Planet | People | Mining

How can you empower global careers starting with local employees?

Global human resources expert, Iliana Rodriguez, and I talk about the incredible opportunity of developing a local workforce, not just for a single project, but for the global mining industry. Iliana led HR for the first large-scale mining company in Ecuador, initially run by Kinross and then Lundin Gold after years of leading local teams in several countries for the oil sector, including Oman and Libya, and then entering the mining sector with Kinross in Mauritania. Iliana was recognized in 2022 as a top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining. She is currently president of Women in Mining Ecuador and an independent consultant.

Listen to my first conversation with her on Season 1 of Planet | People | Mining en Español!

How do you recognize and move past trauma in communities?

Estelle Levin-Nally, CEO & Founder of Levin Sources, has helped 160+ clients mine, trade, source, invest in & regulate minerals more responsibly since 2010 . We speak about how our understanding of other people’s traumatic experiences have informed our drive and practice, and how as an industry, respecting the traumas that may exist in communities and by stakeholders enables a stronger ability to build trust and accelerate mining. 

For those who may be triggered from mentions of violence and trauma, you may not want to listen to this episode.

How can we tell mining’s economic development story, one community at a time?

Maulik Doshi, Managing Director for the firm, Steward Redqueen & I speak about Steward Redqueen’s experience in helping the mining industry communicate transparently and through clear criteria its local economic impact for projects & operations, and how powerful this knowledge is for building social acceptance. Maulik’s career is a story of transition of how to apply quantitative rigor and technology for  greater positive impacts across different sectors, from mortgage finance at Freddie Mac, to the private equity behemoth Blackrock, and now as head of Steward Redqueen’s US office based in Washington, DC. He is originally from India and calls Northern Virginia home, Maulik holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from James Madison University and an MBA from American University. 

Upon acquisition - how do you undo the predecessor's poor relationships?

Todd Clewett, global external relations expert, speaks to me about how in the current global fight for critical minerals, the winner controls tomorrow,  and how this increased macro pressure will complicate even more company - government - community relations. From Australia to Papua New Guinea to Panama, Mongolia, and now Washington, DC, Todd's global career builds on his economy & government degree plus Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Sydney and Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University. 

Which perspectives are missing in strategy?

Siri Genik, Founder & Principal of Bridge Consulting, and I discuss how her experience across 4 continents, multiple disciplines, major miners, consulting & engineering firms, and law firms have shaped her approach to guiding companies through strategy. She speaks about how change in the industry is constant - especially today - yet how sustainability and people have to be at the center of organizational responses. Siri holds a BA in Political Science and Economics from McGill University and a law degree from the Université de Montréal.

How can people & land be at the center of tailings innovation?

Dr. Priscilla Nelson, professor at the Colorado School of Mines, and I discuss the future of tailings, where people and land are at the center of holistic design, engineering, and management. Her curiosity and creativity are contagious - especially as we imagine the mine site as a complex human body system.

How do you consistently achieve sustainability performance?

Andrea Vaccari, VP of Responsible Production Frameworks & Sustainability at Freeport McMoRan, empowers teams to drive consistent, sustainable production while encouraging innovation.

How much land and new community relationships does the energy transition require?

Katie Fergusson, Group Head of Sustainability at Anglo American, shares how to integrate sustainability - including voices of the community and consumer - into strategic planning. She draws from her experiences living in the UK, Argentina & Peru, reflecting on the power of storytelling and listening to uncomfortable truths.

How do you translate complex human rights principles into practical applications, even in countries with robust legal systems?

Claire Larner demystifies how companies need to be thinking about human rights, based on her deep experience with the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM), leading the Human Rights Standard roll out for Newmont, and today as an expert with the Pillar Two consultancy firm.