It’s now little more than three months to QuarryNZ 2025.
Conference organiser Melissa Bahler says Early Bird registrations have been selling well. The discounted packages close at the end of May. All internal space for booths has been sold out and there are 10 outside spots still available (at the time of writing).
While the Hamilton Claudelands venue is an easy drive for anyone from Auckland/Northland or the central North Island, it’s recommended anyone further south book their airfares ASAP. One option, particularly given Hamilton can get foggy in winter, is to fly into Auckland.
The conference programme is now all but complete. As usual it kicks off on Wednesday July 9 with the AQA and IOQ NZ AGMs followed by a session on technical issues before the TerraCat opening night dinner.
Thursday morning begins with the keynote address from Resources Minister Shane Jones, followed by Infometrics Brad Olsen giving an economic update. Then Infrastructure Commission CEO Geoff Cooper will outline the National Infrastructure Plan which will just have been released.
There’s a health and safety focus after lunch. Francois Barton, Executive Director of the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum will outline changes to workplace health and safety and Chief Inspector Extractives Paul Hunt will give us WorkSafe’s perspective. Veteran Canterbury quarryman Andrew Mahan will talk about achieving zero harm.
The afternoon concludes with some other quarry legends relaying the changes they’ve seen in the industry over many decades. Then it’s the Real Steel happy hour and the evening free.
Friday morning sees a focus on sustainability and future-proofing quarry operations through embracing digital transformation. Later, there are presentations by Orica, MIMICO, Liebherr and Equip2. Clayton Hill from SLR Consulting in Australia will outline his perspectives on leadership with 20 lessons learned over 20 years in the industry.
Simon Court, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Resource Management Reform, will update us on how that is tracking before a panel discussion on the same topic.
Then it’s time to polish your shoes and get ready for the TDX awards dinner.
The AQA works with MIMICO to provide the MIMICO Environment & Community Award. This is a simple one-page form signed by a manager. Entries recognise the contributions made by member companies and their staff in caring for the environment and/or community. There’s a $3000 prize. Entry forms can be found on the AQA website. These need to be in by May 11. The cutoff for the IOQ NZ awards is May 31.
The Q&M Tomorrows Leaders awards are open until the end of April. If you have a deserving staff member for this award with its $1000 prize to encourage industry leadership – ring the editor Alan Titchall direct on 027 405 0338.
A number of AQA members are now also attending the Future Roads conference. It’s timely to get that in your diary. The event is also being held at Claudelands on November 19 and 20.
