RCOE Masterplan 2024-2026

RCOE appreciates the support of BMA to develop these business structures and governance models.

“The RCOE has high level partnerships in place with founding partners Mackay Regional Council (MRC) and Department of State Development (DSD) but that has now been expanded to include BMA/BHP and Anglo American as well as a number of other key companies like Greater Whitsunday Alliance, Mackay Isuzu Ute and many more.”

Since opening its doors in 2020, the RCOE has a total of 15 FTE’s which includes an interesting range of companies and organisations from the Mackay Manufacturing Hub; Resource Industry Network; Strata Worldwide; Gilmour Space; Trading Tracks; CQUniversity/BMA and Anglo American.

Mr Boxall said RCOE is entering its third year of full operations as a place where the brightest minds in research, technology, education, and METS can shape the future of all resources.

and collaboration spaces, with an estimated profit of more than $200,000 just in the past year.”

Mr Boxall said the board of the RCOE are now working on the next five-year strategic plan having executed the initial strategic roadmap with great success.

As the RCOE moves into the next phase, along the way the Centre is supporting METS innovators, through a program called Innovators in Residence.

“It provides free access to the RCOE facilities to allow for faster R&D allowing a quicker path to market.“

Mr Boxall said one of these companies recently was a Mackay success story, Real Time Instruments (RTI), owned by RCF Jolimont, a global VC Fund focused on METS innovation companies.

“RTI were able to test, trial and demonstrate a world first piece of equipment at the RCOE before installation onside in the Bowen Basin,” Mr Boxall said.

Resources Centre of Excellence leading the Greater Whitsunday region and Queensland to new horizons

From NASA Astronauts to green members of parliament from Germany, it appears anyone and everyone is interested in the Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE).

doors of the RCOE. It has been the host of a range of events with visits from 12 Queensland Ministers and Director General; the Prime Minister along with Federal Treasurer and Resources Minister.

“RCOE is a state-of-the-art common user facility which started as an empty industrial shed that is now bursting at the seams with users from all over Australia and visitors coming from all over the world to see and hear the success story.

“Just in the past year over 15, 000 people have used the RCOE facilities, from 500 different companies.

Real Time Instruments (RTI) chief executive officer Jason Fisher said the RCOE gave RTI an opportunity to showcase their technology as part of the broader coal and critical minerals landscape.

“Specifically, we were able to test and undertake critical R&D work in an environment which was as close to in-situ operation, without having the hundreds of kilometres of travel that goes with real-world testing.

The RCOE was established to sit between industry, research, and government to fast-track innovation, training and new industry solutions for the Greater Whitsunday region and Queensland.

But the RCOE is well on its way to taking our region to the world, showcasing innovation and collaboration across traditional and emerging sectors, forging a path as a global leader on how to connect resources across our region and the world.

In the past year alone more than 15,000 people from 500 different companies have walked through the

The RCOE also hosted 400 Developing Northern Australia Conference attendees at their simulated underground mining environment, last July.

The story of the RCOE is one of successful collaboration – it is one of the positive exceptions.

The RCOE is one of Australia’s most unique epicentres.

It is where government, project and grant funding are working together. It is where industry, business and economic development collaborate to evoke change, opportunities and sustain economic growth across the Greater Whitsunday region.

If you asked RCOE chief executive officer Steven Boxall, relationships are the key to success.

“Most days you’ll see a range of activities underway from training, innovation trials, collaboration across industry and education. In addition, the RCOE has been able to support dozens of other NFP, members groups, community groups and Indigenous groups via meeting

“It also provided us with local, convenient laboratory conditions which enabled our team to calibrate and pre-commission highly sensitive, top-end componentry which played a critical role in the deployment of our world-first N-Gen AllScan analyser.”

Mr Fisher said working at the RCOE helped RTI gain exposure for their world-leading technology and showcasing their MoistScan, AllScan and N-Gen analysers to local, national and international delegations.

“This has helped us cement our position in the market as a proven and effective tool for coal companies navigating the current transitional landscape, while having a direct impact on the efficiencies and bottom line of copper, iron ore, nickel, gold and critical mineral operations.

“The RCOE plays a critical role in enabling the Mackay –Isaac – Whitsunday regions to flex into the vital critical minerals space while meeting – and exceeding – the needs and expectations of the Australian coking and thermal coal industries.

“Without the RCOE, businesses such as RTI would not have the same exposure to broader industry opportunities, but similarly, industry would not have access to technologies and innovations to grow productivity and yield, solidify cleaner more sustainable industry practice, and minimise costs, waste and downtime,” Mr Fisher said.

Mr Boxall said another great example of one innovation trial held at the RCOE over a two-week period enabled a mining company to gather the data to make a business decision within three months as opposed to normally taking just over 12 months.

“That business decision saved the organisation substantial money and, as it was a safety initiative, was up and running much quicker, helping to reduce accidents and injuries,” Mr Boxall said.

It is initiatives like Innovators in Residence that helps build on the RCOE’s growing capabilities across a wide range of traditional and emerging sectors.

RCOE is not just looking to the sky, it is creating new horizons, from a region that is inviting others to take a greater look.

“Due to the unique nature of the RCOE and the ability for innovators to work right alongside industry to solve challenging problems, we now have people visiting not just from within Queensland but all over Australia including recent usage from innovators out of South Australia and New South Wales keen to break into the Greater Whitsunday innovation eco-system.”

The Greater Whitsunday region is one of the world’s most economic diverse regions that contributes more than $51.3 billion in economic value to the Australian economy.

And it seems RCOE is the connector to the growing number of international visitors in the past year from USA, South Africa, Cambodia, Japan, Germany, Canada and India - which is expected to expand with the World Mining Congress in Brisbane.

Mr Boxall said this influx of visitors to the RCOE is a much-needed boost to Mackay’s tourism industry.

“It is estimated more than 2,000 accommodation bookings have been added to the Mackay economy, including travel and hospitality revenue just from RCOE activities - which equates to well over $3.5M back into the wider Mackay economy,” Mr Boxall said.

For Mr Boxall one of the real highlights for the RCOE was hosting a German MP from the green party and former NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain.

“When the MP arrived, he began to tell me that coal was dead. By the time I’d finished speaking with him he understood there were two types of coal, and our Metallurgical coal is the only way to a cleaner greener future.

“He apologised to me before leaving and thanked me for the education.”

He said seeing former NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain in person at the RCOE working with 60 local school kids across a week designing and executing a space mission, was one for the history books.

“The intent was to encourage Greater Whitsunday kids to pursue space careers and understand there are many opportunities aside from being an actual astronaut.”

The RCOE is now moving into their second and third stages of development with the Future Industries Hub and the Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct in Moranbah.

The Future Industries Hub is Stage 2 of RCOE and is focused on incubating new industries and the signature component is a pilot processing plant to support activities around critical minerals, reprocessing of tailings and others precious metals, which will be operational in late 2024.

Mr Boxall said Stage 3, of the Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct in Moranbah is now in the planning stages with priority funding flagged by the Queensland Government.

Along with Future Industries Hub, the RCOE is also on the transition to a cleaner, greener future, and the skills needed for industry and business alike to look to diversification and decarbonisation as a key component to all future business plans and strategies.

Mr Boxall said the RCOE, and the Greater Whitsunday region are ground zero in leading the charge to support decarbonisation.

Executive summary Key focus

The Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) Stage 1 has been managed effectively and efficiently to become a self-generating business after only two years, underpinned by robust governance structures and supported by sound commercial business practices. The RCOE is a regional success story, demonstrating the strong desire of the resources sector to play an integral role in shaping the low carbon world of the future through improved training and innovation. With demands on the RCOE growing daily, there is a need to support the wider transformation of the resources sector.

The RCOE is born of strong partnerships between industry, government, education providers, researchers and community, and evidences “proof of life” to the fundamental construct that building strong collaboration is critical in shaping the future of the METS and resources sector.

Through this collaboration, the RCOE provides world-class facilities for all things related to resources development – and is recognised as the leading industry research and facilitation organisation in Australia.

This overarching masterplan outlines the strategic intent of the RCOE board and CEO to build on the success of Stage 1, with the accomplishment of Stage 2 (Future Industries Hub) in Mackay and planning for Stage 3 (Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct) in Moranbah.

Decarbonisation and the Move to a Circular Economy

is

The Greater Whitsunday region

ground zero in leading the charge to support decarbonisation. A key focus for RCOE is on the transition to a cleaner, greener future, and the skills needed for industry and business alike to look to diversification and decarbonisation as a key component to all future business plans and strategies.

Strategy framew rk

Strategic context

The RCOE is not defined by a physical facility that is limited by its location – it is a concept where we move our region from a mindset of “swinging spanners”, to a broader approach that recognises this region will play an integral role in delivering the mines of the future – and how METS companies and emerging industries will support those operations.

The RCOE Stage 1 facility was a catalyst for the RCOE concept, with the next intended stages seeking to create multiple touchpoints around the region –further linking the RCOE with the wider world.

These are:

Stage 2: Future Industries Hub (FIH) –incorporating a primary facility and adjacent Flexi-Lab (Mackay)

Stage 3: Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct (IREP) – a precinct modelled after RCOE (Moranbah)

Mission

Connecting excellence with resources.

Purpose Vision

To connect the brightest minds in research, technology, education and METS to shape the resources sector of the future.

We are globally recognised as the hub of higher level thinking for all things related to the resources sector, therefore creating significant regional economic value and demonstrating exceptional social value in our communities.

Strategic pillars

What does that mean?

Solving industry issues

Be the industry connection point for issues and solutions.

Create a neutral environment where industry meets OEM, researchers, regulators and bright minds.

How do we get it done?

Facilitate meetings in physical or virtual environments where issues are explored and solved.

Facilitate the advancement of our resources sector to compete environmentally and economically in a competitive global marketplace.

Connect companies so that they can share ideas and accelerate concepts to commercialisation by working collectively.

Provide an off-site environment for like-minded entities and individuals to discuss problems, creatively brainstorm and problem solve.

Identify industry needs and consociate stakeholders to develop contingency plans to address them.

Educating future stakeholders

Establish Stages 2 (FIH) and 3 (IREP) to deliver industry driven solutions.

Target industry-wide initiatives (eg safety) using AI technologies.

Connect industry issues with data, analytics, automation and robotics professionals.

Bring a hard focus to growing our industry connections and networks.

Mine site rehabilitation and creating new industries.

What does that mean?

Provide a facility for third parties to educate and train for the current and future jobs/skills in transition to circular economy and decarbonisation.

Provide a pathway that the sector can utilise to attract and develop a talent pipeline of future workers with the right skills.

Deliver real connectivity with industry to secondary and tertiary institutions, to improve learning outcomes.

Educate future stakeholders on the ongoing importance of coal and the critical minerals resources sector to our communities and economy.

Engage policy makers and community leaders to further develop understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the sector.

Identify generic industry opportunities and bring together the right smart minds to solve them.

Host global think tanks, both physical and virtual, to understand synergies for decarbonisation across coal, minerals, agriculture and aquaculture.

Stimulate a sharing of “cycle survivor” strategies around safety, maintenance and continuous improvement.

Listen to industry and stakeholders, and respond to their needs.

How do we get it done?

Facilitate R&D projects that deliver real solutions that can be accelerated to market.

Facilitate and manage supply chain innovation opportunities for suppliers and METS and resources companies.

Facilitate meetings, webinars, workshops and product/service and enterprise seminars.

Provide realistic industry environments to trial designs and test prototypes.

Understand and support training delivery of future jobs/skills in a circular economy.

Provide a realistic experience for new to the industry workers and educate them in resources sector workforce opportunities.

Organise tours for all regional primary and secondary students to experience the underground mine simulator and gain METS industry awareness.

Facilitate circular economy concepts to operational reality.

Invite policy makers and community leaders to be reminded of the sector’s contribution to the economy and community.

Embed universities in our facility – working with industry, researchers and students on real projects.

Change the safety culture of industries to a true zero harm outcome.

Host student robotics competitions and automation research projects, assisted by industry.

Encourage community group utilisation of the centre and establish a volunteer group to run tours.

Balance the conversation of coal, while promoting emerging industry opportunities in the new mineral economy resources extraction sector.

Create multiple touchpoints and global technology linkages.

Enable industry feedback that shapes emerging tertiary qualifications and skills.

As major mines disperse coal assets, connect with junior and emerging resources companies.

Develop virtual and augmented reality capabilities for use by stakeholders.

Action real projects that deliver tangible results.

Facilitate technology, automation, robotics and analytics programs.

Promote industry work opportunities and lifestyle to students and through our networks.

Work with schools, Indigenous groups and tertiary bodies on programs to retain students in STEM.

Host open days for community to connect with industry and other stakeholders.

Bring focus to the transition of industry to decarbonisation and our future, postmining.

What does that mean?

Validating our social value

Proactively engage with the community to ensure a balanced view is shared around the economic, environmental and social benefits of the METS and resources sector in our region, and globally.

Educate future stakeholders on the ongoing importance the resources sector has to our communities and economy.

Engage policy makers and community leaders to better understand the opportunities and challenges in the sector.

Clearly articulate the facts and discourage emotive rhetoric regarding the METS and resources sector.

Research and development incubator

What does that mean?

Provide a place (virtual and physical) to bring together the brightest minds in the field of R&D to collaboratively accelerate concepts to commercialisation.

Facilitate companies coming together to share ideas and accelerate concepts to commercialisation by working collectively.

Provide an off-site environment to discuss problems, creatively brainstorm and problem solve.

How do we get it done?

Utilise all relevant media forms to maintain a high level of engagement and communication with the community and stakeholders.

Underpin the service delivery and performance of RCOE with a strong governance structure and values-based culture.

Host interactive tours, educational seminars and open days to underpin stakeholder education.

Collate industry data and statistics that we share with policy makers and regulators to inform decisions.

Support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

Maintain RCOE as a safe, neutral place where different ideas are welcomed – the “Switzerland” of the METS and resources sector.

Bring companies together to explore solutions to relinquished coal mining rehabilitation.

Be known as the “hub” where industry minds meet, literally or figuratively.

Provide the facilities, hardware and software as a catalyst that brings together the companies that will drive the mines of the future.

Tell the story of the RCOE, ie economic contribution to the region, industry feedback etc.

Establish a reference group of policy makers, stakeholders and community leaders to provide a two-way mechanism for sharing progress and information.

Work together with industry, association forums and community focus groups to shape a METS and resources sector that contributes to a better world.

How do we get it done?

Continue to evolve our world class digital technology platform.

Work with industry member groups to identify issues and disseminate information back to members.

Broker opportunities for stakeholders, suppliers and industry to collaborate in commercial projects.

Provide office space, laboratories and workshops to regional industry and organisations active in delivery, promotion, research and education.

Provide ability for regional, national and global interaction to occur through creative technology solutions.

Provide access to underground and open-cut simulators, TAFE colleges, RTO’s, universities, and R&D facilities.

Use virtual reality hubs, Flexi-Lab, advanced manufacturing facilities and underground mine simulator for training, prototype testing and to prove concepts.

Develop the digital technology capacity for virtual reality training.

Become involved in solutions around automation, robotics and remote operations centres.

What does that mean?

Connecting our region with the world

Connect with other R&D facilities domestically and globally to share, develop and accelerate learning.

Be the conduit for global resources sector interest in our region.

Develop pathways for non-traditional sectors to connect and collaborate with the METS and resources sector.

Locate and connect our METS and resources companies with leading world class ideas and practices.

Profile our resources, new economy minerals, energy transition operators and METS sectors to non-traditional stakeholders.

Invest in passionate, competent people who are aligned with the values, culture and vision of the RCOE.

How do we get it done?

Implement technology that connects our region with global higherlevel thinking.

Be the hub for all things related to METS and associated industries, transitioning energy solutions and new economy minerals.

Host national companies to industry meetings, workshops, demonstrations and product launches.

Provide supply chain innovation and access service to connect suppliers with METS and collective resources sector companies across our region.

Provide research opportunities for wellbeing, safety, hygiene, mental health and other medical studies.

Identify and link companies involved in analytics, robotics and automation to solve real industry issues.

Build information and intelligence systems of the METS, resources, transitional energy and circularity focused sectors.

Share progress, successes and intelligence with other industry hubs and clusters.

Provide world class digital communication technology and conference capability.

Host student, community and tourism tours to raise awareness of the economic and social benefits.

Leverage networks to bring together educators, technology developers, OEM’s, researchers and to solve industry issues.

Create brand awareness and capability through social media networks and stakeholders.

Introduce and connect organisations who would not otherwise have access to METS and resources companies.

STAGE 2:

Location: Paget

Purpose: To focus on incubating new industries, including a pilot processing plant to support activities around critical minerals, reprocessing of tailings and others precious metals.

Goals:

• Focus on training and R&D

• Bring together industry, OEM and METS in problem solving capacity

• Grow industry connections and partnerships

• Gain greater exposure to agriculture, sugar and biofutures sectors

• Lead technology-based safety initiatives, such as utilising AI

Timeline to completion: Expected to commence operations June 2024

STAGE 3:

Reimagining the future of mining

Location: Moranbah

Purpose: To develop a more skilled and diversified workforce, including deeper First Nations partnerships, to power the Isaac region and ‘energise the world’.

Goals:

• Grow and diversify the industry

• Strengthen ESG credentials and protect the environment

• Foster coexistence and sustainable communities

• Ensure strong and genuine First Nations partnerships

• Build a safe and resilient future workforce

• Improve regulatory efficiency

Operati nal structure Business model >

Create a regional ecosystem of excellence

The RCOE provides a proven business system to tackle the challenges of the energy transition locally, nationally, and globally. The RCOE has created a mutually beneficial relationship between the supply and demand of a modern resources sector, with a proven model used to deliver new stages while lowering the risks and costs involved.

The RCOE Stage 1 central facility centralises activities and is responsible for:

• People development

• Customer and stakeholder relationship management

• Quality and compliance

As a business model, creating a regional ecosystem of excellence features:

• An agreed organisation model – driven by a combined mission, purpose and vision

Timeline to completion: Expected to commence operations late 2026

• Consistency in service delivery and “focus on purpose”

There are then multiple satellite extensions that can be located virtually, regionally, nationally or internationally. They are connected by a common purpose – to provide solutions for issues within the METS and resources industry sector.

• Strategic navigation of the Board’s bandwidth – to provide oversight and expertise

• Obtaining a critical minerals expert within the governance – to provide further industry insight

• Subcommittees for each stage –offering full focus on the purpose and intent of that stage, that then feeds into the needs of the whole

• Commercially geared – with each "spoke" delivering a return

• Globally focused – adopting a broad mindset of how what we’re doing impacts the world

Facilitating industry investment in renewable energy, critical minerals recycling and reutilisation

Business model >

Global collaboration platforms sharing intelligence on economic paradigms

Influencing government policy, informed through high level industry consultation

Economic development, industry associations and government

Champion the transition to global net zero emissions through circular economy

Support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct transitioning communities to the future

METS and resources companies

Future Industries

Hub critical minerals research Flexi-Lab

Industry consultation forums and workshops

Connecting industry and communities to solutions

Research and development

Think globally, act locally; defining and enabling innovative and transformative business models

OEM’s RTO’s

Universities, TAFES, schools

Industry-led qualifications, eg robotics and automation

Increasing participation in STEM and emerging industry programs

Attract and develop talent pipeline for future industry needs and retraining our regional communities

New technology training up-skilling development of current transitional skills needs

Facilitating delivery and access to emerging training skills and solutions to improve safety and mental health

Engineering, digital and futuristic solutions

Automated operational hardware and advanced manufacturing

Product research, development and testing

Management model Marketing strategy

Stakeholder map

• RCOE Board

• QLD Department of Resources

• Queensland University

• Gilmore Space Technologies

• Core Resources Pty Ltd

• JKTech Pty Ltd

• Mackay Regional Council

• RCOE CEO

• BHP/BMA

• Vecco

• CQUniversity

• Tier One Resources Companies

•

Satisfy significant stakeholders

• National universities

• STEM students

• Regional Development Australia (RDA)

• Media companies

• Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy

• MIW schools

• MIW communities

• METs Ignited

• TAFE QLD

• Queensland Government

• Construction Skills Queensland

• Youth Advisory Council

• University students

• Federal Government

Inform customer stakeholders

Work with key stakeholders Monitor community stakeholders

• Queensland Mines Rescue Service

• Bowen Basin Mining Club

• MIW Regional Councils

• Greater Whitsunday Alliance

• Queensland Resources Council

• Resource Industry Network

• Minerals/Mining companies and operators

• Critical minerals researchers

• METS companies

Board

Brand platform

Problem to solve

The RCOE will help resources industry stakeholders overcome problems by providing a platform to discover new and innovative solutions

Brand position

Delivering world-first solutions in resources excellence

Brand pillars Connection

Collaboration

Excellence

Value drivers

Solving industry issues

Educating future stakeholders

Validating our social value

Research and development incubator

Connecting our region with the world

Marketing message

Promote GENUINE COLLABORATION TO DELIVER GROUND-BREAKING SOLUTIONS for industry problems

FACILITATE, EDUCATE AND TRAIN the resources workforce of the future

INVOLVE OUR COMMUNITIES IN A COLLECTIVE STRATEGY about the resource sector of the future and how it adds value to the world

Empower research and development to ACCELERATE IDEAS AND CONCEPTS TO COMMERCIALISATION

Be a CATALYST FOR CONNECTING RESOURCES EXCELLENCE in the region and around the world

Tone of voice

Creative, Confident, Curious, Collaborative, Bold

Key marketing and communication messages

The Resources Centre of Excellence facilitates the advancement of Australia’s resources sector to compete environmentally and economically in a competitive global marketplace.

What we do >

Link researchers and industry with government

How we do it > Facilitate collaborative environments and connections

Why we do it > Transform STEM for a better global future