The two-day conference starting on October 24 will also celebrate ten years of the longwall sector while exploring its potential for growth.

Opening the conference will be outgoing Carabella Resources managing director Mitch Jakeman.

Other keynote speakers include Cokal director Peter Lynch, a representative from Rio Tinto’s Kestrel Mine and Allison Golsby, who has held technical services positions at Centennial Coal and Xstrata Coal Queensland.

Building on the success of past conferences, this year’s event will include a new technology fly-through session, offering updates on new technology developments.

Complementing the conference agenda will be the grand longwall exhibition, which has now expanded to 30 stands.

Keeping in line with tradition, the social program will make a return with a unique pre-conference welcome reception.

The social program will begin with a golf day on Sunday morning, followed in the evening by a longwall welcome reception.

Monday night will consist of a longwall dinner, followed by a barbeque breakfast Tuesday morning.

Longwall 2011 will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley.

Visit www.longwallconference.com.au to register for the conference.