In this episode, Michael Fox interviews Dr. Dave Lawie, Chief Geoscientist at Imdex, a global mining technology company based in Perth. They dive deep into the challenges of bridging the gap between current mining capabilities and government goals—an ambitious journey that could take 5–10 years and billions in investment. Dave explores the geopolitical shifts from 2025 to 2026, the global move from a molecule to an electron economy, and mounting concerns about water scarcity and its effects on mining. The conversation also highlights Canada’s strategic resource position, the U.S. copper supply chain crisis, and China’s dominance in refining critical metals. With insights on Australia’s lithium sector, AI-driven resource management, and emerging alliances among Canada, Australia, Japan, and the U.S., this discussion offers a sharp look at the future of mining, refining, and geopolitics.