On 1 November Iron Fortune director Mary Thompson participated in an “investment pitch” competition at the International Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC) in Melbourne. Five resource exploration companies with interests in Africa, South America, North America and Australia competed for the prize of a free display booth and free passes to the 2019 conference. The conference was attended by over 6,000 people, a record attendance. The companies presenting were allowed only a five minute presentation and one slide. The selection committee, comprising investment specialists from Australia and North America then questioned the presenters. While the competition was won by an African focussed gold exploration company, Iron Fortune was awarded the second prize of “honourable mention”. There was great interest in Timor-Leste from both the judging panel and audience members, and Mary Thompson also used her presentation to announce that on 26-27 March 2019 the first Timor-Leste resources, petroleum and investment focussed conference to be held outside Dili will be held in Melbourne.