Lithium steals the show at Diggers awards

Lithium success story Pilbara Minerals has been named 2023 Digger of the Year, as Allkem’s $16 billion merger takes the Dealer guernsey and resources executive Neil Warburton wins the GJ Stokes award.

The end of Diggers & Dealers 2023 was marked by an evening gala celebration at the Goldfields Arts Centre, with 2,650 delegates attending the three-day mining conference in all.

Pilbara Minerals took the Digger of the Year Award in recognition of the company’s staggering growth from explorer to developer over the past few years.

The award was collected by managing director Dale Henderson, who took over from lithium linchpin Ken Brinsden in 2022.  Last year’s recipient was Amanda Lacaze-led Lynas Rare Earths.

Dealer of the Year, which the forum says recognizes a corporate strategy that has added substantial value for shareholders, was given to global lithium chemicals company Allkem.

The company was formed in a $4 billion merger between Orocobre and Galaxy Resources in 2021 and this year announced a $16 billion merger with Livent Corporation.

Continuing the lithium theme, explorer Patriot Battery Metals took the Emerging Company award for its Corvette discovery in Quebec.

Patriot is chaired by former Pilbara Minerals boss Ken Brinsden and chief executive Blair Way accepted the award.

The GJ Stokes Memorial award, which was last year given to explorer Tim Goyder, went to resources executive Neil Warburton for 2023.

A WA School of Mines graduate, Mr Warburton led Barminco for five years and has held a raft of director roles with ASX-listed companies including IGO and Red Mountain Mining.

Diggers & Dealers said Mr Warburton was equally known for his leadership and support of the next generation.

Australian Financial Review journalist Brad Thompson was the recipient of this year’s media award.

The Raleigh Finlayson Award for Leadership and Academic Excellence went to mining engineering student Luca Danovaro Hanza.