Our Story
The Innovation: State of Play platform was initiated by VCI in 2012 to create a platform to support industry discussion of innovation and performance at a strategic level, macro-level insights into the industry ecosystem, and more effective strategy execution and business design for competitive advantage.
Innovation: State of Play has undertaken 3 global surveys – 2013, 2015 and 2017. We also released the groundbreaking CEO Insights Report in 2016 of interviews with CEOs and Board members from the world’s leading mining companies.
Thank you to the many participants who have participated in our surveys. Your involvement is helping Innovation: State of Play become the leading, independent source of current insights on the mining industry.
What We Do
The Innovation: State of Play surveys, with their strategic level approach to innovation, enable us to uncover the impediments and success factors driving innovation across the industry supply chain.
Our surveys provide business executives with a health check of how their companies benchmark against their peers. More broadly, it has the potential to position the industry for a strategic shift.
The Team
Graeme Stanway
Graeme is one of the founders of State of Play and its parent company VCI. His current work focuses on understanding and advising on business strategy for the global resources industry at the nexus of economics, social and technology change. Graeme is based in Western Australia, travelling widely to support the development of strategies for most of the major mining companies over the past 15 years. A PhD in Engineering by training, Graeme has developed an industry-wide reputation as one of its leading thinkers.
Paul Mahoney
Paul is an original member of the State of Play team, supporting its development and growth since 2012. He is responsible for the analysis and authorship of the biennial State of Play survey reports and CEO Perspectives report focusing on the nature and role of strategic level innovation in the global resources industry. Paul has over a decade of experience advising companies on strategy, technology and innovation – particularly in mining and oil & gas – across Australia, Europe, Africa and North America.
Xavier Evans
Xavier is the Research Lead for State of Play, conducting much of the research, analysis and writing for State of Play publications. Xavier has experience in advising organisations on strategy, business model design and innovation, particularly with mining and utilities sectors. An economist and political scientist by training, Xavier has worked with a range of organisations aiming to catalyse innovation in the resources industry.
Stephanie Munro
Stephanie is an Analyst for State of Play, responsible for researching and analysing the topics discussed in the State of Play reports. Stephanie has experience in public policy and research having previously worked for an Australian Federal Minister. Based in Perth, she is currently studying her Masters in Chemical Engineering, and has taken an active interest in the drivers of innovation in heavy capital industries.
Mark Stickells
Mark Stickells is a Principal Advisor to State of Play. Mark currently leads the innovation and industry engagement portfolio at State of Play founding partner, The University of Western Australia and is a new venture strategist and R&D executive with more than 20 years’ experience. A former Director of UWA’s Energy and Minerals Institute, Mark is also a former Chief Executive of an LNG research and development alliance of Chevron, Shell, Woodside, Australia’s national science organisation (CSIRO) and two leading Western Australian universities.
Peter Nicholls
Peter has been a pivotal driver of the State of Play’s engagement with the Indian mining industry, culminating in the release of the State of Play: India 2017 report. His deep understanding of each of the technical, market and social aspects of mining is rare, having pioneered Rio Tinto’s commercial and expansion strategies in developing countries, being Chief Operating Officer of the Walk Free anti-slavery organization, a signatory of China’s first ever energy export contract and advising the Australian government on Australia’s Natural Resources Development Hub. Peter is based in New Delhi.
Vania Aranibar
Vania has an in-depth knowledge of the South American minerals industry, accumulated from over 15 years spent working within multiple operational, corporate and project leadership roles in the region. Her recent involvement with the OXE and DMC Projects at Antofagasta Minerals has added to her extensive experience of project controls, risk management and project evaluations. Vania is based in Chile and is fluent in English and her native Spanish.
Partners
VCI
VCI is a global management consulting company focused on the resources industry. Our core areas are strategy, innovation and organisation. We work with senior leaders to overcome their most difficult and pressing challenges with a collaborative and open approach. VCI has built its reputation on the basis of a deep curiosity and applying creative methods to difficult problems.
The Innovation: State of Play platform was initiated by VCI in partnership with The University of Western Australia. The ambition was to create a platform to support industry discussion of innovation and performance at a strategic level, macro-level insights into the industry ecosystem, and more effective strategy execution and business design for competitive advantage.
UWA
The University of Western Australia (UWA) was established in 1911 and is committed to providing world class education, research and community engagement for the prosperity and welfare of the communities it serves.
UWA is a research-intensive university and aspires to be recognised as one of the world’s top 50 global universities by 2050.
www.uwa.edu.au
Mark Stickells, Director Business Development & Innovation
mark.stickells@uwa.edua.au
METS Ignited
METS Ignited is an industry-led, government-funded, Industry Growth Centre for the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector. METS Ignited’s role is to strengthen Australia’s position as a global hub for mining innovation, and enhance the global competitive advantage of the Australian METS industry.
www.metsignited.org
Sarah Boucaut, General Manager Education & Leadership Skills
s.boucaut@metsignited.org