MRead at the 29th National Directors Meeting, Geneva

The NDM, hosted by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), is the defining event in the global mine action calendar. This year's conference brought together national authorities, UN entities, NGOs, commercial demining companies, and donor organisations from over 80 countries, with more than 810 delegates in attendance.

For MRead, the timing could not have been better. Magnetic Resonance (MR) sensing was front and centre as one of the conference's key talking points, recognised by the international community as the technology most likely to fundamentally change how landmines are detected and cleared. That recognition brings with it real weight: it sets a high bar to deliver against, and one MRead is firmly focused on meeting.

Why This Matters

The scale of the landmine problem is staggering. More than 60 countries remain contaminated by the legacy of past and present conflicts, from Angola, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka, to the active battlefields of Ukraine and Gaza. The human cost is borne overwhelmingly by civilian communities: 80% of landmine casualties are women and children.

MRead's magnetic resonance sensor is being built to change that reality, directly detecting explosive compounds at the molecular level, reducing false alarms, and accelerating the pace at which contaminated land can be safely cleared and returned to communities.

Partners Who Are Shaping the Technology

The NDM was an important opportunity to reconnect with The HALO Trust and CEO James Cowan, whose operational partnership has been foundational to MRead's development. The direct, field-level input from HALO's demining teams in Cambodia, Angola, and Ukraine has been instrumental in shaping the sensor's design and performance specifications. Their continued commitment is a critical part of why MRead's technology is as advanced as it is today.

MRead also engaged with Tobias Privitelli, Calvin Ruysen, and Pedro Basto from GICHD, who not only ran an outstanding conference, but have supported MRead from the very beginning of this journey.

A particular acknowledgement goes to Igor Karpachev, whose tireless coordination behind the scenes has made a significant difference to MRead's ability to engage effectively across the global mine action community.

The NDM is also where relationships are renewed and deepened. Conversations with colleagues including Richard Boulter and many others in the field reminded us that this community's collective experience, advice, and goodwill is itself a vital resource.

An Intensive Trials Programme Ahead

Returning from Geneva, MRead moves into the most intensive operational phase in its history. The second half of 2026 is defined by trials:

Lane Trials — Australia with EPE and CSIRO, refining sensor performance in controlled conditions ahead of field deployment.

Field Trials — Angola with The HALO Trust, three months of real-world testing in active demining operations.

Field Trials — Ukraine with Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), October–November 2026, validating performance in one of the world's most actively mined environments.

On completion of this programme, MRead moves directly into manufacturing, with first sensors targeted for field deployment in early 2027.

The Road to Deployment

2026 is the year MRead transitions from development to delivery. The global mine action community has identified MR technology as the next step-change in detection capability. The trials ahead will prove it in the field. Manufacturing follows.

To everyone across the mine action community who continues to support this mission, thank you. The momentum is real, and the work ahead has never felt more urgent or more important.

For media and partnership enquiries, contact MRead at info@mread.com.au

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