Abstract

There can be little doubt that “business as usual” for executives in the natural resource sector has changed massively in recent years.  Those in executive leadership positions whose primary training and experience comes from the traditional disciplines of engineering, geology or finance and who are without a deeper understanding of the more strategic aspects of companies and boards such as people management, diversity, Indigenous rights, social justice, climate science, organizational culture cultivation and related matters can find themselves unprepared and unable to cope in an effective manner in this changing world.  The implications of this disconnect is serious because the result can often be impairment of shareholder value, difficulty attracting new capital, challenges with attrcating and retaining key people, access to land and approvals being challenged and being granted a “social licence to operate” by communities in which these companies interact becoming even more elusive.  The C-suite of mineral exploration and mining companies and all those involved in the major supply chains of the sector must adapt and change if they are to thrive in the world today.  Leaders need to deepen their understanding of key social, environmental and rights based issues and recognize that it is not enough to just produce the raw materials that the world needs if the goal is to be sustainable, respected and valued in the future.

Drawing on work from his bestselling co-authored book, “Weaving Two Worlds – Economic Reconciliation Between Indigenous Peoples and the Resource Sector” and 20 + years serving at the most senior levels of the mining and resource industry, this talk will focus on key issues of leadership in the resource sector and strategies and practices that executives can employ to help address the significant changes in societal, investor, government and community expectations that companies in the sector are facing today.