Communities and programs
Members connect through six practice communities organised by discipline, and through KMPA's professional development, careers and industry programs. The first full program year begins in 2027.
Practice communities
Each community is led by two volunteer members and sets its own program of talks, site visits and projects. Members can join more than one. Community leads are nominated by Founding Members and confirmed at the inaugural General Meeting.
Mining & Operations
Surface and underground mining: geology and resource estimation, mine planning, geotechnical, survey, drill and blast, production, mineral processing and mine-to-mill.
Plant, Drilling & Maintenance
The people who operate and maintain the fleet and the plant: equipment operators, drillers, fitters, electricians, maintenance planners and reliability engineers, and OEM field support.
Oil, Gas & Energy
LNG, offshore and onshore operations, process and subsea engineering, EPC and module fabrication, turnarounds and decommissioning, and the energy transition including hydrogen and CCS. A natural home for members moving between mining and energy.
Technology, Data & METS
Automation and autonomy, data and AI, sensing and positioning, communications, software and the companies that supply them. Includes members bringing Korean technology to Australian sites.
Projects, Investment & Critical Minerals
Studies and due diligence, project controls, procurement and supply chain, project finance, and the critical minerals strategies that connect Australian deposits with Korean industry and investors.
Safety, Sustainability & People
Health, safety and emergency response, training and workforce development, environment and closure, community engagement and social licence.
Professional development
Free, member-first learning that draws on the experience already in the network.
- Technical talks — evening sessions where members present a case study, a field lesson or a technology, followed by discussion. Four to six a year.
- Field masterclasses — half-day practitioner-led sessions on topics such as drill and blast, maintenance planning, LNG turnarounds and underground mining fundamentals. The first, Underground Mining 101, is planned for February 2027.
- Site visits — arranged through member companies as the program grows.
- Knowledge Notes — short bilingual technical notes written by members and published on this site.
- Australia–Korea orientation — practical sessions for people newly arrived from Korea, and for Korean secondees, on how the Australian industry works.
Formal courses and advisory services are not part of the current program. KMPA may partner with universities, TAFE or recognised providers on accredited training in later years if members want it.
Careers and mentoring
KMPA helps members find the next role, the next site and the next step up, through people who have made those moves themselves.
Mentoring program
Six-month mentoring pairs for students, graduates, apprentices and members changing roles or sectors. Mentors are experienced members who volunteer their time.
Careers nights
Members from across the industry explain how they got into their role and what the pathway looks like, from operator to supervisor, fitter to reliability engineer, or mining to LNG.
Employer briefings
Hiring managers, contractors, OEMs and recruiters brief members on upcoming roles and the experience and tickets they look for.
Referral service
Members can opt in to receive relevant opportunities — roles, projects, secondments, advisory requests — and, where appropriate, a warm introduction from a senior member. KMPA does not sell or share member lists.
Member Directory
Show your expertise to other members: career highlights, capabilities, commodities and tickets, without publishing contact details. Members request introductions through KMPA.
Open the directoryKorea-facing careers
For members considering a move to Korea, or Korean companies seeking Australian experience, KMPA connects the two.
Industry and innovation
KMPA connects real site problems with technology providers, startups and researchers, using members' field experience to test whether an idea will work.
- Problem bank — members and companies submit operational problems, anonymously if they prefer.
- Field validation — a small panel of operators, maintainers and engineers gives a written reality check on a proposed solution.
- Introductions — to host sites, OEMs, universities and Korean industry partners.
- Grant clinic — guidance on programs such as MRIWA, WA industry grants, CRC-P and Korean government schemes.
- Innovation & Pilot Day — an annual afternoon bringing problems and solutions together.
KMPA does not invest, take equity or charge success fees, and is not a party to pilot agreements.
Event series
The annual program from 2027. Dates are published in the events calendar.
| Series | Format | Frequency | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resources Leaders Forum | KMPA's flagship day on leadership, workforce, investment, critical minerals and technology in the Australia–Korea resources relationship. Includes the AGM and the Impact Honours. | Annual (Q4) | Open to all |
| KMPA Boardroom | Off-the-record conversations for 20–30 members with senior executives, government and investors. | 3–4 a year | By invitation |
| Careers Night | Role pathways and career stories from across the industry. | Annual (Q1) | Open to all |
| Employer Briefing | Hiring managers and recruiters on upcoming roles and skills. | Annual (Q2) | Members |
| Technical talks & masterclasses | Member presentations and practitioner-led half-day sessions. | 4–6 a year | Members |
| Australia–Korea Roundtable | Policy, business and technical discussion with government and institutional partners. | Annual | By invitation |
| Innovation & Pilot Day | Site problems, technology providers and a grant clinic in one afternoon. | Annual (Q3) | Open to all |
| Networking | Informal evenings, including the year-end gathering. | 2–3 a year | Members & guests |