Conference of Metallurgists 2017 (COM2017)

COM2017 represented a major gathering for the Canadian mining and metallurgical community, bringing together industry professionals, researchers, and academics for four days of intensive technical exchange. The conference featured an extensive program with more than 250 presentations and posters spanning the full spectrum of minerals, metals and materials science and technology. Attendees could access cutting-edge research findings alongside practical industrial applications, creating valuable opportunities for knowledge transfer between academia and industry. The event's hosting of concurrent World Gold and Nickel-Cobalt conferences demonstrated the strategic focus on these critical commodities during a period of growing demand for battery materials and precious metals. Two special innovation symposia set COM2017 apart from typical industry conferences. The "Women of Innovation" symposium addressed the critical challenge of gender diversity in engineering and mining, featuring leading Canadian female engineers sharing their experiences and achievements. This session aligned with industry-wide efforts to attract more diverse talent to address skills shortages and bring fresh perspectives to traditional sectors. The "Enabling Innovation in Metallurgy" symposium, co-sponsored with the Canada Mining Innovation Council, provided a comprehensive assessment of innovation challenges facing the mining industry and practical strategies for improvement. The conference's Vancouver location and timing in late August provided an ideal setting for networking and collaboration, with the Hyatt Regency Hotel offering professional facilities for both formal presentations and informal discussions that often prove equally valuable for advancing industry knowledge and partnerships.