23 May 2025
Dr John Russell receives the Austmine 2025 Champion of Innovation Award
RME Founder and Director, Dr John Russell was recognised with the lifetime and career achievement award at GRX25 for embodying the spirit of innovation and playing a pivotal role in transforming the mining industry.
RME Founder and Director, Dr John Russell received the Austmine 2025 Champion of Innovation Award at the Industry Leaders and Awards Dinner held on 21 May 2025 at the 2025 Global Resources Innovation Expo: GRX25.
Austmine is Australia’s leading industry association for the Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector. Their Champion of Innovation Award, sponsored by Emesent, is described as, “a lifetime, career achievement award with the purpose of acknowledging and celebrating an individual who has made the METS sector what it is today”.
Winners are selected by an industry peer group committee comprised of innovation experts.
Austmine CEO, Christine Gibbs Stewart said the Award celebrates an individual who embodies the spirit of innovation and has played a pivotal role in transforming the mining industry through bold, visionary thinking.
“Dr John Russell is a true champion of innovation who has revolutionised concentrator maintenance worldwide. His story is one of persistent innovation and enduring commitment to his employees, his customers and the planet."
“With unwavering determination, John has pioneered groundbreaking ideas while also demonstrating the drive to turn vision into reality—creating opportunities, building a successful business, and inspiring those around him.
“His forward-thinking mindset, willingness to embrace risk, and dedication to solving complex challenges have made a lasting impact, shaping the way our industry operates, and helping to position the Australian METS sector as a world-leading, high-tech industry.
“Throughout his career, John has been recognised through numerous industry awards and is a true trailblazer through his bold and visionary thinking.”
Improving grinding mill relining, globally
Dr John Russell founded RME in 1985 in Toowoomba, Queensland, setting out to mechanise the mill relining process to improve safety, shorten reline times and increase mine site profitability.
Through a dedicated and highly skilled team, loyal and forward-thinking Customers, and dependable suppliers who are integral to RME's success, RME has grown to support Customers in 64 countries, with 13 International Sales and Service Centres, employing more than 450 people worldwide.
Today, there are more than 440 mine sites across the planet served by RME’s equipment and services, including more than 570 RUSSELL Mill Relining Machines.
RME’s suite of mill relining technologies has played a key role in advancing mineral processing globally. It has enabled the development and safer use of larger liners, reducing the total number of pieces requiring change out—thereby improving reline time and mill availability. Additionally, as RUSSELL Mill Relining Machines grew in capacity, so too did the size and production capabilities of modern semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills.
40 years of persistent innovation
Upon receiving the Champion of Innovation Award, Dr John Russell said, “Since 1985, RME has innovated mill relining technologies and services.
“Through collaboration with our Customers and suppliers, we have made mill relining safer and faster, while also positively impacting local jobs, livelihoods and living standards in the regions where we operate.
“In partnership with our Customers, we have set new industry-wide safety standards. And with safety continuing to drive the evolution of our advanced technologies, we can now perform liner exchange with zero personnel inside the mill."
“It has taken 40 years of persistent innovation and enduring commitment from an exceptionally talented team at RME, forward-thinking Customers and reliable suppliers.
“As the world strives for a net zero future, we are working to ensure that RME continues to reach its next level of technological and operational potential, more quickly.
“We continue to push the boundaries and pioneer new means to improve industry safety standards and productivity gains for mill relining, enhancing our Customers' ability to produce minerals, like copper, necessary for the energy transition.”
Celebrating excellence: Australia’s most innovative and forward-thinking mining industry companies & individuals
Hosted by Austmine and AusIMM as part of GRX25, the Industry Leaders & Awards Dinner recognised excellence across innovation, export, emerging talent, and leadership, highlighting those shaping the future of the resources sector.
Set against a backdrop of industry collaboration and innovation, the evening was a standout gathering of more than 800 sector leaders, government representatives, executives and professionals.
Guests reconnected with peers, celebrated collective achievements, and reflected on the role of Australian innovation in shaping a more competitive, sustainable and future-ready resources industry.
Congratulations to all the 2025 Industry Leaders Award winners and finalists.
Content related to this article
Watch the new 'We are RME'
To mark RME's 40th anniversary, we are thrilled to release a new 'We are RME' film. Showcasing our team, suppliers, achievements, and aspirations, the film reflects what makes RME the world’s trusted OEM of grinding mill relining systems.
Read More
TRUST RME TO RAISE THE STANDARD
Trusted globally for every 40 ft SAG, we're now bringing RME safety, innovation, performance, reliability and long-life standards to even the smallest capacity machines.
Read More