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Three days at the 2024 IQA National Conference

At CS-Vue, we always have our eye on trends, technology, and how other businesses operate – it’s the best way to stay up to speed. We’re not likely to turn down an opportunity to learn from and connect with other professionals across industries. That’s why members of the CS-VUE team jumped at the chance to attend this year’s IQA National Conference in Adelaide.

This year’s theme, Create and Innovate, focused on the industry’s achievements in working towards a sustainable future – and what it still needs to do. Workshops and technical sessions highlighted the importance of operational efficiency and adopting new technologies to drive sustainability. 

Overall, the conference underscored the industry’s commitment to meeting current demands and setting the foundation for sustainable future growth. Speakers also touched on generational differences and how best to connect with new workers entering the sector, potential uses of AI in the industry, and global conflicts and their impact. 

Despite some heavy topics, the mood was extremely buoyant. Networking was a major highlight – we had great conversations with industry leaders, suppliers and peers about challenges ranging from workforce shortages to compliance issues. 

Key takeaways and keynote speakers

While it’s hard to narrow down everything we learned from the conference, these insights stand out. 

First, the release of new technology in the large machinery space, including electric dozers and diggers, is having a real impact on emissions across the industry. 

Secondly, recycling of decommissioned infrastructure is becoming more common. Old concrete components can be crushed and used again as new concrete or cement, which helps extend the life of existing quarries and boosts sustainability in the sector. 

Finally, as an industry that’s highly visible to the public, with sites often close to homes and quarry outputs going towards vital infrastructure, tension between the sector and the community is a constant issue. We heard about one case in the Adelaide region, which involves regulators and quarry owners working together to alleviate those tensions. In this case, 100% of quarry output stays in the region, going towards infrastructure projects. 

The conference was a great opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from global experts – here are the keynote speakers we caught.

Dr Claire Madden – on working with Gen Z

Social researcher, keynote speaker and media commentator Dr Claire Madden is a leading voice in social trends and implications of generational change. Her presentation was a masterclass on reconciling the differences between generations – and a valuable lesson for senior leaders facing an influx of Gen Z workers in the next few years.

Some fascinating takeaways included: 

As a generation brought up on the internet, Gen Z are digital natives. They’re comfortable communicating and socialising online. Thanks in part to the isolation and missed social opportunities caused by Covid, they may struggle with in-person interactions. They also tend to have a different attitude to work, prioritising work-life balance, skills-building, and job mobility over long-term roles. 

For employers, this means finding different ways to communicate and connect with new workers – text over phone calls and online meetups over Friday drinks, for example. It could also mean offering more variation in roles, looking at work-from-home where possible, and finding other ways to engage and retain workers from this generation. 

Stefan Hajkowicz – on economic and environmental megatrends

Chief research consultant in science and technology at CSIRO, Stefan Hajkowicz, took the other keynote spot. Highly respected for his thinking and strategic foresight into global megatrends, Stefan’s expertise is in helping organisations better prepare for what’s to come. Not to predict the future, per se, but to uncover possible futures and make better decisions earlier. He says that with the disruption of AI, supply chains and geopolitical shifts, it’s the most productive way to deal with uncertainty – or, better yet, turn it to our advantage. 

His wide-ranging presentation covered some huge global issues and trends in the quarry industry and beyond: 

  • Climate change will mean that more temperature controls are needed, which could be solved with technological solutions – for example, IoT devices on site. 
  • Renewables like recycled concrete and cement could make a real difference in the industry’s CO2 emissions and waste reduction. 
  • Power is likely to become more expensive, increasing the demand for renewable and clean energy sources. 
  • AI is on the rise. While it could have benefits for the sector, the electricity and water needed to power and cool servers are a real concern.  
  • Global conflict, including high-profile cases in the Ukraine and the Middle East, is causing an increase in defence spending and a corresponding rise in sovereign capability. 

Stefan also touched on other global trends, from online shopping, cybercrime, and WFH, to social polarisation causing challenges in the workforce, to wellness at work, and the ageing workforce in the quarry industry. In short, it was a comprehensive look at issues facing the industry – and the wider world – and gave our team a lot to think about.

Uncovering a better future

It was heartening to see so much focus and positive energy directed towards securing a better future for quarrying in Australia and for the country’s environment. 

Underpinning all these aspirations is more efficient and transparent management of environmental commitments – in which technology could play a leading role.  

To learn how CS-VUE could support the future of your extractive company, get in touch.