With more than 80 major projects in planning or already underway across the Australian resource sector, demanding some 70,000 new employees, Jody Elliott, Director of Australian resource sector careers website TheResourceChannel.com.au, will provide an overview of key projects, the number of people required and the timelines for peak people demand. Industry will be challenged to consider if enough has been done to prepare the skills required to meet this demand. Jody will discuss what is currently being done by government and industry to address the skills gap and will provide her views on what still needs to be done.

Mike Beeley, CEO of Reagent Employer Marketing, will discuss why the job of engaging talent does not just belong with the HR department—it is everyone’s role in the organisation. With the demand for top mining and exploration staff about to dramatically outstrip supply, talented professionals will become far more discerning and cynical in their examination of future employers. It will not be enough to look at a few highly-scripted staff testimonials on the website, prospective staff will want to talk privately to existing company employees to see whether promises were kept and expectations met. The future of your employer brand lies in the sum of your decisions and actions as a company, not just in your HR team. The success of your operation lies in getting this balance of promise and delivery to your staff, right.