Webinar Free

UK Mining Innovation in Practice

1pm – 4pm 28 May 2026

Discover how innovation is being applied across UK mining today, with real-world insights from operators, suppliers, and sector experts.

Overview

Join us for an interactive, operator-focused webinar exploring how innovation is being applied across the UK mining sector today. This session will showcase practical, real-world examples from mine sites to suppliers, highlighting how innovation is shaping systems, processes, technology, and ways of working.

With a strong UK focus, the webinar will bring together voices from across the sector to share insights, experiences, and lessons learned.

You will hear from

1. Andrew Fulton (Session Chair)

Immediate Past President, MAUK

Welcome, Purpose of Session, and Proceedings

2. Professor Frances Wall (OBE)

Professor of Applied Mineralogy, Camborne School of Mines

Collaborative Research in the South West Through the Critical Minerals Challenge Centre Project

Learn more about the impactful research taking place in collaboration with industry partners and the University of Exeter, through the Critical Minerals Challenge Centre project.

3. James Kendall

Sustainable Materials Technology Lead, TTP

How Can We Deploy New Technologies in Risk-Averse Industries?

When capital expenditure is high, companies feel the need to protect against huge losses. This can mean eliminating risk wherever possible - including in the utilisation of new technologies.
However, this approach may hinder long-term improvements to operational efficiency and product quality. We discuss the "valley of death" in mining technology, where new solutions aren't deployed until proven but technologies can't be proven unless deployed, as well as how adjacent capital-intensive industries are approaching the same conundrum.

4. David Clarke

Chief Security Officer, Guildhawk Gai Labs

AI in Global Safety Training: What Works, What Doesn't, What's Next

AI generated video and multilingual avatars can revolutionise safety learning, but only when they improve knowledge retention.
This session examines what works, what fails, and what comes next. We look beyond the AI hype to ensure that technology supports human-led learning, as opposed to hindering it.

5. Rob McConnell

Head of Business Projects & Innovation, ICL Boulby

Give Our Teams Permission to Innovate

Creating an environment where employees feel empowered to challenge, improve, and test new ways of working is foundational to fostering innovation. Sharing ideas and concepts within the mining operations community is fundamental. However, the fear of losing one's competitive advantage and corporate confidentiality is an ever-present barrier.

6. Cihan Ersoy

Section Manager, Mine Planning, Anglo American Woodsmith Ltd

Pick Scanners for Miners and Hyperspectral Face Scanning

Polyhalite’s high strength leads to significant pick wear, making pick life and change-out time critical drivers of mining performance and downtime. By introducing real-time pick scanning for the cutter head, operations can shift from reactive maintenance to continuous monitoring, therefore maximising cutting time while reducing equipment damage risks. This innovation enables safer, more efficient mining and creates a platform for developing stronger, higher-performance pick solutions.
Geological variability directly impacts product quality and mine productivity. As part of Woodsmith’s long-term vision to optimise the mining process and enhance product quality through real-time operational control, hyperspectral face scanning presents a compelling opportunity by providing real-time mineral insights at the mine face, turning raw data into actionable decisions for smarter, high-value extraction.

7. Colin D Comberbach

Chair, Mining Technology Group (MTG), Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3)

What is the IOM3 Mining Technology Group?

Get introduced to the IOM3 Mining Technology Group (MTG), which promotes knowledge exchange on everything related to mining industry matters and lifecycle technology.
This talk describes the IOM3 MTG's objectives and activities to support the IOM3 membership, professional development, mining education and the wider mining sector.

8. Aleksandr Solomennikov

Regional Sales Manager, Comminution Business, WEIR

Effect of Mineral Processing Technology Selection on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Comminution processes in mineral processing circuits account for approximately 2–3% of global electricity consumption and can represent up to 50% of the total electrical energy usage at a mine site.
Given the magnitude of this energy intensity, it is vital to explore practical measures of improving comminution energy efficiency through appropriate flowsheet design and technology selection.
We evaluate the impact of technology choices across primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary crushing stages and compares these with conventional semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) and ball milling (SABC) circuits, as well as alternative grinding technologies such as high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) and fine-grinding systems. In addition to absorbed power, the associated carbon footprint of each technology is assessed for a representative mineral processing plant.

9. Ady Blythe

Product Performance Manager, KOMATSU

Automation Trends in UG Mining

Find out what the current automation trends are in UG mining, and what the future holds for this industry.

What to expect

A realistic view of current innovation in UK mining
Practical examples of innovation in action
Guidance on adopting new ideas and avoiding common pitfalls
Insights into why innovation doesn’t have to be complex, risky, or exclusive

Who should attend?

This webinar is designed for a broad cross-section of the mining and materials community, including:

Operations engineers and technical services professionals
Consultants and technology developers
Supply chain engineers and managers
Students and early career professionals
Academics and lecturers
Middle management, business development, and mine leadership

Why attend?

Hear first-hand experiences from UK mine operators and developers
Build connections and strengthen collaboration across the sector
Gain practical insight into accessible, effective innovation

Key takeaways

Real-world lessons from innovation in practice
Opportunities to connect with peers across the industry
A clearer understanding of how innovation can be implemented simply and effectively