Event
Cobalt Conference 2022 – Powering the Green Economy
17/05/2022
- 18/05/2022
Hyatt Regency, The Circle Convention Center Zurich, Switzerland
This year, the Cobalt Conference “Powering the Green Economy” will look at the role of cobalt in powering the Green Economy and ensuring a sustainable future. The Conference will focus on four themes: the cobalt market, cobalt as a global resource, the just transition, and the circular economy. For the first time in two years, all stakeholders will gather in person to discuss the latest trends in the cobalt industry and reconnect at social events in Zurich.
Agenda
- 16 May 2022 (all times CET) – Circle Convention Center
- 17 May 2022 – Circle Convention Center
- 18 May 2022 – Circle Convention Center
| 16.30 | Conference Registration Opens |
| 18.00-20.00 | Welcome reception |
| 09.00-09.30 | Breakfast |
| 09.30-10.00 |
Welcome The Conference will be moderated by Henry Sanderson, Executive Editor, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
|
| 10.00-10.30 |
Keynote Speech
|
| 10.30-12.00 |
Session 1: Overview of the Cobalt Market This session will review the Cobalt Market in 2021, examine the continuing impact of the COVID19 pandemic and other geopolitical developments, and look at the drivers for the market in 2022. Introductory Speaker: Harry Fisher, Senior Analyst Battery Materials, CRU Panel:
|
| 12.00-13.00 | Networking Lunch |
| 13.00-13.30 |
Keynote Speech
|
| 13.30-14.30 |
Session 2: Cobalt as a Global Resource This session will look at the global nature of the Cobalt Market with a particular focus of the geographic diversity of reserves and supply. Introductory Speaker: Kim Shedd, Mineral Commodity Specialist, United States Geological Survey Panel:
|
| 14.30-15.00 |
Keynote Speech
|
| 15.00-15.30 | Coffee Break |
| 15.30-17.00 |
Session 3: Green, Equitable and Just Transition: Cobalt’s Role in Transitioning to a Net Zero World in a Rights-Respectful Manner This session will bring cobalt players together with other key stakeholders to spark a conversation around just transition, and what it means for the cobalt sector specifically. Introductory Speaker: Bettina Reinboth, Director of Human Rights and Social Issues, PRI Panel:
Moderator: Anna Triponel, founder of Human Level |
| 17.00 |
Close of Day One |
| 18.00-19.00 |
Reception, Circle Convention Center |
| 19.00-22.00 |
Conference Dinner, Sonnenberg Restaurant |
| 09.00 – 09.30 | Breakfast |
| 09.30-09.35 |
Welcome
|
| 09.35-10.00 |
Keynote Speech
|
| 10.00-11.30 |
Session 4: Cobalt in the Circular Economy This panel will explore cobalt as highly recyclable material, as an enabler of circular economy and the wider opportunities of taking a circular economy approach across cobalt value chains. Introductory Speaker: Prof Karen Hudson-Edwards, Professor in Sustainable Mining, University of Exeter Panel:
|
| 11.30-12.00 | Interview with Hugh Brown, Documentary Mining Photographer |
| 12.00-12.10 |
Close of Conference |
| 12.10-13.30 |
Networking Lunch |
Speakers
Day 1 – 17 May
Opening keynote speech
His Excellency Julien Paluku Kahongya
Minister of Industry,
Democratic Republic of Congo
ulien Paluku Kahongya currently serves as the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Minister of Industry, a post he has held since September 2019. As Minister of Industry, Paluku oversees cooperation and investment opportunities in industry in the DRC. Paluku is a pioneer of creating a local battery value chain in the DRC and supports efforts directed at achieving these goals. Prior to assuming this position, Paluku, an experienced politician, was the governor of North Kivu in the DRC.
Paluku was also mayor of Beni, DRC where he initiated different infrastructure projects. Prior to this, Paluku was mayor of Butembo, where he also focused on infrastructure, including building a town hall, public parking, a bridge and repairing roads.
Paluku holds a master’s degree in Community Health from the Free University of the Great Lakes Region in Butembo, DRC.
Session 1
Overview of the Cobalt Market
Harry Fisher
Senior Analyst Battery Materials,
CRU
Harry Fisher is a Senior Battery Metals Analyst and leads CRU’s cobalt market analysis. He has been at CRU since 2015, during which time he has covered a variety of commodity markets and given strategic advice to a broad spectrum of CRU’s client. Harry is part of CRU’s Battery Metals team and he currently leads research and analysis of cobalt, lithium ion batteries and electric vehicles. He is based in Brisbane, Australia.
David Brocas
Head Cobalt Trader,
Glencore
David Brocas is Chair of the Cobalt Institute’s Executive Committee and Head Cobalt Trader at Glencore.
Colin Hamilton
Managing Director,
Commodities Research
BMO Capital Markets
Colin Hamilton is a Managing Director and Commodities Analyst for BMO Capital Markets. Based in London, he leads BMO’s market intelligence and price forecasting efforts across base metals, bulk commodities, precious metals and battery raw materials. With a background as a metallurgist, and a strong focus on China and global trade flows, and deep subject knowledge, Colin’s regular publications offer value-added insight on industry developments. Previously he headed up Macquarie’s commodities research team, and before that spent time at CRU in London where he was responsible for steelmaking, iron ore and metallurgical coal cost services.
Greg Miller
Senior Analyst,
Commodities Research
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Gregory Miller is a Senior Analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence specialising primarily on the cobalt and nickel markets. As Senior Analyst, he is responsible for maintaining Benchmark’s independent forecasting services –quarterly subscription offerings for cobalt and nickel, alongside contributing to consultancy projects for major actors across the li-ion battery supply chain. He holds a MA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Durham.
Yanchen Wang
Managing Director,
SMM
Dr Yanchen Wang is the managing director of SMM UK office, which was established in May 2021. Currently He focuses on the base metals market research and SMM overseas business development.
Dr Yanchen Wang is a well-known analyst in the global commodity industry. His areas of expertise include base metals market, coal and power industry, carbon emission market. In recent years, he has extended his research into the battery metals markets. He has visited more than 100 base metals assets around the world. Dr Yanchen Wang has more than 16 years commodity market research experience.
Dr Yanchen Wang is a well-known analyst in the global commodity industry. His areas of expertise include base metals market, coal and power industry, carbon emission market. In recent years, he has extended his research into the battery metals markets. He has visited more than 100 base metals assets around the world. Dr Yanchen Wang has more than 16 years commodity market research experience.
Yanchen has a PhD in Engineering from Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Wouter Ghyoot
Group Sustainability Director,
Umicore, representing GBA
Wouter is Group Director Sustainable Value Chain at Umicore. Graduated as MSc Environmental Engineering from the Catholic University Leuven in 1992. Obtained a PhD Environmental Engineering from the University of Gent in 1998. He joined Umicore in 2000 as Project Leader Environmental Technology and moved into a Product Stewardship role in 2006 for Umicore’s cobalt and nickel business. In 2010 became Commercial Director for metal carboxylates and since 2016 Group Director Sustainable Value Chain.
Key responsibilities include responsible sourcing, decarbonization and product sustainability.
Key responsibilities include responsible sourcing, decarbonization and product sustainability.
Keynote speech
Honourable Paul Kabuswe
Minister of Mines and Minerals Development,
Republic of Zambia
The Honourable Paul Kabuswe serves as the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development in the Government of Zambia. By background, he is a businessman and a political scientist, who holds a Bachelor of science degree in Politics and International Relations.
He was appointed Minister of Mines in September 2021 and is a member of parliament for Chililabombwe, in Zambia’s northern copperbelt.
Session 2
Cobalt as a Global Resource
Kim Shedd
Mineral Commodity Specialist,
United States Geological Survey
Kim Shedd is a mineral commodity specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey
Robert Ellenwood
President,
New Providence Metals Marketing
Mr. Robert Ellenwood, Ph.D. is the President of New Providence Metals Marketing and serves as Director of Marketing for Sherritt International. He brings more than 15 years of experience processing, producing, and marketing nickel and cobalt. Currently, Mr. Ellenwood is accountable for the sales and marketing for all of the nickel and cobalt responsibly produced by Sherritt through its Moa Joint Venture. Prior to his transition to sales and marketing, Mr. Ellenwood worked in research and development, p-CAM development, process optimization, and production support roles in Canada and abroad. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Cobalt Institute and the Executive Committee for the Nickel Institute. Previously, Mr. Ellenwood served on committee positions with the Strategy and Planning Advisory Committee (SPAC), Market Development Working Group (MDWG) and the Battery Taskforce (BTF). He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry and has authored patents and publications in various fields.
Joe Kaderavek
CEO,
Cobalt Blue
Joe has held senior management roles with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Five Oceans Asset Management, Bankers Trust, and Deutsche Bank. He has managed operational reviews and strategic option assessments across mining, processing, railway, and port facilities throughout Australia, North America, and Europe. In addition, Joe has worked in equities and investment research, focused on mining, minerals processing, energy storage, and battery technologies. Joe has managed investments in the global resources and minerals processing industries, including the management of turnaround projects supporting corporate targets, mergers, and divestment activities.
Michael Hollomon
Commercial Director,
US Strategic Metals
Michael Hollomon is the Commercial Director of US Strategic Metals
Caspar Rawles
Chief Data Officer,
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Caspar holds the position of Chief Data Officer at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a London-based leading
research and consultancy firm focusing on the lithium-ion battery to EV supply chain. Caspar leads a team that collects and assess sensitive market price data on lithium, graphite, cobalt, and nickel for use in industry supply contracts and negotiations. As a result, Benchmark is most famous for setting the lithium industry’s reference price and is the world’s leading Price Reporting Agency (PRA) for the world’s battery supply chain. At Benchmark, Caspar regularly travels to active mines and processing plants in many different countries with a specialist focus on China. He is regularly invited to give market-focused presentations around the world including Canada, China, Australia, and the United States. In his role at Benchmark, Caspar has advised some of the
world’s leading institutional investors and mining companies.
research and consultancy firm focusing on the lithium-ion battery to EV supply chain. Caspar leads a team that collects and assess sensitive market price data on lithium, graphite, cobalt, and nickel for use in industry supply contracts and negotiations. As a result, Benchmark is most famous for setting the lithium industry’s reference price and is the world’s leading Price Reporting Agency (PRA) for the world’s battery supply chain. At Benchmark, Caspar regularly travels to active mines and processing plants in many different countries with a specialist focus on China. He is regularly invited to give market-focused presentations around the world including Canada, China, Australia, and the United States. In his role at Benchmark, Caspar has advised some of the
world’s leading institutional investors and mining companies.
Mitchell Smith
President & CEO,
Global Energy Metals Corporation.
Board Member, Battery Metals Association of Canada
Mitchell Smith is the Founder, CEO and Director of Global Energy Metals Corp. A publicly listed company providing shareholders investment exposure to the battery metals supply chain through a growing portfolio of jurisdictionally safe exploration critical mineral projects in close proximity to end-use application. Mitchell is Director of the Battery Metal Association of Canada, a trade organization of entrepreneurs, explorers, developers and producers of battery metals and materials, who have joined together to support a rapidly changing energy landscape leading an effort to ensure Canada fully captures the abundant economic potential of its massive resources through the responsible and sustainable growth of Canada’s battery metals supply chain.
Mitchell is an important stakeholder and board member for several private and public natural resource companies having over 15 years of executive leadership, entrepreneurship and capital markets experience at all stages of the junior mining lifecycle, and is experienced with start-ups and mature companies in diverse industries both private and public. Through his network, knowledge and passion for the natural resource space is presently leveraging his unique skills to enable and strengthen awareness around the battery and energy metals sector. His experience and strong understanding of the battery supply chain has resulted in successfully identifying and negotiating the acquisition of multi-jurisdictional mining exploration and development projects in North America, Europe, and Australia. Through his network of strong international relationships, Mitchell was responsible for establishing offtake and EPC contracts with leading Chinese specialized lithium-ion battery cathode material companies that are suppliers to some of the world’s largest battery manufacturers.
Keynote speech
Vidiye Tshimanga Tshipande
Special Advisor to the
President on Strategic Matters,
The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Vidiye Tshimanga Tshipande is the Special Advisor for Strategic Matters to President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As a close adviser to the president, Tshimanga is instrumental in executive decision-making and is an advocate of the DRC in the global political economy. Tshimanga was instrumental in the creation of the Entreprise Générale du Cobalt, a Congolese government-initiated program which supports the commercialisation of responsibly sourced artisanal cobalt, as well as its regulatory body ARECOMES. Tshimanga concurrently serves as the president of the Dynamic Congo United political party (DCU), a small party which backs the president’s agenda. Tshimanga previously served as the spokesperson for Tshisekedi’s 2018 presidential campaign.
Session 3
Green, Equitable and Just Transition: Cobalt’s Role in Transitioning to a Net Zero World in a Rights-Respectful Manner
Bettina Reinboth
Director of Human Rights and Social Issues,
PRI
Bettina joined the PRI in August 2016. She is responsible for leading a team with deep expertise in social issues and their relevance to companies, investors and financial markets. She overseeing strategic initiatives on social themes and the thought leadership in the area- shaping research, analysis, investor guidance and policy guidance for investors across topics including human rights, labour practices, inequality, social dimensions of climate strategies, and diversity to name a few.
Prior to joining the PRI, Bettina worked for DNV in London, advising multinational companies on their sustainability strategy, stakeholder engagement, research and best practice, with a particular focus on labour and human rights and ways business can implement the UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights.
Prior to joining the PRI, Bettina worked for DNV in London, advising multinational companies on their sustainability strategy, stakeholder engagement, research and best practice, with a particular focus on labour and human rights and ways business can implement the UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights.
Bettina holds an MSc in Development Management from London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BA in Geography from King’s College London.
Haley St. Denis
Just Transition Lead,
Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)
Haley has extensive experience in the application of international human rights and responsible business standards within a wide range of industry sectors, including renewable and traditional energy, buildings and construction, sport, ICT, employment and recruitment agencies, apparel, and agriculture. Haley’s legal research background is complemented by her expertise in integrated external and internal communications across a variety of mediums.
Benjamin Katz
Policy Analyst,
OECD
Benjamin Katz has been a Policy Analyst for responsible mineral supply chains at the OECD’s Centre for Responsible Business Conduct since early 2019. His work at the OECD focusses on sourcing of cobalt and battery materials, mineral sourcing from Central Africa and measuring the uptake and impact of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains. He has over eight years of experience working on responsible sourcing of minerals and natural resource governance in the African Great Lakes Region and beyond. Prior to the OECD, Ben spent four years implementing responsible sourcing projects related to due diligence, traceability, and formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Charlotte Hugman
Lead Researcher Climate & Energy Benchmark,
World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA)
Charlotte leads the research on WBA’s Climate and Energy Benchmark. Through this, her work involves strategising and implementing how WBA turns its data into impact; and creating results that enable companies, government, civil society, business/industry associations & all stakeholders to achieve a just transition and set their course for the Paris Agreement goals. She and the team developed WBA’s just transition methodology in 2021: six indicators designed to assess globally influential companies in high emitting sectors on their contributions to an equitable low-carbon transition.
Anna Stancher
RMI Project Manager,
Responsible Business Alliance
Anna Stancher is a Project Manager at the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) of the Responsible Business Alliance where she supports RMI’s standard development and implementation with a focus on ESG assessments in mineral supply chains.
She has over ten years working experience as a sustainability expert in a variety of industries and geographies. Prior to her work at RMI, she was R&D Manager at amfori, a business association dedicated to promoting human rights and environmental due diligence in global supply chains. Previously, she held technical advisory and project management roles on supply chain development at the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the United Nation Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Gillian Davidson
Sustainability Advisor,
Eurasian Resources Group
Gillian Davidson is a special advisor to ERG on sustainability and leads their Clean Cobalt and Copper Framework. Previously, Gillian was Head of Mining and Metals at the World Economic Forum, Head of Social Responsibility at Teck Resources and held a number of senior roles in consultancy, government and academia. Gillian is Chair of the Global Battery Alliance and International Women in Mining and a Non-Executive Director with a number of mining companies. She holds a PhD in economic and development geography.
Susannah McLaren
Head of Responsible Sourcing & Sustainability,
Cobalt Institute
Susannah McLaren is Head of Responsible Sourcing & Sustainability at the Cobalt Institute. Susannah leads the Responsible Sourcing and Sustainability strategy and programmes at the Cobalt Institute. She represents the Cobalt Institute on several prominent platforms, including the Global Battery Alliance, ICMM Responsible Sourcing Working Group and Trade Committees. Susannah is an expert in human rights and sustainability, with over 18 years’ in-house and advisory experience across numerous sectors – including mining & metals, oil & gas, renewables, FMCG, ICT and the built environment.
Assheton Stewart Carter
CEO,
TDi Sustainability / Executive Director Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA)
Assheton is an expert and NED on responsible sourcing, environmental markets, non-financial risk, and responsible investment in international and emerging markets. A track record of 25 years with a focus on the resources sector and international supply chains of luxury, auto and electronics OEM, wood and textiles.
He is CEO of TDI Sustainability, and he chairs and serves on several boards and expert panels for standard-setting organizations, NGOs and private companies. Dr Carter is an expert on corporate voluntary standard-setting and certification schemes, value-chain development from producer to product, and a metals-industry expert.
He is CEO of TDI Sustainability, and he chairs and serves on several boards and expert panels for standard-setting organizations, NGOs and private companies. Dr Carter is an expert on corporate voluntary standard-setting and certification schemes, value-chain development from producer to product, and a metals-industry expert.
Johannes Danz
Project Coordinator for Sustainable Supply Chains,
Human Rights and Raw Materials, Mercedes-Benz
Johannes is a sustainability expert for raw materials and human rights at Mercedes-Benz. Prior to his current role, he worked in international development in the extractive sector, leading projects in developing countries and providing policy advice to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Johannes holds a MSc in Global Politics from the London School of Economics.
Day 2 – 18 May
Session 4
Cobalt in the Circular Economy
Michael insulan
Vice President
Electra
Michael Insulan has nearly 20 years of experience across oil and gas, bulk commodities, base and minor metals. He has worked for Royal Dutch Shell, CRU, and Eurasian Resources Group. Over the past four years, Michael has been primarily focused on the cobalt market where he has built a reputation as an industry expert.
As Vice President, Commercial, Michael will have overall responsibility for marketing of the Company’s refined cobalt sulfate production to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and battery cell makers. He will also be responsible for marketing recycled cobalt, nickel, lithium and other battery materials produced by First Cobalt’s Canadian refinery under a proposed Phase 2 expansion to refine black mass recovered from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.
As Vice President, Commercial, Michael will have overall responsibility for marketing of the Company’s refined cobalt sulfate production to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and battery cell makers. He will also be responsible for marketing recycled cobalt, nickel, lithium and other battery materials produced by First Cobalt’s Canadian refinery under a proposed Phase 2 expansion to refine black mass recovered from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.
Michael insulan
Vice President
Electra
Craig is a passionate and highly experienced ESG professional. He is responsible for developing Britishvolt’s sustainability/ESG strategies and reporting for all activities, a crucial pillar to overall business success. His previous roles include as an environmental and planning regulator, sustainability consultant and manufacturing business lead both in the UK and various locations across the globe.
Craig has worked most recently in the automotive sector developing strategies and systems to support global sustainability, compliance and reporting around Net Zero at Jaguar Land Rover. He led integration of sustainability within JLR’s new plants in Brazil and Slovakia, other global operations, and worked with suppliers on sustainability ambitions. Prior to this he worked with international clients as a manufacturing business sector leader managing a cross functional team leading on sustainability, environmental compliance including assessing investment opportunities for banks and due diligence transactional support.
Craig is a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager, Chartered Scientist and Chartered Environmentalist.
Mathilde Legay
Circular Economy Strategist,
LGI Sustainable Innovation
Mathilde Legay works as a Circular Economy Strategist for LGI Sustainable Innovation, where she works on international projects related to the emergence of new technologies to produce Critical Raw Materials. At LGI, she conducts strategic analyses to promote circular economy, such as market analysis, public policy analysis, and new business models recommendations in the field of Critical Raw Materials. She also works on environmental impact assessment, such as life cycle assessment and biodiversity-related impacts. Prior to working as a consultant, Mathilde worked in the materials industry. Mathilde has varied international experiences, working and studying in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Canada and the US and is fluent in English and French. Mathilde holds a biomaterials engineering degree from Grenoble INP and a master’s degree in environmental engineering and management from Mines ParisTech.
Chris Heron
Communication and Public Affairs Director,
Eurometaux
Chris Heron is Communication and Public Affairs Director at Eurometaux, the European metals association, representing Europe’s full metals value chain. Chris joined Eurometaux in 2014, after previously working for the European battery industry association and public affairs consultancies.
He coordinates Eurometaux’s overall public affairs and communication programme, including outreach to EU institutions. He recently lead a “Metals for Clean Energy” project with KU Leuven to map the metals requirements of Europe’s clean energy goals.
Yanchen Wang
Managing Director,
SMM
Dr Yanchen Wang is the managing director of SMM UK office, which was established in May 2021. Currently He focuses on the base metals market research and SMM overseas business development.
Dr Yanchen Wang is a well-known analyst in the global commodity industry. His areas of expertise include base metals market, coal and power industry, carbon emission market. In recent years, he has extended his research into the battery metals markets. He has visited more than 100 base metals assets around the world. Dr Yanchen Wang has more than 16 years commodity market research experience.
Dr Yanchen Wang is a well-known analyst in the global commodity industry. His areas of expertise include base metals market, coal and power industry, carbon emission market. In recent years, he has extended his research into the battery metals markets. He has visited more than 100 base metals assets around the world. Dr Yanchen Wang has more than 16 years commodity market research experience.
Yanchen has a PhD in Engineering from Chinese Academy of Sciences.
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