Plenary session
SPEAKERS
Gord Gilpin: Head of Mining Operations - Ontario - Base Metals, Vale
Gord has over 19 years and counting in the mining industry and has a degree in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo and is a Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario. He joined Vale in 2005 as a Project Manager in our Surface Plants Projects Management Office in Sudbury. Since then, he has taken on leadership roles of increasing responsibility at the Copper Cliff Smelter, including Maintenance Superintendent, Maintenance Manager, Operations Manager and Manager of the Smelter Complex. He has since been Head of Processing Operations, North Atlantic Operations, and most recently Head of Mining Operations, Ontario, Base Metals. He is driven to improve worker safety, productions rates and implement innovative technologies.
Josée Cyr: Director of Technical Services, Agnico Eagle Mines
Josée Cyr is originally from Havre-Saint-Pierre, a little village in Quebec where mining is the most important economic activity. Following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, she is the third generation in her family to work in the mining industry, having graduated as a mining engineer from Laval University in 2004. Prior to this, she had also completed a three-year course in Mining Technology with a specialization in operations, from the Collège de Thetford.
Her first job in the mining industry was as a junior production engineer for Xstrata Zinc at Brunswick Mines, in New Brunswick. In late 2005, she transferred to the Raglan Site, for Xstrata Nickel, as a junior engineer for the Katinniq underground mine, then as underground mine supervisor and finally as a development engineer. In 2008, she returned to Havre-Saint-Pierre, as Mine Superintendent for the open pit at Rio Tinto’s Tio Lake operation. In 2016, she joined Agnico Eagle, as the Mining Superintendent of Technical Services.
She currently holds the position of Technical Services Director at Agnico Eagle, and since 2019, has been leading a team of technical professionals in geology, mining, infrastructure, metallurgy, water management, permitting, geotechnics, and project development. This team not only supports studies and the Mineral Reserves & Mineral Resources updates, but also innovation initiatives, pilot plants, operations with technical challenges, laboratory testing, implementation of new software, etc.
In 2018, she became the president of the Rock Excavation network of experts for the MISA group with the mandate to stimulate innovation in the mining industry.
Shannon Katary: Communications Advisor, Corporate Affairs, North Atlantic Operations, Vale
Shannon Katary has 17 years and counting in Strategic Marketing and Communications in the Global Mining Industry and is the Communications Advisor for Corporate Affairs - North Atlantic Operations at Vale. Previously, the Corporate Affairs - Advisor for Vale's Ontario Operations. As a member of the Corporate Affairs & Sustainability team, she coordinates internal communications for the North Atlantic Operations; manages Vale's Socio-environmental investments for Ontario Operations; supports public and media relations in developing strategic internal and external facing communications, special projects and events.
Formerly, the Director of Marketing & Communications of Maestro Digital Mine. At Maestro she managed and developed the strategic branding, media relations and marketing for Sales. Previously, held the position of Vice President of Marketing & Communications for CEMI - Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation and the Ultra Deep Mining Network.
She is a lifelong volunteer and avid mountain biker and rower. She is the past Co-Chair of MMTS – Modern Mining & Technology Sudbury, dedicated to inspiring the next generation to pursue a career in mining and STEM. She is also the recipient of the CIM – Bedford Canadian Young Leaders in Mining Award.
Peter Xavier: Vice President, Sudbury Integrated Nickel operations, a Glencore Company
Peter Xavier is Vice President of Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (Sudbury INO).
Sudbury INO consists of an exploration group, two underground mines, concentrator, smelter and Port facilities. Peter is also responsible for project investment developing the Craig Mine - Onaping Depth Project, the Nickel Rim Depth/Extension project, and the Smelter environmental projects in the town of Falconbridge.
A graduate of Laurentian University’s Mining Engineering program, Peter is currently past chair on the Board of the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), on the Board of the Canadian Mining Innovation Council (CMIC), on the Board at Laurentian University, a Warden of Camp 22, which oversees the engineering oath and iron ring ceremony, and on the Kivi Park Board.
Previously, Peter was a Board member of the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), the Ultra Deep Mining Network (UDMN) and a Board member of the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) – Sudbury Chapter.
MODERATOR
Conway Fraser: President and CEO, Fraser Torosay
Conway Fraser is a bestselling crisis communications author, award-winning former investigative journalist, and counsel to executive leaders in more than a dozen countries.
Conway works with senior leaders, aligning with their objectives and helping them change their external and internal narrative. This alignment of objectives protects and enhances their reputations in the highly volatile court of public opinion. Conway’s communications coaching sessions, meanwhile, are considered by many to be the best in class, having been given to thousands of people over the past decade. He is co-author of the 2020 Amazon international bestselling book Leaders Under Fire: The CEO’s Survival Guide to Navigating Corporate Crisis.
In a previous life, Conway was a journalist at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He travelled the country and world, covering everything from Prime Ministers to the Olympics. He was recognized with many journalism awards including a prestigious Gemini Award for investigative journalism. In 2009, he walked away from journalism and started Fraser Torosay.
Conway and his company are active in the charitable and non-profit sectors where they do pro bono work on an ongoing basis. Conway is also a Board Member and Chairs of both the Governance and Digital Transformation Committees with TVO, Ontario’s public broadcaster and curator of digital education content.