Thiess executive general manager Rae O’Brien has been named Exceptional Woman of 2026 at the Queensland Resources Council and Women in Mining and Resources Queensland awards, recognising her leadership across large open-cut coal and metals operations. O’Brien has overseen multi-year productivity and safety programmes at Thiess, including deployment of autonomous haulage fleets and advanced fleet-optimisation analytics on east coast sites. Her recognition signals continued industry emphasis on senior female leadership in mine planning, contractor management and technology-enabled production improvement across Queensland’s major resource projects.

ALLU screening and crushing buckets supplied by Total Rockbreaking Solutions are being used in Australian quarrying and mining operations to convert oversize and waste rock into saleable aggregate and fill. By processing byproduct in-situ on loaders and excavators rather than hauling it to fixed plants or waste dumps, sites can recover usable fractions, cut transport and tipping costs, and reduce stockpiled waste volumes. The approach is particularly relevant for brownfield pits with limited space and variable feed, where mobile, attachment-based processing can extend resource life.

ESS Engineering is rolling out practical conveyor control strategies to cut fugitive material loss and unplanned downtime on high‑throughput belt systems. The company is focusing on correctly sized and positioned primary and secondary belt cleaners, skirting and sealing systems, and improved transfer‑chute design to reduce carryback, spillage and dust at loading and discharge points. For mine operators, the approach targets lower maintenance at height, reduced clean‑up around conveyor structures, and more stable belt tracking and idler life.