Shoot for the stars and you'll hit the moon. That is a catchphrase of Crossfit Claremont coach-extraordinaire Nathaniel Smiler and it should be the motto for mining technologists everywhere.

It is also kind of the approach that green iron hopeful Helios took. Kind of. Theirs involved the moon.

It may not be the official motto of Future of Mining Australia 2025 but it is certainly the approach several of the speakers have taken in their careers.

And while green iron is not strictly on the show's menu, it will, no doubt, cop a mention from one or more of the speakers.

After all, green iron could offer Australia a $400 billion industry.

Not far from that green iron thought lies the future of Australia's critical minerals industry.

It will likely come up as a topic of discussion at the June 15-17 G7 summit at Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese is expected to raise Australia's critical minerals bounty should he secure a sideline meeting with Donald Trump.

In the lead up to the May 3 election, Albanese pledged a $1.2 billion critical minerals stockpile.

That is why it is timely that critical minerals will be a focus at Future of Mining Australia 2025.

One of the key speakers is Vulcan Energy head of sustainability Samantha Langley, addressing the topic of how technology is driving the future of sustainable lithium production.

There will also be a workshop on emerging membrane technologies for mineral processing: lithium rubidium, HPA and beyond, run by Edith Cowan University.

ECU played a key role in co-developing the Direct Rubidium Extraction process that Everest Metals has filed a patent for. Everest recently completed an engineering scoping study that confirmed DRE viability.

Decarbonising mines will be a FoM Australia focus too.

A session to watch out for is Fortescue decarb delivery principal Sophie Davies' presentation: The challenges and opportunities of electrifying mining operations – a Fortescue case study.

It is fair to say Fortescue has advanced well down the path of decarbonising its mine operations after chairman Andrew Forrest set the company the goal of being "real zero" by 2030. 

BHP is closing in on commercial trials for an early learner battery-electric Caterpillar haul truck.

Now assuming these battery-electric haul trucks prove their worth, the next question is who will drive and maintain them?

Finding the workers of the future is another challenge mining faces.

Speakers in this area include IGO manager health and wellbeing Davina Pellicano, Curtin University lecturer Zane Hughes, Rio Tinto reward and recognition manager Valentina Ruta and Australian Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance senior manager workforce planning and policy Dr Aneeq Sarwar.

Some say the future of mining is approaching.

Some say it is here.