WAIMM hosts first annual industry conference in June

The first edition of the WAIMM Industry Annual Conference (WAIC 2016) of member countries in West Africa will be held on June 11, 2016, at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra.

The conference is hosted by the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum and will be attended by WAIMM members from the Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum industries.

The Conference which will also see to the official launch of the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, will bring together the sub-regional government officials, dignitaries of the Government of Ghana, and chief executives of some notable Mining and Petroleum companies across West Africa.

The theme for the one-day conference is “Setting the Standards for the Future – The Role of the Natural Resources Professional”.

Participants will discuss various strategies designed to drive the growth of the Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum industry and investments in West Africa.

WAIMM will also share with Participants and stakeholders in the mining and Petroleum industry the Institute’s vision, mission and objectives. The Conference and Inauguration is expected to among other things provide collaboration within the industry and strengthen networking opportunities and knowledge transfer of current trends to all stakeholders; as well as provide the industry with a common platform for enhanced professional and career development.

The special guest of honour at the opening ceremony will be Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

The honourable minister for Petroleum, the honourable minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Hon. Minister for Education will address and chair the interactive business sessions respectively.

Dr. Tony Aubynn (the C.E.O. of Minerals Commission of Ghana will also address delegates on the Stripping Billions of Dollars in Costs - Reforms Needed in the Mining Industry and additionally share his experiences in the mining sector and suggestions for increasing investment in the industry.

Various experts in Mining Finance will discuss their roles in providing financing and mitigating risk, as well as how to leverage government agencies to advance trade, investment and development in the sector.

Representatives from the Royal Bank Ghana Ltd. will present their ground breaking research on harnessing the investor confidence in the Mining industry - the role of bank financing,and the Bank’s private sector financing programs for infrastructure development in theMining industry.

Participating members of WAIMM will share their experiences and success stories on their engagements and doing business in the Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum sector.

The West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (WAIMM) is a professional Institute that provides services to all sectors of the mineral and geosciences industry across West Africa and beyond. WAIMM is a voluntary, non-governmental organization with the strategic objective of enhancing professionalism in the mineral and geoscience industry and also to represent the complete spectrum of mining, mineral and geoscientist professionals in regional geology, mining and research, also to promote the interest of the industry across the West African sub-region and beyond.

WAIMM membership cuts across the entire industry right from the students to retirement, and are available to students especially those studying earth sciences and engineering, and the public interested in the mining and petro-chemical industry depending on the career progression and professional development.

Membership operations are supported by a strong code of professional ethics, exceptional professional and career development opportunities, first class networking; exceptional professional recognition, leadership and input into science, industry and the society. The broad base of WAIMM membership encourages the transfer of technical expertise and awareness of professional opportunities and knowledge transfer across a broad range of fields.

WAIMM members are assured of strong networking opportunities through conferences and workshops; and have access to the latest information, research findings and knowledge sharing through technical publications, journals, webinars, conference papers etc. Members also have access to most career development opportunities, professional education programs, mentoring opportunities. The WAIMM education fund can be accessed by universities to fund research into technological developments in industry related projects.

L-R: Lawrence Omari–Mensah President / Executive Secretary – WIAMM and Dr. Toni Aubynn – CEO Minerals Commission of Ghana