b'Pioneering tomorrowToday, the Thiess Group of companies employs over 14,000 people across fifty-plus projects in eight countries. Of these, Thiess employees number more than 12,000 across seven countries.Through partnerships with suppliers, customers and employees, new ways forward have always been innovated and will continue to be. And who knows where that will take the Thiess of tomorrowif someone had told Sir Les in the latter years of his life that drills and rigs and trucks could be operated remotely from an air-conditioned office nowhere near the mine site, he would probably have thought they were mad. Similarly, some people might think that mining the surface of the moon is far-fetched, but others are already working on it.NASA has a relationship with Caterpillar and was really interested in Thiess andCats collaboration in autonomy, Michael Wright explains. NASA came to present toour team here in Brisbane, and really prodded us on where autonomy plays into whatNASAand many other organisations interested in what the moon and space have to offer humanityare positioning for. It was an interesting exploration that got us thinking about what we can offer in this space, and how we could engage. There is so much happening in battery-electric vehicle development, Matt Henderson adds. We have front-row seats and can influence how it goes. But its not just technological advancements that excite Matt; its also the people factor. My daughter will see so many more opportunities to work in this industryif she wants tothan even just a few years ago. While we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we shouldnt forget that when we turn 100, well see that were living the good old days right now.Shameelta Pratap, Group Executive of Transformation, People and Communication, reflects on workforce evolution. For the past couple of decades, weve focused on programs like truck operator traineeships and apprenticeships to create pathwaysfor women and Indigenous peoples. Moving forward, its critical to focus on leadership representation and roles that meet future industry needs, especially in technologyand automation.Thiess is actively preparing its workforce for rapid technological changes. As AI tools become more available, weve started training to ensure productivity, Shameelta continues. The Thiess Institute, established in 2023, drives our learning and development, promoting a culture of continuous improvement.One thing thats clear from our history is that weve never done enough, saysCraig Morton. And with striving to improve and grow comes change. And thats 140'