Sudbury Forum - Global Mining Guidelines Group

GMG SUDBURY FORUM

June 10-11, 2025

Join mining leaders, technology innovators, and operational experts at the GMG Sudbury Forum 2025, a dynamic two-day event focused on shaping the future of underground and integrated mining operations.
Designed for highly interactive and honest conversation, this forum brings together speakers and participants from around the world to tackle mining’s biggest challenges and opportunities. With a program built around the innovation priorities of the Sudbury mining ecosystem, sessions will spotlight critical themes including decarbonization and electrification, AI and data integration, emerging technologies, and full-site operational integration.

Through collaborative panels, technical presentations, and working sessions, attendees will dive into real-world innovations transforming mining performance, safety, and sustainability. Whether you’re navigating digital transformation, deploying new technologies, or driving operational excellence, the GMG Sudbury Forum offers a unique platform to engage with peers, share knowledge, and help define the next chapter of mining.
Register today and be part of the conversation shaping the future of mining.

Schedule

June 10 (AM) | Connected Intelligence in Mining

MineInfo Systems – Connected Mine for Better SIC Planning and Reporting

From Data to Dispatch: Implementing a Cost-Effective Control Room and Active Dispatching Strategies

Optimizing underground mining operations requires real-time visibility into activities and coordination of resources, yet the implementation of Mine Monitoring and Control Systems is not commonplace in the industry. Concerns regarding change management, cost, value creation and practical feasibility hinder widespread adoption.

This presentation details the journey undertaken at Agnico Eagle’s Meliadine Mine to overcome these challenges. We’ll review the successful implementation of a cost-effective operations control room and time usage model, designed to provide actionable insight and rapid ROI, all while minimizing capital expenditures. Early results demonstrate tangible benefits, including improved data accuracy regarding operational cycles, identification and removal of bottlenecks, and enhanced communication between surface and underground teams.

Building on this foundation and the data gathered, we outline our strategic roadmap of implementing Active Dispatching. This involves leveraging our established system to dynamically manage underground tasks, optimize equipment allocation, and ultimately drive gains in productivity and resource utilization.

Working Session | AI in Mining: Tackling Industry Challenges with Smart Solutions

As the industry navigates increasing complexities—ranging from operational inefficiencies and workforce shortages to sustainability goals and real-time decision-making—AI and data analytics are proving to be game-changers. Participants will work together to identify actionable strategies for integrating AI into mining operations.

Data Foundations: The Bedrock of Tangible Value

In the fast-evolving mining industry, data is crucial for enhancing safety, sustainability, and profitability. The full potential of digital, data, and AI can only be realized with strong data foundations. Too often, the focus is on “front-end” solutions, while the foundational work is overlooked, which has led to unmet goals, unrealized ROI, and unscalable and unsustainable outcomes.

Data foundations are the bedrock for generating tangible value in mining operations and corporate functions. But what exactly are they, and why so often neglected? This presentation will explain their importance and core components – including data governance, quality, strategy, storage, integration, and security – that ensure data is findable, accessible, clean, reliable and secure.

And then comes the “So what?”. Effective data foundations enable smarter, data-driven decision-making and automated processes. Real-world examples will bring this to life, showing how integrated data, predictive analytics, and AI—including GenAI and agentic AI—can and are transforming mining operations.

This isn’t just about technology; it’s about better ways of working. Building a data-led culture and measuring value against a baseline are key to driving change, improving safety, boosting operational efficiency, and ensuring long-term sustainability. The session will demonstrate how mining companies can leverage data foundations to remain competitive in a dynamic and increasingly innovative world.

Panel | From Data to Decisions: Unlocking Value with AI in Mining

As mining embraces digital transformation, harnessing AI and data is key to driving smarter, faster, and safer operations. This panel will explore how companies are applying AI, advanced analytics, and machine learning to optimize performance, enable predictive capabilities, and improve decision-making across the value chain. Panelists will also discuss real-world applications, adoption challenges, and the importance of strong data governance and collaboration.

Panelist to date:

Chamirai C. Nyabeze, VP of Business Development, Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and Network Director, MICA
Kirk Petroski, Founder and Executive Chairman, SYMX.AI
Liv Carroll, Managing Director – EMEA Mining Lead, Global Data & AI Lead for Natural Resources, Accenture (Moderator)
Stephen Gravel, Manager, Centre for Smart Mining, Cambrian College

June 10 (PM) | New Technologies and Approaches for Maximum Impact

Making Mixed Traffic Work Underground

How can autonomous and manual equipment safely share space underground? This session explores the challenges of mixed traffic and provides insight into the methodology and progress of the GMG Safe Mixed Fleet Operations Underground project and the Kiteshield consortium—two collaborative efforts building a foundation for real-world industry solutions.

Rewriting the Rules: Strategic Thinking in Mine Design

(Part of the GMG “Rethinking Mine Design” Initiative)

Mine design is a powerful—but often underleveraged—driver of long-term performance. This session explores how shifting the way we approach mine design—from isolated technical planning to integrated, strategic thinking—can unlock significant gains in efficiency, adaptability, and value.

It’s not just about new tools or technologies—it’s about rethinking assumptions and aligning design decisions with broader operational, innovation, and sustainability goals. Achieving this shift will take more than individual effort. It will require a collaborative industry-wide mindset change, where companies work together to challenge legacy norms and build a shared foundation for future-ready design.

Working Session | Achieving Value Through New Technology: Are you Ready?

Industry is striving to increase productivity with improved safety and environmental performance. New technologies are emerging and mining companies are committed to progress within the next few years. What will it take to be prepared to embrace new technologies and processes? We need to work together and help build the new paradigm for mine operations.

Innovation Spotlight

Schemon: Delivering Faster, Cost Effective, and More Reliable Enterprise Data Analytics

Enterprise data teams often face a critical collaboration challenge: data analysts excel at understanding data and business logic but typically lack deep technical skills, while data engineers are strong in engineering but less familiar with the business context. This disconnect can lead to inefficiencies, misaligned expectations, and slow delivery of insights.
Schemon provides a data analytics platform that allows data analysts to focus on business logic while the platform handles engineering best practices automatically. It also includes AI-driven assistance that explains the technical implementation, helping analysts understand why engineering concepts matter and closing the knowledge gap between analysts and engineers.
With Schemon, enterprises achieve faster, cost effective, and more reliable data pipelines, improving performance and accelerating insights. I will share a real-world example where Schemon reduced manual data wrangling by 40%-90% and improved trust in data, delivering clear and measurable business value.

Innovation Spotlight

Hyperspectral Intelligence Across the Mine Lifecycle

The presentation will focus on the application of imaging technologies in mineral discovery, highlighting the transformative role of hyperspectral imaging in both exploration and production. I’ll share real-world examples where Scient’s platform has been used to identify critical minerals and directly inform exploration and production planning.

Innovation Spotlight

From Energy Supplier Bills to Operational Wins: What Mining Sites Can Learn from Their Invoices

Panel | Innovation in Action: Deploying New Technologies for Tangible Results

Innovation in mining is now defined by real-world impact. This panel will showcase cutting-edge technologies and new approaches—such as advanced sensors, robotics, and integrated platforms—that are improving safety, productivity, and sustainability across mining operations. Panelists will share lessons learned from implementation, the organizational changes needed to drive innovation, and the value of strong industry collaboration. Whether it’s accelerating pilot-to-production timelines or rethinking traditional methods, this session will offer insights into what’s working—and why.

Panelists to date:

Justin Lustik, Mine Business Improvement and Projects General Supervisor, Agnico Eagle
Laura Mottola, Regional Co-Representative – Latin America & Advisory Board Member, Sustainable Minerals Institute, ICE-Chile (Moderator)
Lazarus Bishop, Mines Operations Technology Project Leader, Glencore
Lenin Dubon, Underground Automation Product Manager, Epiroc
Sebastian Cerda, Corporate Technology Manager, Enaex

June 11 (AM) | Decarbonization and Electrification: The Path Forward

BEV TCO Real World Analysis

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis between two Angico Eagle mine sites in Quebec operating fleets of MacLean 975 Scissor Bolters and MacLean Boom Trucks. One operates a diesel fleet, and one operates a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) fleet. Is it true that BEVs costs less to operate than diesels? What does the data tell us?

Integrating Energy into Operational Strategy

Energy is now a frontline operational priority. This session explores how mining operations are identifying and acting on site-wide opportunities to improve performance through energy management. As industry collaboration grows through the GMG project, the focus is on sharing insights and building common approaches to drive faster, broader impact.

Working Session | Decarbonization: Working Together on Practical Solutions

Now only 5 years away from 2030, what is it going to take to achieve those emissions targets and beyond? During this working session participants will work together to identify practical solutions to achieve success.

BEV Deployment

Torex Gold made the bold step to commit to BEV equipment for its new Media Luna mine. Since the decision in 2021, the BEV journey for Torex has arrived at the fleet implementation stage. This presentation will share the learnings gathered along the way, the support from the OEMs and the first performance indicators.

BEVs – Where They Work and Where They Don’t

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) have become a popular trade-off option for many mining projects and operations due to their health and safety benefits, greenhouse gas reductions, ventilation requirements, and potential performance benefits. When considering BEVs for a mining operation or project there are many site-specific characteristics and challenges that may arise with BEV implementation. It is important to understand the entirety of the mine infrastructure when considering BEVs to ensure projects proceed in the correct direction understanding all impact areas.

Abstract continued

This presentation will highlight various case studies that from actual mining projects and operations. The case studies will range from early-stage study work to operation. The cases will include various mine access methods, material handling methods, mine depths, throughput requirements, and other site-specific challenges that require consideration in the BEV decision making process.

Outputs and recommendations from the various cases will be discussed including present cost assessments, implementation successes and flaws, and impact on carbon emissions.

Panel | Unlocking Brownfield Potential: Reimagining Existing Assets in Underground Mining

How can we breathe new life into brownfield operations by rethinking how we use existing infrastructure, systems, and expertise? This panel brings together leaders from ABB, Vale, and Sandvik to explore the untapped value in today’s underground mines—where reuse, retrofitting, and operational knowledge can deliver rapid gains in efficiency, safety, and sustainability. From electrification to automation to systems integration, the panel will highlight practical pathways for deploying proven solutions and smart strategies in legacy environments.

Panelists:

Alex Willows, Business Line Manager for Loaders and Trucks, Sandvik
André Barriault, Product and Application Specialist – Electrification, Epiroc
Cedric Laney, Manager Mining Technology and Innovaion, Vale
Emily Thorn Corthay, Found & CEO, Thorn Associates (Moderator)
Sachin A. Jari, General Manager – Mining North America, ABB

June 11 (PM) | Seamless Operations: Achieving Value through Full Site Integration

From Sample to Strategy: Unlocking Value with Better Geomet Data

Geometallurgy is essential for linking orebody knowledge to operational performance—but its impact is often constrained by gaps in sampling strategy and inconsistent data reporting. When samples don’t reflect the true variability of the orebody, or when test results are difficult to interpret and compare, the value of geomet data is diminished—limiting its ability to inform planning, processing, and performance optimization.

This session explores how the industry can close these gaps by advancing more strategic, fit-for-purpose sampling approaches and embracing standardized reporting practices that make data more usable across teams and sites. As part of this effort, GMG is developing industry guidance on representative sampling and common data reporting to support better decision-making, stronger models, and more integrated mine-to-mill performance.

The Digital Backbone: A Lifecycle Approach to Underground Communications

As underground mines become more connected and data-driven, communications infrastructure has become the backbone of modern mining systems—enabling safety, automation, real-time decision-making, and operational integration. But making the right infrastructure choices—and sustaining them—requires a long-term, strategic approach.

This session explores the development of best practices for managing underground communications infrastructure across its full lifecycle—from planning and technology selection to implementation, operation, maintenance, and eventual upgrade or replacement. Drawing from the collective insights of the GMG Underground Communications Infrastructure Guideline project, we’ll highlight key considerations and lessons learned to support more effective, future-ready systems.

Working Session | Shifting to a Systems Approach to Mine Design and Operations

Adopting a systems-based approach can transform mine design and operations, improving efficiency, sustainability, risk management, and long-term value, while fostering greater resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing industry. Participants will define key elements such as data integration, stakeholder collaboration, operational flexibility, and consideration of environmental and social factors, and explore how these elements work together to create a more holistic approach.

Harnessing AI & Performance Visualization in the Offshore Oil & Gas Drilling Sector

For decades, offshore drilling has been on the forefront of new technologies to manage risk, improve operations and make the lives of the men and women offshore safer and easier. Noble Drilling, a leading drilling company based in Houston, has adopted Interknowlogy’s AI industrial agent, IK-CADDI, across its 40+ rigs and corporate functions to build the offshore drilling company of the future. This presentation will walk through the origins, expansion and evolution of this partnership and will include case studies, demonstrations and insights as to where AI is going next. 

Time Usage, KPIs, and Smarter Fleet Decisions

How productive is your fleet—really? Without consistent definitions and time classifications, mining operations struggle to get clear answers to fundamental questions about equipment use, availability, and performance. This session explores how a standardized Time Usage Model, including key KPIs and an at-face utilization framework, is helping surface and underground mines gain clearer visibility into equipment performance. Learn how common language and consistent metrics across sites, systems, and teams can enable more confident decision-making, better internal benchmarking, and deeper insights into where performance gains are possible.

Developing Technology Road Maps

My presentation will explore the strategic development of technology roadmaps for underground mining operations, addressing the unique challenges of the underground environment and methodologies for effective needs assessment.

Panel | Systems-Level Thinking: Making Technology Work Across the Mine

As operations grow more complex, delivering value from technology requires more than isolated solutions—it demands a connected approach. This panel explores how taking a systems view across the mine—from processes to platforms to people—can turn innovation into operational advantage. Panelists will share how strategic alignment, integrated processes, and cross-functional coordination are critical to making technology deliver at scale.

Panelists to date:

Greg Sandblom, Superintendent Innovation Technology, Glencore
Paige Clarke, Business Improvement Specialist, Agnico Eagle
Peter Sundqvist, Senior Systems Specialist, Boliden Mines Technology
Trevor Kelly, Innovation Manager – Mining, ReThink Mining (Moderator)

Speakers

Alexander Hemmingsen, Principal Engineer, Torex Gold Resources Inc

A professional mining engineer with 20 years of experience across the Americas, Alex has worked a variety of large and small companies including Capstone, Goldcorp, Vale and Deswik.  He now works at Torex Gold where for the past 3 years he has been leading the design group for the study pipeline of future Torex mining projects.

Alex Willows, Business Line Manager – Loaders and Trucks, Sandvik Mining Canada

Alex has a had a career with Sandvik Mining during the past 18 years and has held various roles in engineering, product sales support and business line development. Alex has been involved in a number of decarbonizing underground mining projects here in Canada with Sandvik’s battery electric product line-up.  Alex has a background in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Alexander Lenz, Product Manager – Electrification, MacLean Engineering

Alex Lenz is MacLean Engineering’s Electrification Product Manager based out of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. With Alex’s background as a Red Seal Licensed Electrician, Alex was MacLeans first BEV technician. In almost 10 years with MacLeans, Alex has served in numerous departments helping build, test, train, deploy and support the over 100 Battery Electric Vehicles across the globe. Alex is passionate in ensuring that the BEVs are built to the highest industry standards in safety, quality, and reliability.

Alexandra Voronchikhina, Head of Section Mine Planning, Boliden

With 17 years of experience in the mining industry, Alexandra has developed a deep expertise in both open pit and underground mining operations. Her career spans multiple countries, including Russia, Norway, and Sweden, where she has gained valuable international experience.

She has held a wide range of roles, starting as a Dispatch Assistant and advancing through various engineering positions to her current expertise in Mine Planning. Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in the development and implementation of Total Underground Mining (TUM) strategies across all Boliden sites, contributing to operational improvements and safety standards.

A passionate advocate for both mining and the people within the industry, Alexandra is dedicated to advancing practices that enhance the industry’s efficiency and the well-being of those who work in it.

André Barriault, Product and Application Specialist - Electrification, Epiroc

André is a graduate of the Electronics Engineering Technology program at College Boreal in Sudbury. . He joined the Automation and Electrical team at Epiroc in 2005 where he completed his apprenticeship and became a licenced Industrial Electrician. In this role, he was heavily involved in the very first battery electrification projects at Epiroc, converting the first Scooptrams and MInetrucks from diesel to battery electric. He is now proud to be in the role of Product and Application Specialist – Electrification, spreading the word about the benefits of electrification.

Brian Jin, Founder and CEO, Schemon

Brian Jin is the Founder and CEO of Schemon, a platform designed to help enterprise data teams accelerate analytics delivery by combining business logic automation with engineering best practices. Brian has 15 years of experience in the data industry, spanning data modeling, data engineering, and data architecture. Most recently, he worked at a global beverage company in the US, where he led the global data platform team in designing, implementing, and supporting reliable and scalable solutions. Brian is currently working with a leading client in the mining industry. Schemon was born out of the ongoing and repeated challenges Brian has encountered throughout his career. He is passionate about bridging the gap between data analysts and engineers, helping enterprises achieve sustainable and scalable analytics, and providing analysts with practical training to strengthen their technical understanding. 

Cedric Laney, Manager Mining Technology and Innovation, Vale

Bio to come

Chamirai C. Nyabeze, VP of Business Development, Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and Network Director, MICA

Chamirai Charles Nyabeze is a holder of a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering and an MBA. In his role as the VP of Business Development at the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and as the Network Director for the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network, he has built a solid reputation for crafting enduring value for both organizations and clients. With his expertise, Chamirai is a master at spotting business development opportunities across both public and private sectors, with a focus on revenue generation, fund leveraging, collaborative cultivation, and network expansion.

Leading the way for CEMI’s Commercialization Support Services division, Chamirai adeptly guides clients in bridging the crucial gap between pioneering mining technologies and their successful commercialization. Beyond this, as the MICA Network Director, Chamirai is a driving force behind the national collaborative platform dedicated to ushering innovation into the mining industry. His responsibilities encompass ecosystem engagement, project facilitation, operational excellence, government interactions, and revenue enhancement for the network.

Christian Grante, Senior Specialist - Autonomous Vehicle Systems, Combitech

Christian Grante is a Senior Specialist in Autonomous Vehicle Systems at Saab Combitech, currently acting as Head of the KiteShield initiative. With a distinguished career in vehicle and machine automation, Christian has made significant contributions to both Saab and Volvo, where he held key positions such as Director of Automation and Artificial Intelligence, Director of Emerging Technologies, and Architect of Autonomous Solutions. He holds a PhD in Complex Safety Critical Systems from Linköping University and a Master’s degree in Automation from Georgia Tech. At the GMG forum, Christian presents the Mixed Traffic Project, drawing on his extensive expertise in advance safety and automation.

Christian Munga, Manager, Geometallurgy, Vale

Christian Munga is Manager Geometallurgy at Vale SA and has more than 15 years of experience in the mining industry. He specializes in mining projects, including the design and management of metallurgical test work programs, process flowsheet design, geometallurgical studies, process engineering, study management, project management and plant operations. Christian has previously worked with Ausenco, Kinross, Worley Parsons SA, and AngloGold Ashanti. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering.

Christian Quirion, Senior Advisor, Mining Systems & Technology, Agnico Eagle

Christian Quirion holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has been with Agnico Eagle since 1997. Throughout his career, he has played a key role in several major projects, beginning as a Designer and Project Engineer contributing to the construction of the Laronde Penna shaft and underground mine infrastructures.

Since 2010, he has served in various superintendent roles within maintenance, demonstrating expertise in maintaining and optimizing a wide range of systems, including mobile equipment, fixed plant, electrical systems, hoisting, mine cooling, and fleet automation. His leadership extended to new mine projects in Nunavut, where he oversaw the startup of the Meliadine project in 2017 and the Amaruq project in 2020 as Maintenance Superintendent.

Currently, he serves as Senior Advisor for Mining Systems & Technology at Agnico Eagle’s Corporate Technical Services group, providing strategic leadership in mine automation, fleet management systems, fleet electrification, hoisting, and material hauling systems.

David Arkell, President & CEO, 360 Energy

Bio to come

Emily Thorn Corthay, Founder & CEO, Thorn Associates

Emily Thorn Corthay, MASc., P.Eng, CEM, CMVP, is Founder & CEO of Thorn Associates, a Canadian industrial decarbonization and energy management consulting corporation specializing in the mining & metals sector. Awarded the 2025 Canada’s Clean50 Leadership in Sustainability Award as well as the 2020 International Energy Engineer of the Year by the Association of Energy Engineers Award, Emily has helped her clients to implement over $100M in energy savings and >500,000 tCO2e reduction. In the past 2 years alone, Emily and her team at Thorn Associates have helped clients with a total market capitalization of $171 Billion across 47 facilities in 16 countries transition to the low carbon economy including developing decarbonization plans for 5% of global gold mining.

Prior to founding Thorn Associates in 2017, Emily was Director of Energy Optimization and Management at Hatch Ltd., an international engineering consulting firm, and before Hatch worked in the fuel cell industry for 5 years. Emily was an elected Director of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) Board (2016-2019) whose volunteer impacts were recognized with Emily being selected for the 2021 OSPE President’s Volunteer Award, and she is Past Chair of the (OSPE’s) Energy Task Force.

Greg Sandblom, Superintendent Innovation Technology, Glencore

Greg is an accomplished IT professional with a wealth of experience in the mining industry. Having joined Glencore in 1995, he currently serves as the Mines Innovation and Technology Program lead for Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, where his focus is on delivering sustainable technology adoption among employees.

Greg’s previous position as Glencore Sudbury’s IT manager allows him to bring a blend of technical and practical experience to his role as a leader in digital innovation. At the core of Greg’s work is the deployment of cutting-edge solutions for Sudbury’s Onaping Depth Project at Craig Mine, which is set to become the deepest mine in the Sudbury region.  As a member of Glencore’s digital innovation team, Greg aims to enhance operational excellence and bring sustained value through the implementation of Connected Mine technology and automation at depth.

Justin Lustik, Mine Business Improvement and Projects General Supervisor, Agnico Eagle

Justin Lustik is a mining engineer focused on driving operational improvements and integrating new technologies within the mining sector. Over his 15-year career, he has led initiatives such as operationalizing autonomous vehicles, implementing fleet management systems, and developing sustainable technology roadmaps for mine sites. Now Strategic Optimization Superintendent at Agnico Eagle’s Meliadine Mine, he concentrates on delivering sustainable business optimization and cost reduction initiatives.

He looks forward to sharing practical insights and lessons learned in his presentation, “From Data to Dispatch: Implementing a Cost-Effective Control Room and Active Dispatching Strategies”.

 Outside of mining, Justin, a McGill grad, satisfies his sense of adventure by travelling with his family and hitting the trails with his Labrador, Phoenix.

Kirk Petroski, Founder and Executive Chairman, SYMX.AI

Kirk Petroski, Founder and Executive Chairman of SYMX.AI (formerly Symboticware), has deep roots in Northern Ontario and over 30 years of experience in the mining industry and mining technology. He is an Associate Mentor with Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Minerals, an Advisor to several mining tech start-ups, and a past president of MineConnect and was active in GMG in its beginnings. Kirk has extensive experience leading and supporting industry and government funded collaborations with a focus on bringing technology development to commercialization. SYMX.AI the company that Kirk founded in 2008 is a leader in industrial IoT, enterprise operations software and AI for mobile asset optimization which helps mining companies with productivity improvements, fuel and emissions reduction, lowering maintenance costs and equipment downtime.

Laura Mottola, Regional Co-Representative - Latin America & Advisory Board Member, Sustainable Minerals Institute, ICE-Chile

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.

Lazarus Bishop, Mines Operations Technology Project Leader, Glencore

Lazarus is a Technology Professional with 15 years of mining and smelting experience, including extensive experience in operations, continuous improvement, and applying technology to drive value.   Currently leading Glencore’s Connected Mine program for the Onaping Depth Project,  deploying advanced digital technologies to enable a safe and productive next generation mine.

Lenin Dubon, Underground Automation Product Manager, Epiroc

Bio to come

He looks forward to sharing practical insights and lessons learned in his presentation, “From Data to Dispatch: Implementing a Cost-Effective Control Room and Active Dispatching Strategies”.

 Outside of mining, Justin, a McGill grad, satisfies his sense of adventure by travelling with his family and hitting the trails with his Labrador, Phoenix.

Liv Carroll, Managing Director - EMEA Mining Lead, Global Data & AI Lead for Natural Resources, Accenture

Liv is a Managing Director of Accenture based in the UK, serving as the EMEA Mining Lead; Global Natural Resources Lead for Data & AI; and Accenture’s Global Mining Network Lead. She is also a Director on the Board of the Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG).

With over 20 years’ experience in exploration, mining, metals and quarrying, Liv collaborates with C-suite and client teams along the entire value chain and across functions. She effectively communicates between domains, utilizing her knowledge of business, geoscience, mining, sustainability, and digital. Liv drives innovation and partnerships as essential catalysts for achieving operational excellence, cost transformation, responsible mining and circularity. Liv integrates digital technologies, data, and AI to rethink workflows, crucial for both realizing value and reducing risks, targeting safe operations, sustainability, productivity, and profitability.

Liv prioritises inclusivity and is dedicated to fostering an environment for people to contribute and grow – everyone brings value to the table. Liv’s commitment to driving change goes beyond the day job; she has been a Director on the Board of GMG since 2022 and supports the next generation as a scrutineer for Chartership at the Geological Society.

Liv’s previous experience includes technical and advisory roles with engineering and environmental consulting companies, providing services to public and private mineral explorers; mining and metals operators; private equity firms; debt financiers; and government bodies. Liv holds an MSc in Mineral Project Appraisal from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College; a BSc (Hons) in Geology from Durham University; and has completed executive courses in Behavioural Science & Decision Making at the London School of Economics & Political Science and Circular Economy – Sustainable Materials Management at Delft University of Technology.

Masoud Aali, Founder & CEO, Scient Analytics

Bio to come.

Michael Hartley, Managing Director Mining & Energy, InterKnowlogy

Michael has 25+ global experience across mining, energy, construction and manufacturing. He operates at the intersection of performance management, human factors and technology to design, maintain and scale safe, reliable and sustainable decision-making environments up and down large, complex organizations.

Michelle Levesque, Engineering Technical Lead, Natural Resources Canada

Michelle Levesque is the engineering technical lead for the BEV team at NRCan-CanmetMINING. Michelle is a chemist and holds a master’s and a PhD degree in natural resources engineering. Focusing on the development of tools and technologies for improving efficiencies with the mining sector, Michelle has worked on various projects aiming to improve energy efficiency and decarbonisation in mining.

Paige Clarke, Business Improvement Specialist, Agnico Eagle

Paige Clarke holds the title of Business Improvement Specialist, Ontario Region for Agnico Eagle Mines. She is a Mining Engineer and holds an MBA specializing in Artificial Intelligence Management. Paige is from Kirkland Lake, where she started her career in underground mining. In her current role she supports mines with development of technology roadmaps and change management.  

Peter Sundqvist, Senior Systems Specialist, Boliden Mines Technology

With over 25 years of experience working with various IT systems, and the last 20 years within Boliden, mainly focusing on production systems. For the past 12 years, I have been part of the Boliden Technology – Planning Department as the system owner of Boliden’s production control systems. Peter and his team, in collaboration with consultants, have developed and implemented a new system for SIC, including surrounding support systems for real-time reporting in connected underground mines. They have also created a standard dashboard for Power BI reports, including KPI and TUM measurements.

Ron Bose, Principal Engineer and CEM, XPS-Glencore

Ron is a Professional Engineer and a Certified Energy Manager.

Providing Innovation & Technology solutions to underground mines both inside and outside of Glencore, his day to day is to implement initiatives to improve productivity by better resource management and nurturing the creation of information from data.
His mantra is People ← Process ← Technology.

Ryan Lafreniere, Mining Engineer, Hatch

Ryan is a mining engineer with over 10 years of mining related experience predominantly in hard rock underground mines. He has completed several projects incorporating electrification technology and recently held the position of program lead for Vale’s Green Energy Vehicle Program. He also specializes in dynamic simulation having completed numerous underground ore and waste handling models for mines ranging from small scale cut and fill to large block caves.

Sachin A. Jari, General Manager - Mining North America, ABB

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 focussed versatile leader with 30 years of success in business P&L management, sales & marketing, customer service, operations, project management & detailed engineering.

Sanket Patel, Program Manager - Mining Technology and Innovation, Vale

Sanket Patel was appointed as Program Manager of Green Energy Vehicle Program at Vale Base Metals since 2022.  Prior to this role, Sanket had various leadership roles which included managing Capital and Shutdown projects within Vale for 4 years. Sanket brings a multidisciplinary background and exposure as he worked in oil pipelines, construction projects–industrial, underground and also has operating experience at an Open pit limestone mine. He holds an academic record in Engineering with Masters, Bachelors and Technician degrees in Mining engineering.

Sebastian Cerda, Corporate Technology Manager, Enaex

I am an Electrical Engineer with a major in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, and I hold a master’s degree in data Analysis and AI. With over 12 years of experience driving innovation in the mining industry, I have led projects in software development, cloud architecture, AI applications, robotics, and automation. I have extensive experience modernizing mining data acquisition systems and developing mine-to-mill technical and commercial solutions. My work focuses on integrating cutting-edge technologies to solve complex industrial challenges and enhance operational efficiency. 

Trevor Kelly, Innovation Manager - Mining, ReThink Mining

Trevor has a passion for operating excellence and helping the mining industry adopt/leverage transformational mining and industrial technologies. Which includes process efficiencies and effectiveness, to reach full potential results.

Trevor is well-connected with a global network of mining companies, subject matter experts (SME) and strategic partnerships including Rethink Mining, EY Center of Excellence and others.

Trevor has worked with some of the largest mining companies in their respective commodities, Barrick Gold, Cameco, BHP Billiton, Teck and Homestake. He has accumulated over 25 years of international open pit and underground mining experience focusing on technical service, operational execution, and asset optimization.

Formerly the global director of mining at Barrick Gold Corporation and has provided technical and operational support to 15+ operating and project sites worldwide.

Organizing Committee

Related Events

June 12 AM | Time Usage Model For Underground Mining Workshop (In-Person)

June 12, 2025 | 8am – 12 pm | Sudbury, ON, Canada

Join us for an in-person workshop focused on refining the Equipment Time Usage Model and At-Face Classification Framework for underground mining operations.

This session, led by Boliden’s Alexandra Voronchikhina and Agnico Eagle’s Justin Lustik, is part of a new global effort to advance GMG’s project work through in-person collaboration. We will review the working drafts of these models, ensuring alignment with surface equipment time tracking and improving classification frameworks for underground operational activities. Your input will help shape a more consistent approach to performance analysis and benchmarking across the mining industry.

Click here for full details and to register.

June 12 PM | Framework for Safe Mixed Fleet Operations in Underground Mining Workshop (In-Person)

June 12, 2025 | 1 pm – 4 pm | Sudbury, ON, Canada

Join us for a session shaping GMG’s Framework for Safe Mixed Fleet Operations in Underground Mining work. Led by Christian Grante, Senior Specialist – Autonomous Vehicle Systems, Combitech and GMG Project Co-lead, this workshop will introduce the Industry Applications and Ecosystems white papers, two of the deliverables for this initiative.

Click here for more information and to register.

GMG Events

Join us at another one of our webinars or workshops. Click here to see the calendar of events.

GMG SUDBURY FORUM

June 10-11, 2025

Schedule

Peter Sundkvist

Justin Lustik

Liv Carroll

Christian Grante

(Part of the GMG “Rethinking Mine Design” Initiative)

Ron Bose

Innovation Spotlight

Schemon: Delivering Faster, Cost Effective, and More Reliable Enterprise Data Analytics

Brian Jin

Innovation Spotlight

Hyperspectral Intelligence Across the Mine Lifecycle

Masoud Aali

Innovation Spotlight

From Energy Supplier Bills to Operational Wins: What Mining Sites Can Learn from Their Invoices

David Arkell

Christian Quirion

Alexander Lenz

Emily Thorn Corthay

Ron Bose

Michelle Levesque

Alexander Hemmingsen

Sanket Patel

Ryan Lafreniere

Christian Munga

Ron Bose

Michael Hartley

Alexandra Voronchikhina

Justin Lustik

Paige Clarke

Speakers

Alexander Hemmingsen

Alex Willows

Alexander Lenz

Alexandra Voronchikhina

André Barriault

Brian Jin

Cedric Laney

Chamirai C. Nyabeze

Christian Grante

Christian Munga

Christian Quirion

David Arkell

Emily Thorn Corthay

Greg Sandblom

Justin Lustik

Kirk Petroski

Laura Mottola

Lazarus Bishop

Lenin Dubon

Liv Carroll

Masoud Aali

Michael Hartley

Michelle Levesque

Paige Clarke

Peter Sundqvist

Ron Bose

Ryan Lafreniere

Sachin A. Jari

Sanket Patel

Sebastian Cerda

Trevor Kelly

Organizing Committee

Alexander Lenz

Brendan Skiffington

Cedric Laney

Christian Quirion

Ron Bose

Steve Gravel

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