Core Insights : The Mining Digital Transformation Podcast

In this episode, Ash sits down with Rob Wolcott, Co-Founder & Chairman of The World Innovation Network and Managing Partner at Clareo. The two discuss how Digital leaders can ensure success in the post-COVID world, along with several important topics such as Proximity, Periphery, and Agency, and how they are enabled by Industrial AI. 

As the Co-Founder & Chairman of The World Innovation Network, Rob leads a global community of over 2,000 innovation and growth leaders from over 30 countries and across sectors (business, government, the arts, academia, defense). Wolcott is also a managing partner with Clareo, a foresight and innovation strategy consultancy, an active angel investor, and a Contributor for Forbes regarding the impact of technology on business, society, and humanity.He's an Adjunct Professor of Innovation at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, and the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago. Wolcott won Teacher of the Year from Kellogg’s EMBA program in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017. He holds a BA in European and Chinese History and an MS and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Management Science, all from Northwestern University.

In this episode, Ash talks with Theuns Roux, Transformation Director at Nutrien, about how his company is using AI to optimize preventive and predictive maintenance. In his role, Theuns leads projects that enable Nutrien to quickly adapt to change and deploy new technologies, giving Nutrien a competitive advantage in the market .

Theuns Roux is the Transformational Director for Nutrien Potash. He leads Nutrien's Potash Full Potential Transformation, focused on operational excellence and digital transformation. Since joining Nutrien in 2018, Theuns has also led the company's borer automation program across its network of potash mines in Saskatchewan. A global leader and transformation professional, Theuns has previously led strategy and transformation teams at BHP in Singapore and Australia, and at Veon in the Tech & Telecommuncations sector in the Netherlands. Theuns has an Executive MBA, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce. He is fluent in English, Afrikaans and German.

In this episode, Ash talks with Michelle Ash, Chair of the Global Mining Guidelines Group, about setting a vision for digital transformation in the mining industry. Drawing on her vast industry experience, Michelle discusses mining’s digital tipping point and how businesses can accelerate their adoption of new technologies to achieve their digital vision. But it’s not all about technology — hear why managing and planning for behavioral changes and required talent is also a key component of implementing an effective digital strategy.

Michelle Ash is currently the Chair of the Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) where she facilitates open collaboration between mining industry leaders to create solutions for common industry problems. Michelle has previously held leadership roles at Barrick Gold and Acacia Mining. She is an experienced mining executive, specializing in strategy development and implementation with key skills in technology transformation, innovation, leadership and cultural change for turnarounds, acquisitions and mergers. Michelle holds an engineering degree from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from Melbourne Business School.

In this episode, Laith Amin shares insights from his broad and diverse experience on how to develop a digital strategy and implement that strategy successfully.  Key to the success of a great digital strategy include developing a culture of innovation and creativity, fostered by a global mindset and teams that contribute diverse, multi-functional perspectives. 

Laith Amin is currently the Senior Vice President of Digital, North America and Europe at Advisian.  Laith has a broad range of international development experience including P&L leadership, strategy and business development with a focus on renewable energy in addition to upstream oil & gas.

In this episode, Ash talks with Jani Puroranta, the Chief Digital Officer at Metso, about the significant opportunity for driving value by digitizing mineral processing within the mining industry.  Processing remains a digital blindspot for mining companies as mineral processing technologies have not taken the innovative leaps forward like other parts of the value chain.  

Jani Puroranta works as Chief Digital Officer at Metso, and is part of Metso’s Executive Management. At Metso, Jani leads the digital development and marketing efforts relating to the company’s mining, aggregates, valves, and waste recycling equipment businesses. Before joining Metso in 2016, Jani has been building digital solutions for over 15 years within organizations of various sizes. This includes both start-ups and international companies such as Nasdaq and McKinsey. In addition to manufacturing, he has worked in different industry sectors including wholesales, telecom analytics, and financial markets. Jani holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Aalto University in Helsinki and an MBA from INSEAD in France.

In this episode, Ash speaks with Paramita Das, the General Manager, Global Marketing and Development, Metal & Head of Chicago Commercial Office for Rio Tinto.  Paramita explains that a key to innovation in metals and mining is staying true to a sense of purpose, which for Rio Tinto is enabling human progress, wherever metal and mining products touch society.  In an industry with such a long history, innovation is critical but it’s not only about building something new - it’s about having a mindset of redefining every part of your business including yourself and your people, who are your best brand ambassadors.