The Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX26) will be heading to Perth, Western Australia, from May 5-7, 2026, bringing together the world’s most forward-thinking mining companies, METS innovators, policy makers, researchers and professionals to accelerate the future of the resources sector.
A ‘by industry, for industry’ annual conference and exhibition, GRX is a strategic collaboration between leading peak bodies Austmine and AusIMM to showcase Australian mining and METS to an international audience.
Following a landmark inaugural event in Brisbane in May 2025, GRX26 heads to Perth to drive the strategic leadership, cross-sector collaboration and technological innovation that will shape Australia’s global competitive advantage.
GRX26: ‘Competing globally in the critical era’
GRX26 occurs at a crucial time for the Australian mining and METS sector. The industry is being reshaped by the energy transition, critical minerals demand, geopolitical uncertainty, shifting financial markets, new partnerships and rapid technological developments.
Against this backdrop, the GRX26 theme ‘Competing globally in the critical era’ focuses on the systems, strategy and commercialisation that will shape Australia’s resources advantage across the entire mining value chain. The event brings mining and METS together to explore industrial policy and geopolitics, supply-chain resilience, enabling technology deployment at scale, workforce transformation and more.
“It’s more important than ever that the Australian mining and METS industry unites and shows bold leadership on the world stage,” AusIMM CEO, Stephen Durkin, said. “Our sector, and the professionals AusIMM proudly represents, are essential for the global energy transition and our country’s future prosperity and security.
“GRX26 is Australia’s international showcase of our leading professionals, organisations and cutting-edge technologies. We’re thrilled to combine the deep expertise of AusIMM and Austmine to deliver a world-class, collaborative event that is an investment in our sector’s long-term capability and competitive edge.
Austmine Interim CEO, Vanessa Haberland, said: “GRX26 builds on a long tradition of showcasing the strengths of Australia’s METS sector. Our members are developing and deploying technologies that are reshaping productivity, sustainability and operational performance across the resources value chain. GRX gives us the opportunity to demonstrate this capability, elevate innovation and connect our technical leaders with the partners who can bring these solutions to scale.
“As global competitiveness intensifies, events like GRX are essential for strengthening collaboration across industry and ensuring Australia remains a leader in the development of innovative resources technology. Austmine is proud to champion the contribution our innovators make every day, to the advancement and competitiveness of the sector.”
Engaging program to focus on industry priorities
The GRX26 program is built around nine strategic content pillars, informed by industry, that cover the sector’s most pressing challenges while maintaining focus on actionable, deployment-ready solutions. Key themes include:
- Mine automation, digitalisation and robotics: showcasing technical deployment and operational outcomes of automation technologies;
- Business and workforce excellence: driving business outcomes and human capability development to turn technological potential into competitive advantage;
- Capital, access and investment: enabling innovation and growth through improved access to capital, skilled people, and strategic partnerships;
- Collaboration across the value chain: creating sustainable partnerships that drive innovation adoption and create shared value;
- Global competitiveness and strategic positioning: strengthening Australia’s competitive position in international resources markets;
- Resources and critical minerals value chain: unlocking Australia’s potential through value chain expansion and innovative approaches;
- Energy transition and sustainable operations: Implementing decarbonisation strategies and circular economy principles;
- Strategic direction, communication and leadership: addressing communication challenges, ensuring member priorities are central, and strategic leadership for the sector’s future; and
- Regulatory frameworks and safety: addressing the gap between technology advancement and regulation, and maintaining safety excellence.
As a future-focused and collaborative innovation expo, GRX will also feature breakthrough approaches and solutions from the space, defence and agriculture sectors and how these are being adapted to create value and competitive advantage for mining.
Call for abstracts now open
GRX26 is now calling for abstract submissions on the above themes, inviting innovators, researchers and industry leaders to share their latest breakthroughs with an international audience. Submissions are encouraged to highlight innovative case studies, commercial deployment strategies, cross-sector collaboration and measurable competitive advantage. For full submission criteria and to submit an abstract before the December 5, 2025 deadline, visit grx.au/abstracts
