Dr Benjamin Adair

Ph.D., FAusIMM, GAICD
Executive Director and Head of Business Development

Ben is a well-known figure in the mineral industry, renowned for his innovative approaches to sustainability and operational excellence. With more than three decades of experience spanning four continents, he has held key roles at Anglo American, CRC ORE, and leading research institutes like the University of Queensland's JKMRC and SMI, showcasing his multifaceted expertise in both academia and industry.

In his capacity as Head of Innovation (Processing) at Anglo American, Ben lead strategic initiatives aimed at harnessing new and cost-effective technologies to enhance efficiency and reduced environmental impact. As CEO of CRC ORE, he was instrumental in securing approximately $147 million in cash contributions from global and domestic stakeholders. Under his leadership, CRC ORE successfully implemented pre-concentration technologies across various mining entities, generating over $1 billion in value for its partners.

Ben's hands-on experience as a concentrator manager at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Operation gave him profound insights into large-scale industrial processes.
As a Professor and Director at UQ, he fostered strategic alliances and drove innovative projects, securing substantial funding for research endeavours and playing a pivotal role in founding the Chilean International Centre of Excellence (SMI-ICE-Chile).

Ben's work focuses on applying innovative technologies to drive sustainability and decarbonisation efforts in the minerals and energy sectors while actively exploring new opportunities and promoting circular economies.