how your team supports implementation, training, onboarding, integration and long-term adoption.

Who Are the Speakers at SMP2026?

SMP2026 features keynote and invited speakers from some of the world’s largest mining companies and technology providers. Confirmed speakers include:

Arja Jewbali (Head, Resource Management, Global at Newmont)
Agung Prawasono (Director, Mine Planning at Kinross)
Rhonda O’Sullivan (Practice Lead Resource Knowledge at BHP)
Mario De Freitas Silva (Corporate Director Mining at Vale Base Metals)
Eduardo Coloma (CEO at Maptek)
Marcelo Godoy (Chief Technology Officer at AngloGold Ashanti)
Orlando Leiva (VP, Head of Strategic Planning at Anglo American)
Gerald Whittle (CEO at Whittle Consulting)
Brett King (CEO at COMET Strategy)
Kadri Dagdelen (Professor at Colorado School of Mines)
Chris Alford (Director at Alford Mining Optimization Services)
Gavin Yeates (Technical Advisor at SMW Drilling Services).

This line-up reflects the calibre of the audience exhibitors can expect to engage with, from global miners to leading consultancies and technology firms.

How to Register as an Exhibitor at SMP2026

To register as an exhibitor or sponsor at SMP2026, companies need to get in touch with the AusIMM conference team directly through the official Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026 website. AusIMM offers a range of sponsorship and exhibition packages designed to fit different business objectives and budgets, along with bespoke options for companies wanting extra exposure before, during, and after the event.

Opportunity	Price in AUD (GST inclusive)
Single booth	$4,500
Conference App sponsorship	$5,000
Silver sponsorship	$15,000
Gold sponsorship	$20,000
Platinum sponsorship	$25,000
Technical session sponsorship	$12,000
Welcome Reception sponsorship	$10,000
Lunch sponsorship	$9,000

Note: All prices are listed in Australian dollars and are GST inclusive, as stated in the official AusIMM SMP2026 Sponsorship and Exhibition Prospectus. Sponsorship and exhibition packages are subject to availability.

Availability varies by package, with some sponsorship opportunities offered on a limited or exclusive basis. Customised packages may also be available for companies seeking additional exposure before, during or after the conference. The general registration process includes:

Visit the official SMP2026 sponsors and exhibitors page.
Review the available sponsorship and exhibition packages
Complete the booking form provided in the SMP2026 Prospectus along with your company logo in it.
Send the booking form to AusIMM Sponsorship & Exhibition team at [email protected].
Confirm your package and complete registration and payment

Planning to Exhibit at SMP2026?

If your business provides mine planning software, orebody modelling, mining optimisation, or related technology and services, SMP2026 offers a valuable opportunity to connect with a focused audience of mining professionals and decision-makers in Perth. With global participation and a strong technical focus, the event can help exhibitors build visibility, generate qualified leads and strengthen industry relationships, but in order to make an impact, your exhibition stand needs to work just as hard as your pitch.

That’s where Barrett Exhibition Group comes in. As Perth’s most experienced exhibition and signage company, we design and build custom exhibition stands for mining and resources companies, with options including exhibition booths, portable displays, furniture, AV and flooring. From concept to installation, our in-house team can create a stand that reflects your brand and helps you make the most of SMP2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who organises Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026?

SMP2026 is organised by AusIMM, the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, which is the peak professional body for people working in the resources sector.

2. What is the cost to exhibit at Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026?

Exhibition and sponsorship costs vary depending on the package selected. AusIMM offers multiple sponsorship tiers along with bespoke packages. A single booth costs AUD $4,500, including GST. Sponsorship packages range from $5,000 for Conference App sponsorship to $25,000 for Platinum sponsorship.

3. Can companies sponsor Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026?

Yes. AusIMM offers a range of sponsorship packages for SMP2026, giving companies the chance to increase brand visibility, connect with decision-makers, and generate business leads. Bespoke packages are also available for companies seeking additional exposure.

4. Can international companies exhibit at Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026?

Yes. SMP2026 welcomes international exhibitors. The conference itself features speakers and delegates from mining companies around the world, making it a genuinely global technical event.

5. What types of companies can exhibit at SMP2026?

Companies offering mine planning software, orebody modelling tools, optimisation technology, mining consultancy services, data analytics and AI solutions, and equipment linked to mine design and scheduling are all well suited to exhibit at SMP2026.

6. How can companies register to exhibit at SMP2026?

Companies can register by visiting the official Strategic Mine Planning Conference 2026 page on ausimm.com, reviewing the sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities section, and contacting the AusIMM conference team to request the prospectus and confirm a package.