Tony Knutson
Location: Washington DC, USA
Language: English
Tony is trained as a geologist currently based in Washington DC. He has over 25 years experience across different commodities in the resource industry. Tony currently leads Wood Mackenzie’s global metals and mining emissions research. He is passionate about changing views on the image and importance of the mining industry as well as educating people how our society functions because of mining and metals.
Topics of Expertise
– Mine Operations
– Community Relations
– Indigenous Relations
– Mining Engineering
– Commodity Markets
– Emissions
– Corporate/Project Development
– Stakeholder Engagement
Jennifer Mailloux – Project Controls Professional (She/Her)
Location: Sudbury
Language: English
Jennifer Mailloux is a Project Controls professional at Stuart Olson which showcases her expertise in managing and optimizing project schedules, costs, and resources within the mining and construction sector. She is also the President of Sudbury’s Women in Mining Chapter which aims to Educate, Elevate and Empower women. Jennifer is committed to improving the mining industry by fostering diversity, promoting inclusion, and creating a supportive environment for all professionals, especially women.
Topics of Expertise
– Mining Administration
– Women in Mining
Edison Mating
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Language: English
Edison is a Filipino mining engineer based in Australia. He has over 5 years of mining experience in underground mine planning, drilling and blasting. He writes for the Philippine Resources Journal where he shares his views on key issues surrounding the mining industry.
Topics of Expertise
– Mining Engineering
– Careers in Mining
– Immigrant in Mining
– Mine Planning
Eric LeFort
Location: Inverness, NS
Languages: English, French
Eric has over 33 years of experience as an Environmental, Health and Safety Professional. He is committed to continuous learning and self-improvement, seeking to improve skills for the Canadian mining Industry.
Topic of Expertise
– Mine Construction
Glenn LaFleur
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Languages: English
Glenn Lafleur is Manager, Northern Affairs for Orano Canada. He is of Metis descent. He has extensive experience in Education and Training Programming in the Mining Industry.
Topics of Expertise
– Community Relations
– Indigenous Relations
– Gender Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
– Environmental Stewardship
– Employment and Training
Laura Diaz
Location: Calgary, AB
Languages: English
Laura is the Outreach Coordinator for Careers in Energy and has an extensive background in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
As a registered social worker with over 15 years’ experience in the non-profit and private sectors, Laura has held a variety of leadership roles focused on training and employment services.
She has worked extensively with immigrants, Indigenous peoples and various vulnerable populations providing a variety of workshops, webinars and presentations on career change, resumes, transferable skills and soft skills.
Topics of expertise
– Training
– Employment Services
– Community Relations
Ashley Dace
Location: Ottawa, ON
Languages: English
Ashley is a geologist whose been lucky enough to have people pay him to travel the world and work on see different rocks and ore deposits. He now finds himself in Ottawa having recently immigrated to Canada and loving his new job exploring for minerals in Canada’s North.
Topics of expertise
– Mineral Exploration
– Immigrants in Mining
Dale DeClercq – Advisor at Large
Location: Southern BC
Languages: English
Everyone has a passion – Dale’s passion is Mining and it’s in his DNA as his grandfather was an underground coal miner in the 40’s. On a global scale, the minerals, metals, and materials we extract, and process are critical building blocks for the very foundation of today’s modern world-and Mining does it Safely! Having over 35 years experience in the Mining Industry in Western Canada, both as a Supplier and a Customer, Dale has held multiple roles within the industry. His goal is to share his knowledge and passion to promote Mining as a safe, secure career.
Topics of expertise
– Human Resources
– Equipment Maintenance
Emma Dodyk (She/Her)
Location: Vancouver
Languages: English
Emma is a Master of Engineering Student in Mining Engineering at UBC. She was introduced to mining while working throughout British Columbia during her undergraduate degree in Materials Engineering at UBC, and has found a passion for closure and remediation of mining projects.
Emma is a recipient of MiHR’s 2022 I Chose Mining. Mining Chose Me. Scholarship.
Topics of expertise
– Mineral Processing
– Community Relations
– Indigenous Relations
– Mining Engineering
– Environmental stewardship
– Women in Mining
Andreas Steckenborn, P. Eng
Location: Timmins
Languages: English, French
Andreas is a mining engineering entrepreneur based in Timmins, Ontario. He has run the gamut from heli-prospecting in Northern Ontario and the Yukon to working in some of Canada’s largest open pit mines. He loves the problem-solving, challenge-overcoming and team-building nature of mining, which is the closest feeling most people will ever get to playing in professional sports.
Topics of expertise
– Mineral Exploration
– Mining Administration
– Mining Engineering
– Entrepreneurship
– General equity, diversity and inclusion topics
Lisa Thiess
Location: Montreal, Qc
Languages: English
Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Queensland, Australia. She is experienced in international recruitment and human capital management with over 10 years of comprehensive, hands-on experience across industries such as mining, civil construction, EPCM, and finance. Her key specialties are full cycle recruitment, HR Analytics together with business development, within her current position at DRA she is actively involved in gender diversity and inclusion initiatives across the AMER region. She has dealt comprehensively with cross-cultural issues related to international recruitment and been engaged to assist in the recruitment start-up of numerous multi -billion-dollar projects in various geographical locations. Lisa has a passion for helping young professionals within the mining industry and directly mentors mining students within her position as Co-op Liaison Manager at McGill University.
Topics of expertise
– Mining Administration
– Human Resources
– Immigrant in Mining
Lauren Coffin (She/Her)
Location: Sudbury and Ottawa, ON
Languages: English, French
Lauren is a first-year chemical engineering student at the University of Ottawa. Having been born in Timmins, and grown up in Sudbury, the mining industry has always been a part of her life. For two years, Lauren had the opportunity to deliver underground tours showcasing Sudbury’s mining history as well as modern mining technology and she is excited to continue to share this knowledge.
Topics of expertise
– Mineral Exploration
– Mineral Processing
– Mining Engineering
– Site rehabilitation/regreening
– Women in Mining
Roy Slack
Locations: North Bay and Sudbury ON
Languages: English
Roy is a strong supporter of health and safety in Canada’s mining industry. With extensive experience acquired over a 40-year career in mine design and mine construction throughout North America and overseas, Roy is the founder and a Board member of Cementation Americas and served as president from inception in 1998 to 2018. He was also honoured to be President of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum (CIM) from 2019 to 2020.
Topics of expertise
– Mining Engineering
– Health and Safety
– General equity, diversity and inclusion topics
John Renaud
Health, Safety, Training & Security Manager (OSISKO Development)
Location: British Columbia
Languages: English, French
John has been involved in the mining industry for over 30 years. Starting as an underground miner, he pursued many courses and extended education to reach the current point of his career. He looks to share his passion for his work and the growth that has been available to him as a result of hard work and interaction with diverse cultures.
Topics of expertise
– Mining Administration
– Human Resources
– Community Relations
– Indigenous Relations
– Mining Engineering
– Mining Operations
Peggy Bell, Principal Consultant
Location: Peterborough, ON
Languages: English
Peggy is a senior leader in the mining sector, having built a career through non-traditional pathways. She has worked in marketing, sales and strategic leadership to develop services across the project lifecycle. In the next phase of her career, Peggy will focus on increasing diversity, equity and inclusion for mining and exploration organizations, helping them reach their full potential.
Topics of expertise
– Mineral Processing
– Laboratory Analysis
– Human Resources
– Community Relations
– Women in mining
– Sustainability
– Diversity, equity and inclusion
Antoine Cate, PhD, PGeo
Location: Toronto, ON
Languages: English
Antoine is a geologist working as a consultant in the mining industry. His work involves looking at rocks, either though a computer screen from his office in Toronto or directly on mine sites and remote locations all over the world. Observations on rocks can help find new mineral deposits or support the development and exploitation of existing resources.
Topics of expertise
– Mineral Exploration
– Immigrants in Mining
Fatemeh Monji
Location: Toronto, ON
Languages: English, Farsi
Fatemeh is a materials science and engineering researcher. She seeks to share her interest and passion in metallurgy with young potential students and has a passion for Canada’s mining industry and the people it needs for its workforce.
Topics of expertise
– Mineral Processing
– Laboratory Analysis
– Metallurgy and materials science
– Women in Mining
Alp Bora, Speaker – Advisor – Coach
Locations: Montreal, Toronto, Sudbury, Vancouver, Calgary
Languages: English, French, Turkish
Alp is the Principal Advisor at Bora Consulting, boutique consulting firm specialized in operational excellence in mining & metals. As a mining & metals expert, Alp Bora is passionate about making mining greener, more sustainable, and more attractive for new generations. He is creating a movement to increase awareness of the importance of mining & metals in our day-to-day life -and in the electrification of tomorrows economy. Author of “Mining is the Future”, Alp talks about mining, sustainability, and corporate culture.
Topics of expertise
– Mineral Processing
– Human Resources
– Mining Engineering
– Asset Management
– Maintenance and Reliability
– Workforce engagement
– Sustainability and Circular Economy
Jason Belanger
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Languages: English
Jason has over 15 years of innovative experience in the mining industry through roles as a tradesperson, engineer, project manager, program manager, leader and mentor. He is passionate, optimistic and grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the world working with people and technology to fuel a sustainable future.
Topics of expertise
– Project Management
– Capital Management
– Electrical Engineering
– Information Technology
– Health and Safety
– Procurement
– Hoists and Shafts
– Data and Analytics
– Leadership/Management
– Finance and Strategy
– General equity, diversity and inclusion topics
Youssouf Ahmadou
Location: Quebec, QC
Languages: English, French
Currently Senior Geologist in charge of regional exploration for Doré Copper Mining, Youssouf has over five years experience in mineral exploration and over three years teaching experience in CEGEPs. He is excited by mining industry challenges related to multidisciplinary approaches to successful exploration projects.
Topics of expertise
– Mineral Exploration
– Mining Administration
– Immigrant in Mining
Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert, P.Eng., M.Eng.
Location: Montreal, QC
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Mélanie is an open pit mine planner with DRA Global, where she works on various studies for new and expanding mining projects around the world. She holds a B.Eng. in Mining Engineering from McGill University as well as an M.Eng. from McGill University, focusing on integrating mine-to-port transportation into the simultaneous stochastic optimization of open-pit mining complexes. She likes to give back to the community as much as possible and is a former Executive of Young Mining Professionals (YMP) Toronto and YMP Scholarships, and was a volunteer for Women in Mining Canada for four years prior to joining the Board, where she now serves as Vice Chair.
Topics of expertise
– Mining Engineering
– Diversity and Inclusion
James Ding
Location: Sudbury, ON
Languages: English
James is a fourth-year geological engineering student at the University of Saskatchewan in the mining engineering option. He aspires to help mining companies achieve their goals with innovative ideas and operational excellence. James looks forward to having more site experience, observing and rethinking the mining process. Eventually, he strives to explore the meaning of mining.
James is a recipient of Her late Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pin. He was awarded The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan) in 2023. He also won third place in the 2021 Canadian Mining Games’ Operational Excellence category and is a beneficiary of MiHR’s 2021 “I Chose Mining. Mining Chose Me.” Scholarship.
As a former refugee, James holds a solid commitment to diversity and inclusion. He is enthusiastic about helping newcomers and Indigenous youth from diverse backgrounds enter the mining industry as a Career Ambassador.
Topics of expertise
– Mining Administration
– Human Resources
– Community Relations
– Indigenous Relations
– Mining Engineering
– Immigrant in Mining
Tommy Lee, P.Eng (He/Him)
Location: Vancouver, BC
Languages: English
Tommy is an experienced mining professional who is excited about Canada’s role in a sustainable future through responsible mining. He has held a variety of operations and technical roles across Canada and is passionate about sharing the many opportunities and benefits of the mining industry with the next generation.
Tommy is a Professional Engineer registered with the Engineers and Geoscientists of BC
Topics of expertise
– Mining Technology
– Mining Feasibility
– Mineral Exploration
– Mining Engineering
– BIPOC in Mining
– Immigrant in Mining