Australia’s premier mining safety conference is set to take over the Gold Coast once again in August, this time turning its attention to the industry’s most valuable asset.
The mining sector’s value to the Australian economy can hardly be overstated. Yet when the Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference (QMIHSC) returns to familiar ground later this year, it will challenge decision-makers to reconsider what truly drives the industry – and the nation – forward.
Or, more appropriately, who drives the industry.
To be held at the Star Gold Coast from August 16–19, the 37th annual QMIHSC will bring together industry leaders, safety professionals and frontline workers from across the mining and resources sector under the timely theme, ‘Our greatest resource, our people’.
According to conference chair Stephen Watts, the event is designed to push the industry to recognise and prioritise the people who ultimately power it.
“The conference will aim to not only challenge [attendees] but also provide valuable tools to take back to use in the workplace,” Watts said.
The event will deliver “spirited and relevant” keynote presentations, interactive workshops and industry-led sessions. Opportunities to collaborate, share innovations and reflect on lessons learned from incidents will sit alongside networking events with industry leaders, sponsors and suppliers. The conference will also support industry charity Miners’ Promise, with proceeds from an informal dinner appeal auction on August 17 going to the not-for-profit organisation, which provides practical, emotional and financial assistance to mining, energy and resources sector families in times of crisis.
“We encourage [visitors] to please support this worthwhile program,” Watts said.
With QMIHSC only a couple of months away, Watts is also asking professionals to help make the conference a success, with speaking opportunities and nominations for innovation and health awards open ahead of the event.
“For those who have attended in the past, please promote the conference within your network so we continue to welcome new delegates to share in this important learning experience,” Watts said.
The committee is working to deliver a program tailored to the sector’s evolving challenges, while continuing to create a space for meaningful learning and collaboration across the industry.
“We are excited to be delivering another fantastic conference and look forward to welcoming [delegates] in August,” Watts said.
Komatsu is set to return as the principal sponsor for the 2026 event. This, according to Watts, builds on the success and momentum of last year’s conference and its theme, ‘Rock solid – The foundations of safety excellence’, which encouraged the industry to revisit the core principles underpinning safe operations.
Building on safety foundations
The 2025 iteration sparked candid conversations about why the mining industry’s future depends on the strength of its foundations. The program leaned into reflection, urging the industry to revisit basic principles that have long underpinned safe operations: proactive hazard identification, strong leadership and clear, consistent safety systems.
Driving those insights home were the keynote sessions, which included some of the biggest names in the safety conversation.
Forensic engineer Sean Brady unpacked the systemic failures that often sit behind major incidents, urging organisations to look beyond immediate causes and address deeper operational weaknesses.
Safety advocate Helen Fitzroy brought a powerful personal perspective to the stage, sharing the story that continues to drive her work in pushing for stronger accountability and safer workplaces across the resources sector.
Fatigue specialists Naomi Rogers and Nicholas Mabbott also tackled one of the industry’s most persistent challenges, examining the human and operational impacts of fatigue and offering practical strategies for better management in complex shift environments.
Meanwhile, internationally recognised safety thinker Sidney Dekker challenged traditional compliance-driven models, encouraging people to rethink how safety systems are designed and how organisations respond when things go wrong.
Across the program, the discussions reinforced a central message: meaningful safety improvements rarely come from technology alone, but from the decisions, behaviours and cultures that shape the way work is done.
Last year’s QMIHSC reminded attendees that the future of safety isn’t just about what’s next, it’s about strengthening what’s always been there. While last year’s program challenged the industry to revisit the foundations of safety, the 2026 conference will take the same conversation a step further by asking how those principles translate into safeguarding and empowering the people at the heart of the sector.
“We are preparing a tailored program and keynote speakers with content relevant to the industry’s needs to protect our greatest resource,” Watts said.
