Austmine has announced the six finalists selected to pitch at this year’s Innovation Hour, which will take place at Copper to the World 2025 conference in Adelaide, South Australia, later this month.
Returning for its second year, Innovation Hour challenges innovators to respond to two of the most pressing issues facing the copper industry:
• Deep Copper Mining – unlocking deeper orebodies with safer, more efficient, and scalable approaches; and
• Copper Processing Solutions – delivering smarter, cleaner, more sustainable processing technologies
Hosted by Austmine, in partnership with the South Australian Government, Copper to the World 2025 will provide a global platform for exploring copper’s critical role in energy transition, connecting miners, METS companies, researchers and government to address the future of supply, sustainability and innovation, event organisers say.
Proudly sponsored by Fleet Space Technologies, one of Australia’s fastest growing advanced tech companies and a leader in satellite-enabled exploration solutions, Innovation Hour celebrates the power of bold thinking to solve complex mining challenges.
“Innovation Hour is about spotlighting the cutting-edge solutions and technologies emerging from Australia’s METS sector,” Dallas Wilkinson, Chair, Austmine, said. “The two challenges reflect some of the most important issues facing our industry today. Innovation Hour provides a powerful platform to showcase homegrown innovation, spark new partnerships and accelerate ideas that have the potential to transform and disrupt the copper sector. We congratulate this year’s finalists and wish them the very best as they take the stage.”
Three finalists have been shortlisted under each challenge theme. At the event, they will pitch their solutions live to a room of mining leaders, technology decision makers and investors, as well as a panel of expert judges.
Included in the ‘Deep Copper Mining’ category are:
• Titeline Drilling Pty Ltd;
• Orica Australia; and
• Nome Services
In the category ‘Copper Processing Solutions’ are:
• Purium Metals Pty Ltd;
• Loop Hydrometallurgy; and
• Banksia Minerals Processing.
Each finalist will present a short, high-impact pitch in front of a live audience, with the judging panel made up of industry and innovation leaders. The winner will be announced during the closing plenary on Wednesday 27 August, 2025.
The judging panel includes respected leaders from across copper operations, R&D, venture investment and deep tech innovation:
• Vicky Whiffin, Head of Technology, Copper South Australia, BHP;
• Saskia Duyvesteyn, Chief Advisor R&D, Rio Tinto;
• Mark Frayman, Managing Partner, Orion Industrial Ventures;
• Gavin Yeates, Principal, Gavin Yeates Consulting;
• Brooke North, Geological Client Manager, Fleet Space Technologies; and
• Dr Dallas Wilkinson, Chair, Austmine.
Copper to the World 2025 will, event organisers say, explore the forces reshaping the sector, including digital transformation, supply and demand dynamics, energy solutions, water and tailings management, and advances in mineral processing.
The event, taking place on August 26-27, will also place a strong focus on South Australia’s copper production and exploration landscape, alongside international perspectives from Latin America – two regions critical to the future global supply chain.
