A recent change in government brings some uncertainty to WA, as the iron ore giant is forced to look to alternative commodities given fluctuating market prices. With a forward-thinking mentality, Australian risk-takers are front in line to develop projects that will address the global need for lithium, graphite and cobalt in the era of the lithium battery. As global innovation leaders, WA is implementing the latest equipment, working hard to diminish human factor risks through wireless technologies and automation. Service providers are fighting a race against time to provide the best solutions for IoT, Big Data and Data Lake management. While consulting firms are developing the latest strategies to protect clients from cyber-security breaches.

With a strong international focus, WA companies continue to explore new frontiers, with renewed interests in West Africa and Latin America. New junior IPOs and capital from retail and super-annuation funds have entered the mining industry, alluding to a positive outlook for the sector. Though the current political global climate might soften Chinese investments in-country, Europe and Japanese conglomerates maintain a strong interest in WA. With a strong regulatory framework, that can sometimes feel over-regulated, the state remains a safe and wise place to invest for the longer term.