2026 Conference Programme

Key discussion points:

• The resources and M&M sector listings that have been a staple in Hong Kong for many years.
• The M&M capital markets activity from last year, and how it correlates with the global commodities cycle, EV, and other significant global themes.

Key discussion points:

• Megamergers & The Copper Mandate: What the "Teck-Anglo" era reveals about the premium on copper and the scarcity of Tier-1 assets
• The New Financing Toolkit: How to blend Private Equity, Sovereign Wealth, and "Synthetic Equity" (offtake-linked financing) to close deals in a high-interest environment
• M&A as Geopolitics: Navigating the friction between Western "friend-shoring" and China’s established resource dominance in Africa and SE Asia
• The Royalty & Streaming Revolution: Why investors are moving from direct mine ownership to "top line" royalty structures to hedge against operational cost inflation

Key discussion points:

• Identifying the key attributes investors prioritize in junior mining projects. How have they evolved given current market trends?
• Navigating the complexities of early-stage financing, including equity and debt and other options
• Leveraging partnerships and alliances to boost project credibility
• Can direct investment in the mining sector be as prevalent as passive ETF market dominance?
• Are ESG strategies important to investor appeal and if so, how would ESG play a role?
• Why are there so many shovel ready projects that can’t be financed?

Key discussion points:

• How Huayou connects resource development in the DRC and Indonesia with precursor and cathode production to provide a stable, "green" supply for global EV giants like Volkswagen and LG Chem.
• Insights into the Arcadia Lithium Project, including the 2026 launch of lithium sulphate production as a benchmark for local mineral beneficiation in Africa.
• Huayou’s strategy to lead the global battery recycling market, aiming to reduce reliance on virgin ores and cut carbon emissions by over 80,000 tons annually.
• A practical look at implementing AAA-rated ESG standards and achieving "A" MSCI rankings while operating in complex geological and political environments.

Key discussion points:

• The strategic role of gold as a wealth protection asset against global debt and currency printing
• The influence of central bank policy and holdings on the gold price
• Understanding the key Chinese gold miners, including Zijin, China Gold, and Shandong Gold
• The dynamics of the HK gold trading hub and storage market

Key discussion points:

• Deep dive into which materials are truly critical versus those that are simply desirable
• Analysis of market size and future demand for key battery metals (e.g., avoiding Nickel, Graphite, and Lithium if lacking supply constraints)
• The challenge of technical process (e.g., getting the flow sheet right for lithium brine) versus the resource being critical
• A focus on boutique critical minerals such as Scandium, Caesium, and Iridium

Key discussion points:

• The HKEX Mandate: Navigating the 2026 mandatory climate-reporting requirements and how they impact the valuation of mining stocks in the Hang Seng Large Cap Index
• Cost of Capital Arbitrage: How "Green Premiums" in Hong Kong’s bond markets are providing high-sustainability miners with interest rates 2–3% lower than their non-compliant peers
• Operational Social License: Shifting from "philanthropy" to "partnership"—why community-led water management is now a primary due diligence requirement for Chinese state-owned and private investors
• The "Pragmatic ESG" Standard: Can APAC lead the creation of a mining-specific ESG framework that balances Net Zero targets with the region’s urgent need for industrial energy security?
• Resource Sovereignty vs. Sustainability: Managing the friction when ESG mandates conflict with the strategic necessity of securing critical mineral supply chains

Watch mining companies go head-to-head, with only 3 minutes to pitch every second counts, pitching in front of a judging panel of leading investors as they sell their project, pitching for feedback, investment, and prizes. Leading investors will judge the battle by which company they would hypothetically invest US$1,000,000 in, if they were looking for best ROI after one year

Key Discussion Points:

• The Midstream Mandate: Analysing the shift in value capture from raw extraction to high-purity processing and specialized smelting within the APAC region.
• Navigating Resource Nationalism: Strategies for miners and investors to partner with host governments and secure long-term tenure amidst rising state intervention.
• Geopolitical Hedging & "Friend-Shoring": How middle powers and OEMs are bypassing trade barriers and market volatility to align supply chain security with ESG priorities.
• Financial & Technical Conduits: Examining the role of hubs like Hong Kong in connecting Chinese processing technology with Western resource owners to bypass logistical chokepoints.
• Sovereignty & Scenario Planning: Utilizing data-led analytics and government subsidies to build domestic processing hubs that can withstand regulatory shocks and "grey zone" tactics.

Key discussion points:

• AI-Powered Productivity: Deploying machine-vision ore sorting and process optimization to increase IRRs and create "synthetic supply" from brownfield assets
• The Semiconductor Feedstock Crunch: Strategies for securing the niche minerals essential for GPU and data centre expansion amidst rising resource nationalism
• Autonomous Operations & Safety: Scaling robotic haulage and underground automation to de-risk remote projects and mitigate workforce shortages
• The Cyber-Physical Shield: Implementing robust cybersecurity frameworks to protect digitized mine sites from state-sponsored and criminal disruptions
• ROI of Digital Twins: Utilizing real-time data analytics to transform mine planning from static models into dynamic, responsive financial instruments

Watch mining companies go head-to-head, with only 3 minutes to pitch every second counts, pitching in front of a judging panel of leading investors as they sell their project, pitching for feedback, investment, and prizes. Leading investors will judge the battle by which company they would hypothetically invest US$1,000,000 in, if they were looking for best ROI after one year

Mining Investment Briefing - Geopolitics and Metals: Rethinking Risk and Return

Led by: Ian Hiscock, CEO, MMC Partners

OR

The Gold Rush Hong Kong

Led by: Jorge Ramiro Monroy, Managing Director, Emerging Markets Capital

OR

Lithium in Focus

Led By: Martin Ma, Head of China, International Lithium Association (iLiA)

OR

Iron Ore in Focus

Led By: John Johnson, Senior Advisor, CRU

OR

Cobalt in Focus

Led by: Tom Fairlie, Senior Manager – Sustainability and Batteries, Cobalt Institute

OR

Mining Technology Investment Briefing

Led by: Mark Frayman, Managing Partner, Orion Industrial Ventures

Nickel and Aluminium in Indonesia

Led By: Michelle Leung, Head of Asia Metals and Mining, Sustainability, Bloomberg

OR

Mongolia Mining Investment Opportunities

Led by: Vladislav Portnov, The Chairman, Mongolia Trade and Industry Council and CEO, Mongolia Investments

Vadim Krutov, Group COO, Bitfury Group

OR

Supply Chain Resilience

Led By: 
Jason Chang, Co-Founder, CEO and Managing Director, EMR Capital and Chairman, Australian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong 
Tim Lu, Director, EMR Capital

OR

Junior Mining Investment Opportunities

Led By: John Forwood, Chief Investment Officer, Lowell Resources Fund

OR

Critical Minerals for Defence

Led by: Mikhail Zeldovich, Chief Commercial Officer, Deep Tech Investor, Critical Minerals Resource Technology and Sustainability