E40: Exploration, Innovation and Coal's Critical Future with Caoilin Chestnutt
Release Date: 11/18/2025
E40: Exploration, Innovation and Coal's Critical Future with Caoilin Chestnutt
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
Executive geologist and board director Caoilin Chestnutt joins us in The Crib Room, sharing her remarkable journey from accidentally enrolling in geology at Trinity College Dublin to becoming a trailblazer in Australia's mining sector. In our chat, Caoilin offers expertise spanning gold, coal and critical minerals exploration. We examine the stark differences between commodity cycles, highlighting how metallurgical coal's recent designation as a critical mineral by the US could reshape global perceptions. Caoilin champions Queensland's world-class met coal assets whilst addressing the...
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E39: Trust, Innovation and Mining's "People Challenge" with Tim Strong
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
This episode is the one where Tim Strong, CEO of Waterline Projects, shares his journey from farm kid dreaming of big machinery to leading an engineering consultancy in Queensland's resources sector. We talk about: Leadership through trust and transparency - Building client relationships by meeting them on their ground, being transparent about operations, and empowering people rather than micromanaging Innovation challenges in mining - The industry's tendency to be followers rather than first movers in technology, the need for incremental "small i" innovation, and avoiding...
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E38: Fighting for the Future of Coal with Nick Jorss
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
In this episode of the BBMC Crib Room Podcast, Nick Jorss, Executive Chairman of Bowen Coking Coal and founder of Coal Australia, joins us for a passionate discussion about the coal industry's struggles under the Queensland royalties regime. With Bowen Coking Coal currently fighting to save 500 jobs, Nick explains how the company paid $120 million in state royalties before making their first profit, highlighting the unsustainable nature of taxing revenue rather than profits. Is there a solution? We tackle this huge question. Tune in to find out: What buying a coal mine for $1 actually means ...
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E37: Reshaping Resources Policy with Janette Hewson
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
We're back! This episode of the BBMC Crib Room Podcast is the one where we catch up with Janette Hewson, CEO of the Queensland Resources Council, just over 12 months after she took on the job. From policy to approvals, royalties, the next generation and the sector’s resilience - we cover a whole range of topics relating to the present and future of Queensland mining. Tune in to find out: Current challenges faced by the industry, from changing political landscapes to ongoing royalties and approvals hurdles The continued importance of mining to Queensland Surprising stories...
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E36: Mining finance, risk and investment with Nick Rees
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
This episode of the BBMC Crib Room Podcast is the one where we look at the world of finance that’s driving mining industry projects. From policy and activism’s effects on banking decisions, to alternative avenues for finance - what’s the current state of play? Nick Rees of Bridgend Capital comes through with the insights in this chat with Jodie and Sarah-Joy, against a backdrop of the Bowen Basin’s major trends and current acquisitions and divesments. Tune in to find out: The financing challenges faced by coal and critical minerals alike When the financing landscape...
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E35: The critical mineral called basalt with Andrew Pedley
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
This episode of the BBMC Crib Room Podcast is the one where we dig into the potential for collaboration between mining and agriculture, thanks to a fairly common rock in the Bowen Basin (and no, it’s not coal!). Join Jodie and Sarah-Joy as we chat with Carbonaught CEO Andrew Pedley about the opportunities that basalt presents to both industries in the Bowen Basin. Tune in to find out: How crushed basalt from mine sites can be more than just waste or overburden What basalt actually has to do with carbon removal and environmental challenges The potential for global impact in both...
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E33: A voice for nuclear with Stephen Wilson
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
This episode of the BBMC Crib Room Podcast is the one where we talk about nuclear power, and the compelling arguments for nuclear to be a part of Australia’s energy mix. Tune in to find out: What it would take to operate nuclear power in Australia from the 2030s What a nuclear future looks like for the mining industry Why climate activists are realising that nuclear isn’t a bad idea If the economic argument for nuclear really stacks up Nothing is off the table - come and join us in the BBMC Crib Room!
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E32: Mental health in mining with Nathan Turner
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
This episode of the BBMC Crib Room Podcast is the one where we chat about everything from how to cook rice in under 5 minutes (have a listen, we promise it’s relevant) to mental health with the fascinating Nathan Turner of Onsite Rental Group. Tune in to find out: The difference between working in the mining industry in Papua New Guinea and Australia The lessons a former chef can bring over to the mining industry How the mining industry’s sentiment is shaping up for the short- and long-term And last (but certainly not least), the incredible importance of mental health...
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E31: Greenwash, green shift, greener with Michael Rosengren
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
This episode of the BBMC Crib Room Podcast is the one where we chat emissions and the future of the industry with Michael Rosegren of QMetCo. Tune in to find out: The reason potential mining engineers may be missing out on decades of a great career How changes to emissions legislation affect the industry What ‘green-shifting’ is and how it hurts industry The major differences between a big company and a smaller miner Nothing is off the table - come and join us in the BBMC Crib Room!
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E30: AI, technology and the future with Theodora Le Souquet
The BBMC Crib Room Podcast
This episode of the BBMC Crib Room Podcast is the one where we chat with strategist, technology leader and all-around go-getter Theodora Le Souquet. Theodora leads Canaria Technologies and we chatted to her about technology (obviously), AI and the future. Tune in to find out: Why AI can’t get to the future first (and why Theodora hopes the robots take our jobs) How predictive biometrics solve problems proactively Why Theodora is bullish about automation And why ‘hoping for the best’ isn’t a valid approach to technology. Nothing is off the table - come and join...
info_outlineExecutive geologist and board director Caoilin Chestnutt joins us in The Crib Room, sharing her remarkable journey from accidentally enrolling in geology at Trinity College Dublin to becoming a trailblazer in Australia's mining sector.
In our chat, Caoilin offers expertise spanning gold, coal and critical minerals exploration. We examine the stark differences between commodity cycles, highlighting how metallurgical coal's recent designation as a critical mineral by the US could reshape global perceptions. Caoilin champions Queensland's world-class met coal assets whilst addressing the industry's exploration crisis, where discovery rates lag far behind depletion. She advocates for unified industry messaging similar to the CSG sector's successful reputation turnaround, and reveals exciting innovations including bioprospecting – using plants and microbes to detect deep ore bodies.
From discussing asset attractiveness amid divestment trends to how the pubs of Dublin stack up against Moranbah's Black Nugget, Caoilin delivers exceptional insights on mining in Queensland, Australia and the world.