The Mines and Environment 2025 conference will feature a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers who are leading the way in sustainable mining practices and environmental management. These experts will provide in-depth insights into key areas such as water treatment, mine site rehabilitation, and the evolving relationship between environmental practices and governance.
Monday, June 9th
Geochemistry and Mine Water Treatment
Learn about the advances in geochemistry and mine water treatment, focusing on technologies that improve water management and sustainability.
Bill Price
Environmental Scientist at Natural Resources Canada
Career Summary
Bill Price has a Ph.D. in Soil Science from University of British Columbia and works for Natural Resources Canada. Past work on the prediction and mitigation of metal leaching and acidic drainage (ML/ARD) at mine sites includes having been a mine regulator in British Columbia and author of various ML/ARD guidelines. Present activities include coordination and review of research, organization of the annual BC Mine Reclamation Symposium, teaching courses, creating the technical program for the BC ML/ARD workshop, creating a professional practice advisory, and member of a public advisory committee at a local mine.
Monday, June 9th
Mine Waste Management and Reclamation
Discover strategies for managing and recovering value from mining discharges, demonstrating how modern practices can create opportunities for both environmental and economic gains.
Nilo Consoli
Professor and Head of Graduate Program in Civil Engineering at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Career Summary
Professor and Head of the Civil Engineering Program at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) – Brazil. Professor Consoli has 302 peer-reviewed articles listed on SCOPUS (10,138 citations and h-index = 56). He ranks among the 0.70% most influential scientists in the world (for his entire career), according to a study conducted by Stanford University in 2024. Innovation consultant for VALE S.A. (Brazilian mining company) and PETROBRAS (Brazilian oil company). D. in Civil Engineering from Concordia University (Canada), and sabbaticals at Oxford University, the University of Western Australia, Imperial College London and the University of Bristol.
Editorial roles: Associate Editor of the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (ASCE) and Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. Editorial board member of the Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Geosynthetics International and Transportation Geotechnics.
Professor Consoli has expertise in geomechanics and environmental perspectives (including the pillars of sustainability). His work focuses on laboratory and field testing, tailings management, development of tailings-based cements for geomaterial stabilization, nanotechnology, constitutive modeling and numerical simulation of specialized earthworks.
Tuesday, June 10th
Reclamation and Revegetation of Mining Sites
Examine the latest research on mine site restoration and the vital role of vegetation in rehabilitation, presenting new strategies that foster biodiversity and ecosystem recovery.
Craig Benson
Dean of Engineering Emeritus, University of Virginia, Wisconsin Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Career Summary
Craig H. Benson is an international authority on waste containment for a broad variety of waste streams. He has conducted translational research and consulting on a range of waste containment and sustainability issues for nearly four decades. Benson served as Dean of Engineering at the University of Virginia and in various leadership roles at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before entering emeritus status. Benson is a Professional Engineer, Past-President of the ASCE Geo-Institute, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Tuesday, June 10th
Environment, Society and Governance
Discuss the evolving relationship between environmental practices, societal expectations, and governance, guiding mining companies toward long-term sustainable success.
Amélie Rouleau
Director – Public Affairs, Communications and Community Engagement at Mine Raglan
Career Summary
Employed at Raglan Mine since 2008, Amélie Rouleau has held many roles from risk management to her current role as director of public affairs and community engagement at Raglan Mine in Nunavik.
Her portfolio includes the improvement and establishment of practices in regards to Raglan Mine’s communications, governance, and relations with its Inuit stakeholders as well as different governments.
Raised in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Rouleau was rapidly aware of the importance of working closely with Inuit communities to build and sustain Raglan Mine’s social license to operate. She has created a process wherein the Inuit communities feel that they have a voice and are engaged in improving the operational, environmental and social practices together. She has initiated several changes with the Raglan Committee, for which she acted as general secretary since 2013 and as chairman in 2018. Rouleau also participated in the design and implementation of participatory consultations and engagement for the Sivumut project, which is expected to support the future of Raglan Mine for the next 25 years. She has played an instrumental role to renew Raglan Mine’s engagement of the Raglan Agreement with its Inuit partners.
