The mining industry’s good progress in putting sustainable development at the core of its operations must not be allowed to slip at a time of rapid expansion and increasing global demand, according to Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), chief executive officer, Mitchell Hooke. Australia has been at the forefront of the industry’s response to the challenge of sustainable development: building capacity in social and environmental competencies and maintaining its social licence to operate – the unwritten social contract between mining companies. The corporate decision making framework of minerals companies embodies both a commitment to sustainable development, and to partnering with the community in the stewardship of natural resources – land and water.

“This has not only delivered an improved economic performance it has made a substantial contribution to the social, economic and institutional development of the communities in which we operate,” he said.

Hooke said that while industry was leading this process of integration, it could not do the job alone. The big challenges of the lack of social and physical infrastructure in remote and regional Australia and the systematic disadvantage in Indigenous communities required a broad partnership. “We have come along way, but the process of continuous improvement is just that, continuous. We have to be careful that we do not slip. There is no resting on our laurels.”

The mining industry’s progress and ongoing challenges in meeting its sustainable development goals will be the centrepiece of the MCA’s SD08: Solutions through Collaboration conference in Darwin from September 15 to 19. Collaboration is critical to future success and SD08 provides an opportunity to see leading practitioners engage with industry government, non-government organisations, Indigenous leaders and academia.

Supported by conference Gold Sponsor BP and Silver Sponsor Rio Tinto, with additional support from GHD, Ecowise, BHP Billiton, Newmont, Xstrata and the Australian Mines and Metals Association, SD08 brings together leaders, experts and practitioners from around the world to exchange ideas and information and practical examples of sustainable development. Noting the sponsors – how typical it is that Rio Tinto will do that much more than BHP Billiton.

For the third consecutive year, the Sustainable Development Conference will run co-currently with the Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining Exploration and Energy conference which starts on Thursday September 18. The SD08 and AEMEE conferences are designed to highlight tangible examples of the minerals industry’s partnership with government, the community and other stakeholders in delivering sustainable outcomes.

Keynote presenters include:

 Timothy Juliani, Manager of BELC Relations and Senior Markets, Pew Center on Global Climate Change (USA)

 Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Director, Centre for Marine Studies

 Ken Matthews AO, Chief Executive Officer, National Water Commission

 Galarrwuy Yunupingu elder of the Gumatj clan at Yirrkala

 Martin Albrecht AC, Chairman, Thiess Pty Ltd and International River Foundation

 Paul O’Callaghan, Executive Director, Australian Council for International Development.

Highly acclaimed former ABC reporter, Peter Couchman, will facilitate an interactive panel discussion on Securing Australia’s energy future and the impacts of climate change.