Following the conclusion of the Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX25) on May 22, recipients were last night named for a range of awards, including Russell Mineral Equipment (RME) Founder John Russell.
Russell won the 2025 Champion of Innovation Award, sponsored by Emesent, for his innovative work and ongoing commitment to the mining equipment, technology, and services (METS) industry over the past 40 years.
Russell Mineral Equipment operates across 64 countries and has provided equipment and services for more than 440 mine sites.
Austmine CEO Christine Gibbs Stewart says Russell has revolutionised concentrator maintenance across the globe as a “true trailblazer”.
“His story is one of persistent innovation and enduring commitment to his employees, his customers, and the planet,” Gibbs Stewart says.
“His forward-thinking mindset, willingness to embrace risk, and dedication to solving complex challenges have made a lasting impact, shaping the way our industry operates, and helping to position the Australian METS sector as a world-leading, high-tech industry.”
RME has been the recipient of many awards for its creativity, including the Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference (QMIHSC) Innovation Award in 2024. QMIHSC recognised the company for its Advanced Technology Mill Relining System that raises safety standards in mill relining, as reported by Mining.com.au last September.
Mining.com.au also celebrated the company in its inaugural Masters of Mining program last December by awarding RME with the Excellence in Safety Shield for its dedication to ensuring safety by reducing potential worker harm on mine sites.
Russell first set out to mechanise the mill relining process in Toowoomba, Queensland in 1985, in the hope of improving workplace safety, increasing productivity by shortening mill relining, and increasing overall profitability in mine sites.
With more than 570 Russell Mill Relining Machines in operation across the globe, Russell says the company’s work towards advancing mill relining is in collaboration with its customers and suppliers.
“In partnership with our customers, we have set new industry-wide safety standards. And with safety continuing to drive the evolution of our advanced technologies, we can now perform liner exchange with zero personnel inside the mill,” Russell says.
Other winners include Austin Engineering for the Craig Senger Excellence in Export Award sponsored by Austrade; BluVein for the Outstanding Innovative METS Company award sponsored by Coal Australia; Roy Hill for the Exceptional Innovation in Mining award sponsored by Sandvik; and Fortescue (ASX:FMG) Senior Metallurgist Thomas Taylor for the Excellence in Resources by a New Professional award presented by AusIMM.
Hosted by Austmine and AusIMM, GRX25 was on from 20-22 May 2025 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre to bring industry leaders, innovators, researchers, government, and international delegations together.
The Global Resources Innovation Expo will return to Perth next year, running from 5-7 May.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Russell Mineral Equipment
