Minerals Research Institute of Western

MRIWA’s primary function is to provide and administer funding grants to carry out minerals research.  The Institute is able to collaborate with local, Australian and worldwide research and scientific institutions and is also able to undertake and procure minerals research itself. As well as directly supporting minerals research projects, MRIWA funds are available for projects, programs and events that promote public awareness of, and interest in, minerals research, and to support related academic activities. MRIWA has a scholarships program for PhD candidates and for final year students’ Honours projects, where the field of study is relevant to the MRIWA objectives as detailed in it’s Research Priority Plan. The expertise of MRIWA is available to the State Minister and the WA Government to foster and promote minerals research for the benefit of the Western Australia. The MRIWA Act 2013 repeals the Minerals and Energy Research Act 1987 thereby abolishing the Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia (MERIWA). The control and management of MRIWA is vested in a Board of seven directors, who are appointed by the Minister. The Minister appoints one director as Chair and one as Deputy Chair. The Minister does not have day-to-day control over Board decisions, but the Board is ultimately subject to Ministerial directions. The CEO administers the day‑to‑day operations of the Institute, subject to the control of the Board. The Advisory Committee of seven members and subject specialist advisory committees provide advice to the Board on various matters, especially on the merit of Applications for research grants. The members of all advisory committees are appointed by the Board.