Director of Processing, Research and Innovation, Vale Base Metals 

Adam (he/him) is the Director of Processing, Research and Innovation at Vale Base Metals (VBM). Adam is responsible for the development of the company’s R&D and Innovation strategy, roadmaps, and initiatives portfolio. Additionally, Adam supports the development of VBMs partnership ecosystem to deliver their vision of being the world’s leading supplier of critical minerals essential for the global energy transition.

Adam began his career with VBM in 2002 as an Engineer-In-Training (E.I.T.) with the Mines & Industrial Engineering department in Sudbury, Ontario, He has since held roles in operations supervision, business planning, and spent seven years with Vale in Brazil leading the Global Strategy Base Metals, Corporate Technology, and R&D teams. Upon returning to VBM in Canada, Adam led nickel strategy development, including entry into the electric vehicle (EV) market with their nickel sulphate plant, and established the Circular Mining & Metals program.

Adam holds undergraduate degrees in Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick and Applied Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Windsor, and an MBA from Schulich, York University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario.

Deputy Mayor, Sudbury

Al is a lifelong resident of the City of Greater Sudbury, born raised and educated here. He has witnessed the City evolve from a Hard Rock mining town to one of international prominence and stature. Al retired from a career with the City, where he started as a Zamboni driver in one of the local rinks and served in many roles. He finished his career with the City of Greater Sudbury as Administrator of the City’s 24 cemetery properties immediately after amalgamation. After retirement, a lifelong ambition to serve as a City Councillor was realized when he received an Appointment to City Council. Al has since been re-elected three times. During these terms, he has served as Deputy Mayor. Al also is part of the Community and Emergency Services Committee, Operations Committee, Solid Waste Advisory Panel, and the Community Safety and Well Being Advisory Panel. He is also a member of the Greater Sudbury Police Services Board. While a full-time employee of the City, Al returned to Laurentian University on a part time basis, graduating with a degree in Political Science.

Chief, Wahnapitae First Nation

Chief Larry Roque leads Wahnapitae First Nation, a signatory to the Robinson-Huron Treaty and member of the Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations. A staunch defender of treaty rights, he recently led opposition to Ontario’s Bill 5, arguing it threatens treaty and consultation rights. Chief Roque was also signatory to the  Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement in 2022, enabling Wahnapitae to move beyond the Indian Act and advance self-determination. In 2023, he entered into a limited partnership with Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Technica Mining to form Aki-eh Dibinwewziwin LP, a mine contracting limited partnership which services the Sudbury Basin. A strong advocate for reconciliation, he continues to lead cultural initiatives and advance Indigenous voices in resource development.

Gimaa of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek

Gimaa Craig Nootchtai is a descendant of Chief Shawanekezhik who signed the Robinson Huron Treaty in 1850 on behalf of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. He started his term as Gimaa of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek in July 2020 and is the first Gimaa to serve a 4-year term under Atikameksheng’s Custom Election Code. He was re-elected in June 2024 for a second term as Gimaa and is very honoured to have served his Nation over the last 4 years. Gimaa Craig has a Civil Engineering background and is an entrepreneur but for the last four years has focused primarily on building a solid foundation for his home community of Atikameksheng. Under direction from Council and Community, he created an underground service mining company with partners Wahnapitae First Nation and Technica Mining called Aki-eh Dibinwewziwin Limited Partnership (ADLP) to capitalize on the mining opportunities in their traditional lands. This new company has transformed Atikameksheng Anishnawbek into a main player in mining activities in the Sudbury basin.

Director General, Policy Horizons Canada

Kristel is the Director General at Policy Horizons Canada, Government of Canada. She is former Head of Strategic Foresight at the World Economic Forum. Kristel holds 3 Masters including an MBA from the Yale School of Management. She is a Fulbright Scholar and a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar.

VP Business Excellence, Torngat Metals

A seasoned professional mining engineer and business executive with over 30 years of global experience across mining and manufacturing industries, Laura is recognized globally as a leader in operational excellence, innovation, and business transformation in the natural resource sector. In addition to her dedication to Lean thinking and practice, she is passionate about integrating systems thinking, circular economy, and other concepts to develop collaborative approaches to solving complex industry problems.

Laura, a member of the Lean Enterprise Institute’s faculty, regularly teaches Lean Strategy Deployment (Hoshin Kanri) to global industry organizations and executive teams. She founded Flow Partners, a boutique consulting firm with operations in Canada and Chile which is now part of the BBA Group, a Canadian engineering consulting company that specializes in the mining and metals and energy sectors.

Notably, Laura was named in the inaugural edition of the 100 most inspirational women in mining by Women in Mining UK . She holds a B.Eng. in Mining and a Master of Engineering in Mining Automation from McGill University.

President and CEO, Technica Mining

Born, raised and educated in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Mario is the President and CEO of Technica Mining. The oldest of four sons to immigrant parents, Mario’s induction into entrepreneurialism and hard work came at an early age working for the family’s industrial contracting business.

Excited to create his own legacy, Mario obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Laurentian University, graduating in 1996 and went on to found Technica Mining only three years later at the age of 25. Over the last 25 years, Technica Mining has grown from a small startup to one of Canada’s leading mining and construction companies with a first class safety record.

Mario is dedicated to bringing meaningful value to the clients and the communities where Technica operates, carefully selecting projects that align with this core commitment to positive impact and sustainable growth.

General Manager Mining North America Process Industries, ABB Inc.

Sachin Jari has served as the General Manager, Mining North America for ABB Process Industries since 2020. He leads the company’s efforts in harnessing the knowledge and creativity of great minds to help customers achieve great mines that are safe, sustainable, and productive. He joined ABB in 2000 as a Project Manager and held several positions of added responsibility including customer success management as well as business unit General Manager with P&L oversight. Prior to joining ABB, a strong foundation of influence based decision-making skills were built during seven years as a project and construction engineer in an EPCs environment. This has led to a growth focused versatile leader with 30 years of success in business P&L management, sales & marketing, customer service, operations, project management & detailed engineering.

Minister of Energy and Electrification, Province of Ontario & Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for King-Vaughan

Stephen Lecce is the Minister of Energy and Electrification for the Province of Ontario and the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for King-Vaughan.

As the Minister of Energy and Electrification, Stephen is keeping energy costs down for residents and businesses across Ontario, while building a reliable and affordable electricity system that runs one of the cleanest grids in the world. In his mission to build out the electricity resources we need to power economic growth and increase electrification, Stephen is leading the way as he develops Ontario’s first integrated energy plan – an investment in future generations.

Stephen’s work will continue to build on Ontario’s clean energy advantage and help ensure that Ontario’s energy system is ready to support future historic investments.

Stephen’s first experience in politics came in his hometown of Vaughan where he was involved in the 1999 election of the late MPP Al Palladini. Since then, he has served as the Chief Spokesperson and Advisor to Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, and upon his election in 2018, as Deputy Government House Leader, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, and then served as Ontario’s longest serving Minister of Education in 39 years.

VP Marketing & Corporate Development, MEDATech Engineering

Stuart Lister has built a 25-year+ career in communications, marketing, and community engagement across the mining, forestry, sustainability consulting, and municipal sectors. From 2015 to 2025, Stuart worked for the mining equipment manufacturer MacLean Engineering, where he ultimately held the role of Vice President of Marketing and Communications. A significant focus of Stuart’s work at MacLean was on setting up and supporting Indigenous business partnerships across Canada. In September 2025, Stuart joined MEDATech Engineering as Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development. MEDATech specializes in the electrification and automation of heavy mobile equipment across sectors and around the globe, notably the mining sector. Stuart was born in raised in Ottawa, graduated from McGill University (B.A. English & Communications) and Carleton University (M.A. School of Journalism), and currently resides in Collingwood, Ontario, where he and his wife have been raising their family since moving to the community in 2014.