About QEC

About the Queensland Exploration Council (QEC)

Launched in 2010 as a not-for-profit initiative of the Queensland Resources Council, the Queensland Exploration Council focuses on investment attraction initiatives that showcase Queensland as a leading investment destination.

The Queensland Exploration Council’s membership comprises the who’s who of the resources sector, together with members drawn from finance, events and marketing, research and government. The Queensland Exploration Council endeavours to influence perceptions about the importance of exploration, and promote Queensland’s prospectivity to investors and businesses that support the exploration sector.

Queensland Exploration Council membership gives access to initiatives in exploration investment attraction, the monthly newsletter, sponsorship opportunities as well a platform to set, implement and participate in the QEC’s agenda to bring investment to Queensland.

The Queensland Exploration Council is led by a diverse and highly skilled leadership team including former Queensland Government Chief Geologist, Queensland Exploration Council Chairman Brad John.

Brad John PSM

QEC Chair
Experience in promoting exploration and resource investment opportunities in Queensland at conferences, seminars and meetings in Australia and around the world. Brad holds a Public Service Medal for working with the resources industry and State and Federal Government agencies in facilitating and promoting exploration and resource investment in Queensland.

Stephen Kelemen

QEC Deputy Chair - Petroleum & Gas
Diverse petroleum industry experience including reservoir, development, operations, exploration, JV management, R&D and M&A evaluation developed through his 38 year career with Santos Ltd.

Darren Walker

QEC Deputy Chair - Minerals & Coal
With over 18 years’ experience in exploration, mining operations, marketing and corporate management in coal, iron ore, gold and other metals as well as petroleum and gas, Darren is passionate about exploration and the exploration industry.

The QEC is
supported by
Secretariat staff

Katie-Anne Mulder
QRC Policy Director, Resources

 

Samantha Nasternak
QEC Marketing Manager

email Samantha

Katie-Anne Mulder

QRC Policy Director, Resources
Katie-Anne is Director, Resources Policy at the Queensland Resources Council which includes oversight of QEC. Katie-Anne has led and developed many critical reforms including uranium policy, an industry consensus model for overlapping tenures, Land Court reforms and a Queensland strategy for the Cooper Basin. Katie has also led policy development within government at both the state and federal level. Her experience on both sides of the policy fence gives her unique insights into how regulations emerge, are implemented and evolve

Samantha Nasternak

QEC Marketing Manager
Through more than 5 years as QRC’s Communications Adviser, Samantha has gained a wide range of experience in digital marketing, event management and corporate communications. Now in her role as QEC Marketing Manager, Samantha is excited for the opportunities ahead for the QEC and is passionate in her work on the QUREX Gateway and bringing to life QEC’S renewed marketing and events strategy.

The QEC will support implementation of the 2020 Exploration Vision through: 

1. PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF THE EXPLORATION SECTOR

2. ENCOURAGING INVESTMENT IN EXPLORATION BY WORKING WITH INVESTORS; AND PROPONENTS

3. ENCOURAGING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE OF EXPLORATION; AND

4. ONGOING MONITORING OF THE HEALTH OF QUEENSLAND'S EXPLORATION SECTOR

The fundamentals are irresistible. Queensland has largely untapped mineral and energy reserves; there is continuing long-term growth in global demand for resources.

What we do

The QEC works to secure enhanced geoscientific capability and sustained high levels of state and federal pre-competitive exploration funding as well as streamlined access for explorers to land identified as prospective.

How we do it

The QEC has three specialist groups;

  1. Investment Attraction & Events Working Group
    Works to bring explorers and investors together, through developing events and networking opportunities. 
  2. Research Working Group
    Strengthens and fosters QEC’s stakeholder relationships with Queensland universities and other research bodies to assist and facilitate development and promotion of scientific knowledge and research in the exploration field. 
  3. Scorecard Working Group
    Works to develop the annual QEC Exploration Scorecard publication, highlighting achievements and areas of improvement within the exploration sector. 

Complementing the policy work of the Queensland Resources Council, the QEC is seeking to promote the natural advantages of Queensland and Brisbane as a home to minerals and energy companies and the wide range of essential service companies.

The QEC would not be possible without our sponsors. They are vital to fulfilling our ambitious agenda and we thank them for their ongoing support. 

Our Sponsors

Australian Energy and Battery Minerals Investor Conference

The Australian Energy and Battery Minerals Conference in Brisbane from 14-15 March 2018, will bring together up to 40 ASX listed companies to showcase their investment credentials to a large audience of investors and advisors. It was developed as a consequence of rising market interest in energy providers and beneficiaries of the development of electric vehicles.

Ernst & Young

EY’s resources professionals combine technical capabilities with a thorough understanding of the sector’s operating processes, strategic and operating risks, growth drivers, regulatory considerations, and market dynamics.

 

McCullough Robertson

McCullough Robertson, established in 1926, is a full service commercial law firm with proven capacity and capability to handle the complex legal issues facing business today.

 

Queensland Government

The Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) is an economic development agency that enables the productive and responsible use of our natural resources to generate wealth and prosperity for current and future generations of Queenslanders.

To view our members and how you can become a member or a sponsor of QEC, go to the ‘Membership’ page.