The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2025 concluded this week at the ICC Sydney, reinforcing its status as the Southern Hemisphere’s pre-eminent mining and resources event. Held from October 21-23, the conference saw an impressive surge in attendance and a palpable buzz of optimism driven by critical global market developments.
Total visitors to the event reached over 11,000, a 14% increase on last year, underscoring the industry’s hunger for collaboration and investment. Crucially, the event hosted over 600 qualified investors, all of whom were fully vetted by the organisers, ensuring high-quality engagement with mining and exploration companies.
Companies widely cited the official meeting platform and mobile app as invaluable tools, enabling them to efficiently manage one-on-one connections with investors and industry peers both on and off the exhibition booths. This blend of cutting-edge event technology and high-calibre attendance maximised return on investment for participants. Brokers were generally in good spirits given recent market action, and were very keen to keep the recent positive momentum going into the end of the year.
A strong sense of optimism was evident on the conference floor, particularly among companies focused on battery metals and critical minerals. This was amplified by the timely sentiment following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent visit with US President Donald Trump, which focused on strengthening supply chains. PM Albanese injected confidence into the sector, declaring after the meeting, “Australia is home to much of the periodic table of critical minerals and rare earth metals that are vital for defence and other advanced technologies. Cooperation on critical minerals and rare earth supply chains is testament to the trusted partnership between Australia and the United States as strategic defence allies.” This commitment to increased domestic support for the energy transition was met with strong positive response from attendees.
The conference featured a high-quality lineup of keynote speakers who grappled with the sector’s biggest challenges. Julian Kettle, Vice Chairman of Metals and Mining for Wood Mackenzie – a global leader in data and analytics for the natural resources industry – highlighted the global struggle for supply, noting, “Huge opportunities to deliver the required raw materials and metals to deliver whatever pathway you believe in. But – there is always a but – it is getting harder to develop mines, which are costing more and taking longer.” This sentiment reinforced the importance of the conference’s focus on technological solutions.
Junior mining companies had the opportunity to present their story to the audience as part of the mining spotlight series, and also in some selected panel discussions throughout the conference. The highly competitive Pitch Battles featured on the program once again, these were enthusiastically hosted by Richard Morrow of Lowell Resources Fund Management, in his role as the IMARC Master of Ceremonies. Richard’s exuberant “Roll up, roll up” call to action ensured excellent audience attendance for these sessions.
IMARC 2025 further cemented its role as a global forum for policy and trade. Government officials and Ministerial delegations from five continents were highly visible, actively promoting investment opportunities within their respective jurisdictions. Countries with a major presence included Saudi Arabia, Peru, New Zealand, Botswana, Sweden, and Timor-Leste, alongside Australian state and territory governments. This strong diplomatic presence facilitated critical discussions on cross-jurisdictional cooperation necessary to de-risk supply and meet the world’s growing demand for essential minerals.
With record attendance, positive sentiment and high-value investor engagement, IMARC 2025 proved that the global mining sector is ready to fund its next wave of growth and innovation.
Photo credit: IMARC
