The University of Western Australia and the University of Queensland are to collaborate on an international mining centre aimed at improving prosperity for developing nations.
The AU$31 million International Mining for Development Centre, funded by the Australian Agency for International Development, will provide practical advisory, education and training services to developing nations on mining-related issues.
The centre, based at UWA in Perth, will support developing nations in establishing and maintaining sustainable mining sectors, improving governance and accountability, and strengthening economic outcomes through better industry governance, education and capacity building.
The vice-chancellors of the two universities announced on 25 October that the centre’s director would be Ian Satchwell, an executive with Australian services firms in mining, environment and economics, and recently a trade and investment advisor to the Indonesian government.
The centre was launched by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard while she was in Perth to host the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.