Materials, Minerals & Mining for People, Places, Planet

Introduction & Welcome

9am – 9.15am GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 15 mins

Plenary

Spotlight Speech: Industrial Strategy

9.15am – 9.30am GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 15 mins

Plenary

Changemakers in conversation: Industrial Strategy

9.30am – 10.15am GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 45 mins

Plenary

Whether or not a country has an explicit industrial strategy, decisions its government makes can have a massive impact on industry and how firms can adapt to external challenges and shocks. In recognition of this, in October 2024, the UK Government launched its Green Paper Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy. This sets out the Government’s vision for a modern industrial strategy – ‘a credible, 10-year plan to deliver the certainty and stability businesses need to invest in the high growth sectors that will drive our growth mission’. The industrial strategy will focus on the sectors which Government analysis suggests offer the highest growth opportunity for the economy and business. Eight growth-driving sectors have been identified:

During the course of 2025, we expect greater clarity as to what this future industrial strategy will mean for the UK, especially for the materials, minerals, and mining sectors, which underpin so much of UK industrial capacity.

This plenary session will provide the most recent updates and will bring together some key speakers to share their perspectives across our fields.

Panel:

• Charles Hendry HonFIMMM
• Jon Bolton FIMMM

Networking break

10.15am – 11am GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 45 mins

Connect

Introduction to design for sustainability

10.45am – 12.45pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 2 hours

IOM3 Training Academy Taster Session

It is said that 80% of the environmental impact of a product is determined at the design stage. Much of that impact is in materials selection and processing. Generic methodologies for considering sustainability at an early stage in the product life cycle have been developed, and are beginning to be adapted and adopted into real engineering scenarios.

This is a taster session for our IOM3 Training Academy course.  The full course introduces the main principles for designing for sustainability and circularity. The course looks at methodologies for introducing those principles into design, with four interactive workshops.

Overview of AI & Digital Tools

11am – 12.30pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Discover how cutting-edge AI and digital solutions are being integrated into materials, minerals, and mining, transforming traditional practices and opening new frontiers

Supply chain management

11am – 12.30pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Explore innovative practices in supply chain management, including Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), packaging, critical imports, and product design. Learn how these strategies enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve sustainability across the materials, minerals, and mining sectors.

Sustainable Built Environment

11am – 12.30pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Dive into the latest innovations in creating sustainable buildings, tunnels, roads, and other infrastructure. Learn how these advancements are reducing environmental impact and promoting long-term sustainability 

Encouraging innovation in materials, minerals & mining

11am – 12.30pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Learn about the strategies and sources of funding that are essential for fostering innovation in our field. Discover how to create an environment that nurtures new ideas and drives progress.

Networking lunch

12.30pm – 2pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Connect

Spotlight Speech: Circular Economy

2pm – 2.15pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 15 mins

Plenary

Changemakers in conversation: Circular Economy

2.15pm – 3pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 45 mins

Plenary

Modern society operates a “take-make-use-lose” model of resource use. We extract organic and mineral resources from the planet, turn them into items which we use once or many times and then throw them away, hoping never to see them again. This is often called a ‘linear economy’. A ‘circular economy’ is one where we keep resources in use at as high a value for as long as possible, restoring natural systems and eliminating waste. The expertise of professionals in materials, minerals, and mining is key to making this work.

The UK Government has committed to moving to a zero waste economy, and as part of that it plans to produce a Circular Economy strategy in 2025, signalling a potentially significant change of economic model that will take decades to deliver.

This plenary session will provide the most recent updates and will bring together some key speakers to share their perspectives across our fields.

Panel:

• Libby Peake, Senior Fellow and Head of Resource Policy, Green Alliance
• Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials & Society, University College London
• Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland

• Libby Peake, Senior Fellow and Head of Resource Policy, Green Alliance
• Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials & Society, University College London
• Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland

Networking break

3pm – 4pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour

Connect

Introduction to leadership and management

3.45pm – 5.45pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 2 hours

IOM3 Training Academy Taster Session

Why is leadership so important in the 21st century?

All organisations require well trained leaders and managers to enable it move forward.  In today’s competitive global market, organisations, large, small and everything in between, must maximise every opportunity to grow. To do this, exceptional leadership is essential.  Leaders must engage talent, guide teams through change, and make timely decisions to enable the company to stay ahead.  Organisational culture happens whether we are actively engaged with it or not. In a world of disruption and accelerating social change, any organisation which neglects to engage and embrace change risks putting itself at a massive disadvantage.  

This is a taster session for our IOM3 Training Academy certified course covering all aspects of senior management skills, including managing and leading teams, developing a high performance culture, managing projects and the all important finance skills.   

AI & Digital in Exploration & Mining

4pm – 5.30pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Learn about the latest innovations in exploration and mining, where AI and digital technologies are optimizing operations, improving safety, and increasing efficiency

Energy & critical materials recovery

4pm – 5.30pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Discover cutting-edge techniques for recovering energy and critical materials from composites, batteries, wind turbines, and more. These methods ensure resource efficiency and support the transition to a circular economy.

Aerospace & defence

4pm – 5.30pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Discover how cutting-edge materials and technologies are revolutionising the aerospace and defence sectors, enhancing performance, and sustainability 

Materials, minerals & mining in health

4pm – 5.30pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Discover how advancements in materials and minerals are contributing to health and well-being, from medical devices to sustainable healthcare solutions.

Closing Keynote

5.45pm – 6.15pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 30 mins

Plenary

Networking supper

6.15pm – 10.30pm GMT, 11 November 2025 ‐ 4 hours 15 mins

Connect

Registration

8am – 9am GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour

Connect

Introduction & Welcome

9am – 9.15am GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 15 mins

Plenary

Spotlight Speech: UK Skills Landscape

9.15am – 9.30am GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 15 mins

Plenary

Changemakers in conversation: UK Skills Landscape

9.30am – 10.15am GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 45 mins

Plenary

Fundamental to the success of the UK Government’s industrial ambitions, plans for economic growth and net-zero targets is skills, and a skills system that is fit for the future. Delivery of the strategies discussed in this programme will only be possible if the UK has enough people with the required skills, education and training, both to do the work and ensure it is properly regulated. This means access to relevant learning provision, awareness of the employment opportunities available and pathways into the industry.  

The demand for skills across many areas of materials, minerals and mining is growing and a significant increase in workforces will be required. At the same time, however, there is a decline in the availability of skilled professionals, with insufficient new talent entering these fields.

The concerning and growing skills gaps stretch across our industries from construction, packaging and nuclear, to composites, defence and the foundation industries. These skills gaps pose a significant threat to our sectors, and to the UK economy.

Announced in July 2024, Skills England aims to address the skills needs and bring together the fragmented and confusing skills landscape. It commits to ensuring that skills sit at the heart of joined-up decision making across government and to working closely with the Industrial Strategy Council and the Migration Advisory Committee. Critical links will also include close work with the devolved administrations and the Office for Clean Energy Jobs.

This plenary session will provide the most recent updates and will bring together some key speakers to share their perspectives across our fields.

Panel:

• Pat Foster, Head of School, Cambourne School of Mines
• Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive Officer, Engineering UK

Refreshment break

10.15am – 11am GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 45 mins

Connect

Teachers Conference

10.30am – 5pm GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 6 hours 30 mins

Plenary

AI & digital in materials discovery & manufacturing

11am – 12.30pm GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Industrial Decarbonisation

11am – 12.30pm GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Learn about the latest advancements in industrial decarbonisation, including strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner production processes.

Low carbon transport

11am – 12.30pm GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Explore the future of transport with a focus on low carbon solutions such as batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and lightweighting technologies

Skills in materials, minerals and mining

11am – 12.30pm GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Collaborative Sessions

Learn about the importance of developing the skills required for the industries of tomorrow and discover the initiatives to address the skills gap.  Understand how fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce can drive innovation and success.

Networking lunch

12.30pm – 2pm GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins

Connect

Spotlight Speech: Materials Strategy

2pm – 2.15pm GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 15 mins

Plenary

Changemakers in conversation: materials strategy

2.15pm – 3pm GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 45 mins

Plenary

Alongside the general economic and industrial strategies discussed earlier in the programme, there are two more specific topics to cover.

While materials underpins the UK’s manufacturing base, one of the largest in the world, the materials themselves pose a particular challenge in terms of a real focussed national effort, because their role is so all-pervasive.  Further they link into a multitude of other sector strategies which depend on their continual innovation. Launched in January 2025, the Henry Royce Institute-led national Materials Innovation Strategy sets out a 10 year vision and is designed to ensure that materials is clearly positioned as not only a strategic sector in its own right, but as a critical driver of innovation across a range of important technologies.

Secondly, the world has become alive to the issues surrounding escalating demand for certain key metals and minerals that are essential for the transition to net zero, as well as for a range of other modern technologies in health, electronics, defence and more. Building on previous work, the UK Government has committed to producing a new Critical Minerals Strategy in the first part of 2025. This is expected to target the development of resilient supply chains for critical materials over the next decade and beyond, job creation, economic growth, and business confidence in the UK’s industrial sectors. It will also tie into the broader Government’s industrial strategy vision, which aims to drive growth in the UK’s most important sectors.

This plenary session will provide the most recent updates and will bring together some key speakers to share their perspectives across our fields.

Panel:

• Gavin Mudd, Director, Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre
• Philippa Glover, Director, Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium (FISC)
• Jo Bray OBE, Director, Advanced Manufacturing, Department for Business and Trade

Closing Keynote

3pm – 3.30pm GMT, 12 November 2025 ‐ 30 mins

Plenary