AIG Board Call for Nominations

There are three AIG Board Director vacancies for the three year period from 2024 to be determined at the next Annual General Meeting and we are seeking Members and Fellows with desirable skills, experience and networks to become engaged and active Directors on our Board.

It is an exciting time to consider being a part of AIG’s leadership.

Nominations will close at 4pm AEST on 23rd April 2024.

AIG DIRECTOR Nomination Form 2024

The following Registered Professional Geoscientist (RPGeo) applications have been received. (Updated 9th February, 2024)
AIG Fellows and Members with knowledge of the applicants are invited to provide written reviews by email.  AIG’s professional registration program includes both each applicant’s relevant professional experience and ethics.

AIG’s Registered Professional Geoscientist (RPGeo) program is Australia’s most rigorous recognition program for continuous professional development by Australian geoscientists. The Registered Professional Geoscientist (RPGeo) program of AIG recognises Fellows and Members who have committed to the maintenance and continuous development of their technical and professional skills and capabilities. This commitment is widely recognised by employers. Importantly, the program provides a means by which self-employed geoscientists and consultants may demonstrate their commitment to continuous professional development to both existing and potential clients.

AIG’s RPGeo program is unique in Australia by specifically recognising experience in up to three fields of geoscientific practice.

Further information regarding AIG’s Registered Professional Geoscientist programme is available here.

AIG NEWS 152 December 2023 is Available Now!

In this issue…

A Message From Our President, Strategic Plan, Professional Development Questionnaire 2023, AIG Western Australia Branch, AIG TAS Branch News, AIG QLD News 2023, QLD Awards, AIG Distinguished Service Awards 2023, AIG Bursary Awareness for 2023, Mineral Exploration Insurance, Registered Professional Geo-scientists, New AIG Members, Preliminary Note, Ethics and Standards Committee Update

As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for your unwavering support. We look forward to continuing to serve you in the coming year.

May you and your family have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and happy memories. From the entire AIG Team, we wish that you have a Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year!

VALMIN Committee vacancies: express your interest!

The ‘Australasian Code for Public Reporting of technical assessments and valuations of mineral assets’(the VALMIN Code) sets out requirements for the assessing and valuing mineral assets and securities for public reports  including those appended to prospectuses and independent expert reports. The VALMIN Code was first published in 1995, with subsequent editions published in 1997, 2005 and 2015. It forms a companion code to the JORC Code that is currently under a public review process.

The VALMIN Committee was established to develop and maintain the Code and comprises representatives in equal number from the two parent bodies: The Australian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (AusIMM) and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). The Committee currently has a call for nominations to fill a number of positions and members are invited to submit an expression of interest (EOI). It is anticipated that a VALMIN Code update process will commence after release of the next JORC Code edition.

Participating in a committee is a rewarding experience and a great way to get involved with the AusIMM or AIG, help promote professional standards and meet new people working in the resources sector. This is a volunteer role and candidates must be financial members, be available to attend regular meetings via teleconference, and contribute towards the promotion and update of the Code.

It is intended to refer EOIs to the current committee who will then recommend appointments to the AusIMM and AIG Boards for approval. Candidates will be evaluated against criteria that include, but are not limited to, the following:

If you believe you have the background and available time to give to this committee, please submit your expression of interest addressing the above criteria to contact@VALMIN.org by COB 20 November 2023. 

AIG Launches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy

At the AIG we are proud to announce the launch of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy. We are committed to fostering a culture that supports all geoscientists.

This policy will guide our DEI Strategy, which is focused on gaining feedback from our members on their experiences and opinions on DEI, and how the AIG can support them better.

The policy can be accessed here.

2023 Bursary Applications

The Australian Institute of Geoscientists’ Student Bursary Program was initiated to promote and support geoscience education in Australia. The Bursary Program began in 2001 to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and, since then, the AIG has awarded over 230 bursaries to geoscience students in Australian universities. In 2023, the AIG is again offering bursaries to Honours, Postgraduate and Third Year geoscience students.

The 2023 Bursary awards, which have values between A$1000 and A$4000, are supported by the AIG nationally, and also by the generous support of individuals and organisations, including the AIG state branches and individual AIG Members.

Eligibility criteria and guidelines for bursary applications are given on pages 1, 2 and 3. A bursary application form is included as page 4.

ELIGIBILITY

The AIG Student Bursary Program is open to students who, at the closing date for applications, are:

AWARD SCHEDULE

The AIG Bursary awards are generally announced and awarded in early- to mid-October each year. Applicants seeking funding for specific activities should ensure that the timing of these activities is appropriate to this schedule.

The application guidelines and form can be downloaded here.

Applicants should fill in the application form, complete with the requested signatures, and upload it in a zip file along with the documents requested in the guidelines. Applicants are also requested to fill in the fields below, so that we can confirm contact details and check we have received the relevant uploaded application documents.

Application for*

Family Name*

Given Names*

Tertiary Institution*

School/Department*

Name of Degree*

Research Project Title (Honours & Postgraduate students)*

Postal address*

Mobile phone*

Email address*

Attach supporting documents*
Please ensure all documents are compressed into a zipped folder prior to upload. (Please label zip file with your full name - eg: John Smith = john-smith.zip) Please try to keep the total file size to less than 5MB.

The Bursary awards are determined by the AIG Federal Education Committee and AIG Council based on the material provided by applicants. The decisions of the AIG are final and no correspondence will be entered into.


INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2023

 

Both International Women’s Day (March 8) and International Men’s Day (Nov 19) are marked on my calendar as big days of celebration, reflection and calls to action. It’s fair to say the important topics both days highlight are not what an average “water-cooler conversation” touches on. Topics such as gender-based violence, unconscious bias, racism, privilege and equity, to name a few can be difficult, at times sensitive and perhaps even confusing to speak casually about. But it’s important to remember both of these days also celebrate and recognize women’s and men’s lives, achievements and contributions.

Today, on International Women’s Day, as a director of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), I’m proud the AIG is stepping into the challenge and committing to improving diversity and equity to create an inclusive community for all members and our guests. This commitment is in line with our key values and primary purpose of supporting all geoscientists. It is very clear men, women and people who identify beyond the binary have a vital role to play together, in building a culture of inclusivity and respect for all. Men don’t need blaming and women don’t need fixing – we need our collective status quo updated urgently, for everyone’s benefit. And that is a personal journey that we each must choose to step up and into. Will you join us?



Opportunities exist for a Senior Geologist and Project Geologist to get involved in MVT, SEDEX and Irish-type Zn-Pb-Ag exploration in Ireland.

Click on the image to download a PDF copy of the advertisement.

Interested?  Contact Helen Carr for further details.  Note that you must have approval, or be eligible to secure approval, to work in Ireland to be considered for these roles.

AIG is happy to promote employment opportunities for members.  Contact support@aig,org.au

The latest instalment in this survey series covers the final quarter of 2022, from the beginning of October to the end of December.
Geoscientific skills and experience have been in strong demand.  Is this continuing?
The sentiment amongst self employed geoscientists during the final quarter of 2022 was that industry activity had fallen to a lower ebb, possibly associated with increased economic uncertainty.  This was elected by geoscientific professional service companies.  Those we spoke with reported a very quiet quarter to end the year, but signs of an upturn appeared towards the end of the quarter.  Commodity analysts appear to generally believe that fundamentals for most commodities remain strong, especially for copper, gold and battery materials.  Did the events responsible for the suspected slowdown have an impact on employment?
The overall employment trend in the Third Quarter 2022 survey results remained positive, although both unemployment and under-employment rates rose slightly compared to the previous quarter. The unemployment rate amongst geoscientists nationally was 3.5%.  The under-employment rate was 6.3%.
The first survey of every year is delayed by a few weeks to ensure that potential contributors are back to work following Christmas, New Year and the summer holiday season in Australia.
Your information is used in a manner that preserves strict privacy. The survey does not collect any personally identifiable information.  It takes only two minutes or so to complete.
Please encourage colleagues and friends to complete the survey also.  You do not need to be an AIG member.  All geoscientists working or seeking work in Australia are encouraged to contribute.
The survey will be open for contributions until Sunday 26 February so that results can be released in early March, ahead of the first quarter 2023 survey at the end of that month. Please contribute today – every response adds to the quality of the survey results.

Click here to complete the survey

CEO AIG

CEO Appointment

The Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) is pleased to announce that Jaime Livesey has been appointed by the Board of Directors as Chief Executive Officer of the AIG.

The AIG is the leading Institute representing professional geoscientists employed in all sectors of industry, education, research and government throughout Australia (www.aig.org.au).

Jaime has a background in geoscience and management, with previous roles spanning the oil & gas, mineral exploration and environmental services industries. Jaime has extensive experience in strategic planning, project management and business administration and was most recently the project manager for the JORC Code review.

Chris Dickinson, AIG President said “We are delighted to have Jaime join the AIG as CEO, and look forward to progressing our strategic objectives and expanding our value to our members”.

The primary role of the position is to support our members, assist our volunteer teams who make AIG activities happen and to progress the delivery of AIG’s strategy and objectives. The CEO will report directly to the Board but will engage with the membership through Branches, Committees and industry events.

Jaime can be contacted at: ceo@aig.org.au