Plenary Speakers
Our lineup features exceptional speakers who will delve into captivating topics that resonate with all attendees.
Read Onno Rutten's Bio
TBA
Monday, August 17
Plenary Session
Canadian Critical Mineral Resources: Policies & Opportunities
Abstract
A concise overview of Canada’s critical mineral landscape, highlighting key policies, investment drivers, and emerging opportunities across the value chain.
Sponsored by SGS
Monday, August 17
Panel Discussion
COM 2026 What is the future of smelting and refining in Canada?
Abstract
A dynamic panel exploring the critical enablers and key challenges shaping Canada’s smelting and refining sector, with perspectives from industry, consultants, and government—designed to spark discussion long after the session ends.
Panel Speakers
- Moderator: Phillip Mackey, P.J.Mackey Technology Inc
- John Bryant, Hatch
- (More speakers to be announced)
Gary Fisher
Subject Matter Expert – Materials,
InnoTech
Tuesday, August 18
Historical Metallurgy Luncheon Lecturer
The Progressive Development of Wear Resistant Materials for Oil Sands Mining Operations
Abstract
The aggressive wear conditions in surface mining operations are the major contributing factor to multi-billion-dollar maintenance and lost production issues. The need to combat these issues has led to the ongoing development of protective materials to help improve the durability and longevity of equipment and help decrease costs and improve productivity. This presentation will provide an overview of the evolution of protective materials used in oil sands mining, with a focus on how the materials selection strategies have evolved to meet the operational requirements of the environment. The main classes of materials, including alloys, coatings, overlays, non-metallic liners and ceramics, will be reviewed and how their selection is dependent on the specific wear mechanisms that govern their applications.
Terry McNulty
President,
T. P. McNulty and Associates, Inc.
Read Terry McNulty's Bio
Terence P. (“Terry”) McNulty earned a B. S. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University in 1961, an M. S. in Metallurgy from Montana School of Mines in 1963, and a doctorate in Metallurgical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines in 1967. He considers himself very fortunate to have been able to work as an analytical chemist before and during college and to have had jobs in industry during post-graduate studies. He is a Registered Professional Engineer.
He was employed for 20 years by The Anaconda Company in various research, operating, and management positions, the last including 5 years as corporate Manager-Metallurgical Research and Technical Support. He then served as VP-Technical Operations for Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation for 3 years before joining Hazen Research, Inc., as President and CEO. In late-1988, he left Hazen and, with his wife, Carol, founded T. P. McNulty and Associates, Inc., a global consulting firm with as many as 24 Associates, including metallurgists, chemical engineers, geologists, and mining engineers. He continued to serve on Hazen’s board as an outside director and was Chairman from 1996 until he retired from the board in 2005 and was reelected in 2024.
Terry has obtained two patents in copper metallurgy and has published 53 technical papers and textbook and handbook chapters dealing with minerals processing and extractive metallurgy, process control, energy conservation, and technology development. He is a member of AIME (SME and TMS), CIM, MMSA, Mining & Mineral Education Foundation (“MMEF”) , and the National Academy of Engineering, to which he was elected in 2005. He has served for several terms on the MMEF Board of Governors. He was awarded the Distinguished Career Achievement Medal by Colorado School of Mines in 1989 and served on the Board of Trustees of that school during 1989-1992. He was a Henry Krumb Memorial Lecturer for AIME in 1989 and served as an Accreditation Board Visitor for SME and TMS during 1985-1997. In 2002, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Montana Tech. In 2004, he received the Robert H. Richards Award “for distinction in mineral processing” from AIME. He is an SME Fellow.
Tuesday, August 18
Plenary Session
McNulty Ramp-up Curves: An Update & New Perspectives
Abstract
This lecture is based on a presentation jointly prepared with Britt MacKinnon and Phillip Mackey for my keynote paper at Copper 2025 in November 2025. The McNulty Curve concept began with an SME paper in 1998 and this is the 4th update.
The Curves and their underlying criteria are a management tool that is used for assessing the probability of acceptable ramp-up times for new mineral industry projects. Many case histories have been contributed by mining, engineering, and investment firms. While most have been metallurgical plants, the principles also apply to geology and mining.
Few projects achieve design capacity within several months. About half require 3 to 12 months, while roughly 25% are still lagging after 3-5 years; the others fail or require major remedial investments. I will present the reasons and will discuss ways of preventing disappointments.
Sponsored by Agnico Eagle
Jaimey Brown
Quantum Loop
Read Jaimey Brown's Bio
TBA
Thursday, August 20
Plenary Session
Title
Abstract
TBA