The Institute of Quarrying (IQ)

The Institute of Quarrying is the international professional body for quarrying, construction materials and the related extractive and processing industries, with 6,000 members in some 50 countries of the world. Membership is open to individuals, rather than companies, and the Institute’s long-term objective is to promote progressive improvements in all aspects of operational performance through the medium of education and training at supervisory and management level.

Where members are most numerous - Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Southern Africa and the United Kingdom - national sections are constituted as ‘not-for-profit’ organisations. These sections co-ordinate countrywide programmes that are largely centred on the activities of locally based branches or groups.

The Institute believes education and training is a life-long opportunity, which should be viewed in the broadest terms, starting with initial qualifications gained at college, university or through distance-learning programmes. This is followed by continuing professional development through attendance at conferences, seminars, training courses, competence assessment schemes, workshops, technical meetings, site visits and the updating of knowledge by reading the Institute’s journals, technical and management papers and textbooks.

By utilizing these resources, members not only have a means of establishing successful careers in a major industry which supplies society with some of its most basic needs, but also have the opportunity to be part of a growing network of professionals around the world committed to the advancement and sharing of knowledge.

The promotion of high standards of health and safety, together with a progressive attitude towards environmental and social responsibility, also rank prominently in the Institute’s order of priorities. This manifests itself through the encouragement of best practice in both quarrying operations and community relations, so that members can be efficient producers, responsible stewards of the environment and ‘good neighbours’ in the areas where they work.