Mining and Materials for Sustainable Development

Saleem H. Ali, born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1973, has established himself as a leading voice in environmental security and sustainable resource development. Currently serving as the Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment at the University of Delaware, he holds joint appointments in Geography and the Joseph Biden School of Public Policy. After completing his B.S. in Chemistry from Tufts University (summa cum laude), M.E.S. in environmental law and policy from Yale University, and Ph.D. in Environmental Planning from MIT, he began his career at General Electric before transitioning to academia. His research spans environmental conflict resolution, sustainable resource development, and industrial sustainability, with particular focus on the mineral sector. As a member of the UN International Resource Panel and recently appointed to the UN Secretary General's Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, he brings his expertise to global environmental policy. His remarkable career includes visiting over 160 countries as a National Geographic Explorer, recognition as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and board positions with organizations like RESOLVE and Adventure Scientists. A trilingual scholar with citizenship in the USA, Pakistan, and Australia, he continues to shape global environmental discourse through his latest books, including "Soil to Foil: Aluminum and the Quest for Industrial Sustainability" (2023) and "Earthly Order: How Natural Laws Define Human Life" (2022), while directing the Minerals, Materials and Society Program at Delaware.

Kwasi Ampofo serves as Head of Metals and Mining at BloombergNEF in London, where he leads research on industrial metals, rare-earth elements, and battery metals while analyzing pathways for miners to achieve net-zero emissions. After earning his Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, Ghana, he completed his Ph.D. in Mineral Economics at the University of Queensland in 2017. His career trajectory includes roles as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Energy Economics at the University of Queensland, Mining Engineer at Anglo American, and Management Consultant at Nous Group in Australia before joining BloombergNEF in 2019. His research has significantly influenced understanding of global battery supply chains and critical minerals, as evidenced by his recent work showing Canada overtaking China in lithium-ion battery supply chain potential. As a Non-Executive Director at Amira Global since 2022, he continues to shape mining industry innovation while providing insights on metal markets and sustainable mining practices. His expertise spans from technical mining operations to strategic market analysis, with particular focus on the metals crucial for clean energy transition. Recently, he authored a groundbreaking report on cobalt's role in achieving global net-zero targets, highlighting the need for tripling current production levels by 2050 to meet clean energy demands.

Ana Elizabeth Bastida serves as Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee, where she combines academic research with practical engagement in resource governance reform. After completing her law degree, LL.M., and Ph.D., she has built a career spanning over three decades, focusing on innovations in environmental and resources law. Her influential book "The Law and Governance of Mining and Minerals: A Global Perspective" (2020) has become a cornerstone text in mining governance. As Vice-Chair of the International Bar Association's Mining Law Committee and founding member of Red Latinoamericana de Derecho Minero, she shapes global mining policy while serving on numerous prestigious boards, including the Technical Advisory Board of the Global Mining Taxation Initiative and the Expert Anti-Corruption Group on Critical Minerals. Her research engages with the role of minerals in energy system transformation and the regulatory shifts needed for sustainable futures, leading to advisory roles with the World Bank, UN, and major mining companies. As Programme Leader of the MSc in Sustainability at Dundee and instructor for the SDG Academy's Mining and Materials course, she continues to influence the next generation of resource governance experts while advancing understanding of sustainable mining practices and just transitions through her work with various epistemic communities and international organizations.

Martin Dietrich Brauch serves as Lead Researcher at Columbia University's Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), where he focuses on legal and policy frameworks for sustainable investment in climate action. After earning multiple degrees including a B.A. in Economics, Bachelor of Laws, and specialization in Environmental Law from the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil, followed by an LL.M. in International Legal Studies from NYU School of Law, he built a diverse career spanning international law and sustainable development. His professional journey includes roles as an international law advisor at a global think tank, in-house counsel at a media conglomerate, associate attorney at a boutique law firm, and a legal internship at United Nations Climate Change. At CCSI, he leads research and advisory work on climate change mitigation, energy transition, extractive industries, and investment law and policy, with particular emphasis on achieving decarbonization and just transition to net-zero emission economies. His multilingual capabilities in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish have enabled him to work extensively with developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. His recent work focuses on developing frameworks for climate-aligned investment governance and analyzing how international agreements can advance sustainable development and climate action while protecting human rights.

Joan Carling, born in 1963 to the Kankanaey tribe in the Philippines' Mountain Province, has dedicated over three decades to defending indigenous peoples' rights and environmental justice. After studying sociology and economics at the University of the Philippines-Baguio, she was inspired to activism by the murder of indigenous land defender Macli-ing Dulag. As Executive Director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI), she leads global efforts to protect indigenous rights defenders and promote sustainable development. Her impressive career includes serving as Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (2008-2016), expert member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2014-2016), and co-convenor of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development Goals. Her courageous work, despite facing death threats and being labeled a terrorist by Filipino authorities in 2018, has earned her prestigious recognition including the UN Environment Programme's Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) and most recently, the Right Livelihood Award (2024), making her the first Indigenous Filipino recipient. Through IPRI, she continues to advocate for indigenous land rights, traditional knowledge in conservation, and climate justice while providing support to frontline defenders facing criminalization and human rights violations.