The second in a series of on-line panel discussions hosted during "ESG Week: Challenges and Opportunities in the Mining Sector" we hear from investors and key advisers how awareness and understanding of ESG risks in the minerals exploration and mining industry is increasing among the investment community. We discuss how the transition to more sustainable mining would not be possible without qualified and highly knowledgeable industry advisers and service providers.
Chair:
Jane Joughin, Corporate Consultant (ESG), SRK Consulting
Jane has 28 years' experience providing environmental, social and governance (ESG) consulting services to the mining industry.
Extensive experience undertaking permitting and auditing of mines, coupled with a thorough understanding of ESG concepts and standards, enables Jane to provide clients with pragmatic and forward-thinking ESG advisory services.
Jane has a high level of interest in legislation pertinent to ESG and mining, supporting achievement of compliance with legal obligations and assisting clients to maintain and gain social licence to operate.
Most of Jane’s experience has been gained in Africa, Europe and Central Asia. Her African experience extends to infrastructure projects, including dams and linear infrastructure. To date, she has worked on over 35 mine ESIAs and she has led or managed half of these ESIAs. She has also overseen audits of over 100 mines.
Jane is professionally registered environmental scientist with the South African Council of Natural Scientific Professionals and is a member of IAIA and an affiliate member of IEMA.
Speakers:
Ella Cullen, Founder & CMO, Minespider
Ella Cullen is Co-founder & CMO of Minespider, a blockchain protocol for supply chain due diligence. She also leads their textile initiative, Threadcounts. Ella is an UNECE expert in blockchain traceability, contributing to ongoing policy and project discussions. She is also a strong proponent of female empowerment and founded TokenWoman to promote more female speakers in blockchain. Previously, she led the marketing efforts for startups such as CodeControl, IconPeak & RecMix. She holds a CEMs Masters in International Management from NOVA and Copenhagen Business School.
Dr Robert Pell, CEO, Minviro
Robert Pell PhD is Director of Minviro, a spin-out company from University of Exeter. Robert completed his PhD at Camborne School of Mines (University of Exeter) as part of the NERC funded SoSRare project on the topic ‘responsible sourcing of rare earth elements’. During this project novel life cycle assessment approaches were developed and applied to rare earth projects in the prefeasibility stage of development. A unique method to apply life cycle assessment to mine planning was also developed and these technologies have been further refined and applied in commercial settings. Prior to this Robert worked as Assistant Editor at International Mining, a globally distribution magazine covering technical innovations and project case studies for the mining industry.
Xavier Richard, COO, Mina Verde
Graduated from EDHEC Business School, pioneering entrepreneur, former partner at Idea Marketing in Lausanne, Switzerland, leader at promoting luxurious brands in sports and culture. Co-founder of Amazon Caribbean Guyana Ltd, the largest company in agroforestry in the Caribbean . He received a prize from the United Nation for the Millennium Development Goals for his contribution to indigenous communities and was an international ambassador for the UN Global Compact. He held the position of Honorary French Consul in Guyana for 20 years.
He is currently a partner at Bcomp SA Switzerland which produces natural fibers, COO of Athys Resources Services Paris, which promotes global re-forestry programmes including the Minaverde Initiative for Responsible Mining.
Jamie Strauss, Founder & CEO, Digbee ESG
Jamie Strauss is the founder and CEO of Digbee, a data and research platform for the mining industry. Having raised over a $1bn for development stage mining companies over the last 20 years, he wanted to find a solution to the complex and long-winded economic studies that contain the capability to mitigate risk but are so often misunderstood or worse, misused. The demand for quality, independent analysis of technical considerations is rapidly increasing with the dominance of private equity and strategic investors, Digbee provides the only efficient and cost effective solution for the industry.
Jamie is also a Non Executive Director of Altius Minerals, Bacanora Lithium and Gold Standard Ventures. He is also a trustee of The Julian Baring Scholarship which has funded, alongside its co-funding partners, over 100 scholarships to deserving students wanting to study mining related degrees at Southern African Universities.
John van Eeghen, CEO, Reality Check Systems
Before founding Reality Check, John was a partner at a major Canadian Investment Bank and broking house as a Natural Resources Sector Specialist. He has been funding mining companies for a decade. He has also held leadership roles in a major media & technology firm.