keynote speakers

Mohsen Yahyaei

The keynote lecture "Beyond instrumentation: soft sensors for decision‑making in comminution and classification circuits" will be given by Prof. Mohsen Yahyaei, Director of Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) and a Professor at the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.

Mohsen is Director of the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) at The University of Queensland. He leads research and industry partnerships spanning comminution, mineral processing, and process automation, with a focus on making grinding circuits more efficient while remaining robust to ore variability. His work combines integrated ore-to-concentrate modelling, advanced sensing and soft-sensor development, and decision-support layers that translate plant data into actionable operating strategies. 

Mohsen’s interests include comminution classification, model-based optimisation, and practical deployment of AI and automation in safety-critical operations. He works closely with site teams and technology partners to bridge the gap between laboratory insight, simulation, and sustained plant improvement. 

At JKMRC, he also contributes to professional training and mentoring of higher-degree researchers, translating fundamental understanding into tools that deliver measurable throughput and sustainability gains. He is active in global communication forums and promotes collaboration on benchmark data, models, and best practices.

Sanjeeva Latchireddi

The keynote lecture "A holistic approach to designing and assessing the performance of AG/SAG and ball mill discharge systems" will be given by Dr Sanjeeva Latchireddi, Director of EE‑Mill Solutions USA and EEMS Australia.

Sanjeeva is the Founder and Director of EE‑Mill Solutions USA and EEMS Australia, and serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Utah, USA, and the WA School of Mines in Kalgoorlie, Australia. 
He is a highly accomplished metallurgist, inventor, designer, and researcher with more than 30 years of industry experience. His work focuses on developing energy‑efficient solutions to de‑bottleneck and enhance the performance of AG/SAG and ball mills, delivering significant reductions in electrical energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Sanjeeva earned his PhD from the JKMRC and received the 2004 MIOTA (Mineral Industry Operating Technique Award) from the AusIMM for inventing the Twin Chamber Pulp Lifter (TCPL). He holds five international patents, including the latest advancement, the Energy Efficient Pulp Lifter (EEPL), and has authored more than 80 papers in international journals and conferences. 

Richard (Ted) Bearman

The keynote lecture "The Journey to circuit optimization starts with the small stuff" will be given by Dr Richard (Ted) Bearman of Bear Rock Solutions Pty. Ltd., Australia.

Ted holds a B.Eng and PhD from the Camborne School of Mines and has been working in comminution and technology for 39 years’. He has worked for equipment suppliers, research organizations and mining companies and since 2009 has operated the Bear Rock Solutions consulting business.  

Ted has a focus on technology, comminution, systems optimization, simulation and effectiveness of resource recovery, all within the context of cross-functional studies spanning geology, mining and processing.  

He is a member of the SME, Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the AusIMM and a Chartered Engineer.

MEI Conferences

1 Freeman Collins Drive, Trescobeas Road
Falmouth, Cornwall, UK