Quick Answer
The AusIMM New Leaders Summit 2026 is Australia's flagship event for mining students, graduates and early-career professionals. Key facts:
- 30 September – 1 October 2026, two days
- Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills
- Run by AusIMM — hashtag #NewLeaders2026
- 12 PD hours for CPD and Chartered Professional records
- For students, graduates and early-career professionals plus employers and mentors
- Member student $330; member/associate $440; non-member $900
- APAC Mining Games follow on 2–3 October 2026
- Welcome and networking receptions included in registration
What is the AusIMM New Leaders Summit?
The New Leaders Summit is AusIMM's cornerstone event for students, graduates and early-career professionals in the resources sector. It is deliberately not a technical conference — the two days are built around keynotes, interactive panels, career insights, workshops and structured networking that connect the next generation of mining professionals with industry leaders. If you employ or want to employ graduate engineers, metallurgists, geologists and trades leaders, this is where that talent pool gathers.
When and where is New Leaders Summit 2026?
New Leaders Summit 2026 (#NewLeaders2026) runs Wednesday 30 September to Thursday 1 October 2026 at the Royal International Convention Centre (Royal ICC) at the Brisbane Showgrounds in Bowen Hills — about 10 minutes from the Brisbane CBD and easy to reach by train. The APAC Mining Games follow on 2–3 October 2026, so many attendees stay for the full week.
PD hours and professional development
The Summit carries 12 PD (professional development) hours across the two days. For AusIMM members maintaining a competency record — and for Chartered Professionals in particular — that is a solid contribution to an annual CPD requirement. AusIMM also publishes a business case email template so attendees can get manager approval; if you are the manager receiving that email, the PD hours plus recruitment exposure usually justify the spend on their own.
Registration costs for 2026
Rates are AUD including GST and heavily favour members. Student registration is $330 for members versus $410 for non-members, while a general non-member ticket is $900 against $440 for a member or associate. The membership + registration bundles are the standout value — a student bundle at $358 or a graduate bundle at $515 lands cheaper than paying non-member rates and includes membership for the year.
Who attends the Summit
Expect university students, graduates, new professionals in their first five to ten years, HR and graduate program managers, senior mentors, and sponsoring employers from miners, contractors, consultancies and technology providers. It skews young and early-career by design — which is exactly why the recruiters and graduate program owners show up.
Social functions and networking
Two social functions are included for all Summit attendees. The Welcome Reception runs Tuesday 29 September, 6:00pm–8:00pm at Queensland Parliament House on the corner of George and Alice Streets. The Networking Reception runs Wednesday 30 September, 5:00pm–6:30pm at the Royal ICC with exhibitors, food and drinks. Both are where the real conversations happen — arrive on the Tuesday if you can.
Abstracts, prizes and the APAC Mining Games
Students and early-career professionals can present research, case studies or fresh perspectives. AusIMM offers two $1,500 cash prizes for best abstract presentation and a $500 prize for best poster — abstract submissions for 2026 closed 19 June. Straight after the Summit, the APAC Mining Games run 2–3 October 2026: team-based practical mining skills competitions that are registered separately and are a genuine sponsorship and brand-building opportunity for contractors.
Why mining contractors should care
The single hardest thing in contracting right now is attracting and keeping capable young people. New Leaders puts a room full of them in front of you for two days at a fraction of the cost of a recruitment campaign. Sponsor a session, send two or three of your own new professionals as visible proof of your career path, and talk honestly about what site-based contracting looks like. Backing it up matters: the graduates who stay are the ones who join businesses with real systems, not paper-based chaos.
Where it sits in the 2026 calendar
Late September and early October are crowded. The AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference runs 21–23 September at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and the WA Mining Conference & Exhibition, BULK Handling Technical Conference and Australian Mining Prospect Awards all fall on 16–17 September. New Leaders on 30 September – 1 October, plus the Mining Games on 2–3 October, makes for a clean second Brisbane trip.
New Leaders Summit 2026 registration rates
| Registration type | AusIMM member | Non-member |
|---|---|---|
| Student | $330 | $410 |
| Graduate | $380 | — |
| New Professional | $400 | — |
| Member and Associate | $440 | $900 |
| Fellow and Chartered Professional | $420 | — |
| Student membership + registration bundle | — | $358 |
| Graduate membership + registration bundle | — | $515 |
| Associate (NP) + registration bundle | — | $666 |
| Associate membership + registration bundle | — | $706 |
All prices AUD, inclusive of GST. Bundle rates combine AusIMM membership with Summit registration — confirm current rates with AusIMM before booking. APAC Mining Games teams register separately.
Give new starters systems worth staying for
SprintSuite connects quoting, scheduling, field capture, safety and invoicing — with live training, licences, medicals and inductions against every worker, so graduates and apprentices get onboarded, competent and productive without the paperwork.
Related reading: AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 2026 · Australian Mining Prospect Awards 2026 · WA Mining Conference & Exhibition 2026 · Trades for females in mining · Shutdown management in mining.
