The AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 2026 — Australasia’s most important gathering for critical minerals professionals — is scheduled for 21–23 September 2026 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland. Organised by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), the conference brings together senior figures from industry, government, and finance to address supply chain resilience, the energy transition, and the expanding role of Australian critical minerals in global markets.
What Is the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference?
The AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference is AusIMM’s flagship technical event for the critical minerals sector, held annually in Brisbane. The conference operates under the hashtag #CMC2026 and is structured around a full three-day technical programme featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and an exhibition floor. Delegates earn up to 24 Professional Development (PD) hours across the event, making it a formal CPD milestone for engineers, geologists, and metallurgists active in the sector.
AusIMM is the peak professional body for resources sector professionals in Australasia, with a membership base spanning mining engineers, geologists, metallurgists, and processing specialists. The Critical Minerals Conference sits at the intersection of AusIMM’s technical standards work and the growing policy and investment interest in Australia’s critical minerals endowment.
Why the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 2026 Matters for Rare Earths
Australia holds some of the largest rare earth reserves outside China. Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) operates the Mt Weld mine in Western Australia — the highest-grade rare earth deposit currently in production globally — and processes concentrate at its Malaysian facility. Iluka Resources (ASX: ILU) is developing the Eneabba rare earth refinery in Western Australia, the only integrated heavy rare earth refinery under development outside China and Malaysia at scale. Both companies are prominent voices at Australian critical minerals events. See the Lynas Rare Earths profile and Iluka Resources profile for current operations and financials.
Australia ranks as one of the world’s top rare earth producing countries by reserve base, alongside China, Brazil, and India. For a full overview of the global production landscape, see Top 10 Rare Earth Producing Countries. The AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 2026 provides the primary forum where Australian project developers, government agencies, and institutional investors converge to assess project pipelines, financing structures, and offtake arrangements.
2026 Programme Highlights
The full programme for the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 2026 is in development, with the call for abstracts closing 8 April 2026. Confirmed keynote speakers include Nigel Steward, Chief Scientist at Rio Tinto, who will address the role of critical minerals in the energy transition — covering supply security, demand growth across aluminium, copper, and iron ore, and the technological pathways toward sustainable sourcing.
Based on the 2025 programme and AusIMM’s stated themes, the 2026 conference is expected to include sessions on supply chain resilience, processing and separation technology, project financing and government co-investment, ESG and social licence, and the geopolitical dimensions of Australia’s critical minerals trade relationships with the United States, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union. The programme is designed by an industry-led advisory committee, ensuring technical content is calibrated to practitioner needs rather than general policy discussion.
Who Attends
The AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference draws an audience of exploration geologists, metallurgists, processing engineers, project developers, and mine operators alongside institutional investors, equity analysts, and government representatives from Australia’s federal and state minerals agencies. International attendees — particularly from Japan, South Korea, and the United States — have grown in number in recent years as offtake and strategic investment interest in Australian projects has intensified.
The 2025 edition attracted delegates from at least eight countries across three days in Perth, with more than 60 technical papers presented. The 2026 event returns to Brisbane, which hosted earlier editions of the conference.
Sponsors and Commercial Context
Sponsorship details for the 2026 conference are available through AusIMM’s dedicated sponsorship and exhibitor programme. Companies presenting at or sponsoring the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference typically include ASX-listed producers, engineering and processing consultancies, legal and financial advisers serving the mining sector, and equipment suppliers to Australian operations. Conference sponsors gain direct access to a decision-making audience of senior technical and commercial professionals — a pre-qualified pool of potential customers, partners, and investors.
For the full sponsorship prospectus and exhibitor opportunities, visit the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 2026 official page.
Related Coverage
For broader context on the 2026 critical minerals and rare earth conference calendar, see Rare Earth Mining Events 2026. Registration for the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 2026 is available directly through AusIMM’s conference registration portal.
When is the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 2026?
The AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 2026 takes place 21–23 September 2026 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia.
Where is the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference held?
The 2026 conference is held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland. Previous editions have rotated between Brisbane and Perth.
Who attends the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference?
Attendees include exploration geologists, metallurgists, processing engineers, project developers, institutional investors, equity analysts, and government representatives from Australian federal and state minerals agencies. International delegates from Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Europe attend in growing numbers.
What rare earth topics are covered at the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference?
The conference covers rare earth project development, processing and separation technology, supply chain resilience, project financing and government co-investment, ESG and social licence, and Australia’s strategic minerals trade relationships with key partner nations.
How do I register for the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference?
Registration is available through AusIMM’s official conference website at ausimm.com. AusIMM members receive discounted registration rates; non-members can register at standard rates or join AusIMM prior to registering.
