About QEC

About the Queensland Exploration Council (QEC)

The Queensland Exploration Council (QEC) is recognised as the go-to member organisation in Queensland for bringing exploration and opportunity together.

The QEC is an initiative of the peak industry body for the resources industry in Queensland – the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

Established in 2010, QEC is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation which sits within the QRC alongside QRC’s other initiative, the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

QEC’s focus is on investment attraction and promotion of the exploration industry. 

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.

In 2019 the QEC updated its strategic plan with the vision: 

 

The Queensland Exploration Council is recognised as the go-to member organisation in Queensland for bringing exploration and opportunity together

 

Click here to view the QEC Strategic Plan 2019-21

 

Governance of the QEC

The QEC is governed by a volunteer Management Committee to oversee the progress and working groups of the QEC, to ensure key objectives are met.

QEC is led by a specialist team of exploration experts who share knowledge and volunteer their time to the QEC.

Kim Wainwright

QEC Chair
High-level government and private sector experience in advisory and management positions. After leaving an advisory position in the government sector 10 years ago, Kim established her first business; consulting on strategy, risk management and policy development to private sector entities. Kim is Managing Director and CEO of Xplore Resources.

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
QRC Secretariat staff

The day-to-day running of QEC is managed by the Marketing Manager and QRC Resource Policy Director

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.

INFORM

Provide information and links to promote the sector and support decision making

FACILITATE

Bring together project proponents and investors

MONITOR

Track the health of the Queensland exploration sector through the Exploration Scorecard

CONNECT

Create interesting and informative events for members to learn and build their networks

INCENTIVISE

Provide benefits to build membership

LEVERAGE

Build reciprocal partnerships with like and related organisations

What we do

The QEC endeavours to influence perceptions about the importance of exploration, and promote Queensland’s prospectivity to investors and businesses that support the exploration industry.

How we do it

The QEC has four distinct working groups;

  1. Industry Feedback Working Group
    For small to mid-scale explorers to express their feedback, concerns and best practice on exploration issues. 
  2. QUREX Working Group
    Maximises functionality and develop relevant content for the Queensland Resources and Exploration Gateway.
    (QUREX) 
  3. 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 exploration. 
  4. Scorecard Working Group
    Develops the annual QEC Exploration Scorecard publication, highlighting exploration achievements and areas of improvement within the exploration industry. 

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.

Our Corporate Partners

The QEC would not be possible without its corporate partners.  These companies are vital to fulfilling QEC’s ambitious agenda and we thank them for their ongoing support. 

Click here to read about becoming a QEC Corporate Partner

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 go to the ‘Membership’ page.