Adam Smith

Adam Simon is CEO of VectOres Science, Inc. and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Economic Geology at the University of Michigan. Adam is an expert on the geology and geochemistry of mineral deposits and has led research programs on all seven continents. He co-authored the books Mineral Resources, Economics and the Environment, and Earth Materials: Components of a Diverse Planet, published 115 and supervised or co-supervised nearly 50 MSc. and PhD students. He regularly gives invited lectures around the world including a TEDX talk and was awarded the University of Michigan Teaching Innovation Prize for his transdisciplinary pedagogy

Katie Jackson

Katie was appointed Chief Executive, Copper in September 2024.

Before this, Katie was President of National Grid Ventures responsible for financing, developing and operating large-scale energy infrastructure assets including electricity interconnectors, LNG solutions, renewables, and competitive transmission.

With a career spanning three continents at Shell, UBS, Anadarko, Equinor and BG Group, Katie brings strong operational, commercial and strategy experience with a passion for solving technical, operational and financial challenges to make complex global projects work. Katie is a Non-Executive Director at specialist engineering group IMI since July 2018, and Chair of POWERful Women, the UK’s cross-industry initiative working for a gender-balanced, diverse and inclusive energy sector. 

Zuo Geng

Artem Volynets

Mr. Volynets is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of ACG Metals Ltd.  He has 27+ years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and senior corporate management roles.  He has led private and public transactions worth more than $30 billion and managed leading businesses in the metals and mining industry.  

Mr. Volynets listed ACG Acquisition Company as a SPAC on LSE in 2022 with a strategy to consolidated the critical metals industry.   The company completed the first $300m transaction in Türkiye in 2024, acquiring producing Copper / Gold Gediktepe mine and was renamed ACG Metals Ltd.   ACG’s near term goal is to build 200-300 ktpa copper producer via a series of roll-up transactions.  

Mr Volynets has previously designed and implemented a similar roll-up strategy in aluminium, having led several high-profile transactions that created UC Rusal, which he listed in Hong Kong in 2010 at a pre-money valuation of over $20 billion.  

Mr. Volynets’ former roles include the CEO of Chaarat Gold, CEO of En+ Group, head of strategy and Board director of UC Rusal.  He also served as an independent non-executive director at Norilsk Nickel and as Chairman of International Aluminium Institute and started his carrier as a strategy consultant with Monitor Group in Boston and London.  

He obtained an MBA from Georgetown University in 1997 (in a joint program with INSEAD in France) and a BA in Economics from The American University in Washington DC in 1994 and previously studied geology and philosophy at Moscow State University.    

Jonathan Price

Jonathan Price was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Teck on November 1, 2023, and has been a member of Teck’s Board of Directors since July 26, 2022.

Previously, Mr. Price was Chief Executive Officer, having been appointed to that role in September 2022. He has also held the roles of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Price joined Teck in October 2020 and brings extensive experience in the resources sector through a variety of finance, commercial and business development roles spanning Europe, Asia and Australia, with a focus on strategy, transformational change and business improvement.

Prior to joining Teck, Mr. Price was employed by BHP from 2006 to 2020 where he was Chief Transformation Officer, Vice President Finance and Vice President Investor Relations working in Asia, Australia and the UK. He has also worked in the Metals and Mining team at ABN AMRO Bank and held various production and technical roles with INCO.

Mr. Price holds a Master of Engineering (Honours) in Metallurgy and Materials Science from the University of Oxford and a Master of Business Administration from Cardiff University.

Brandon Craig

Brandon Craig joined BHP in 1999 and has previously held Aluminium, Corporate and Coalleadership roles and brings over 20 years’ experience driving transformational change andoperational excellence. In his role as Asset President Western Australia Iron Ore, Brandon Craighas demonstrated his ability to deliver strong performance across an integrated business ofmines, rail and port operations.

Kathleen L. Quirk

Kathleen L. Quirk is President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Freeport-McMoRan Inc (Freeport). 

Ms. Quirk joined Freeport in 1989 and had responsibility for a broad range of corporate functions, including Tax, Investor Relations, Corporate Development and Treasury before being named Chief Financial Officer in 2003. During that period, she was named Best CFO in Metals and Mining by Extel (formerly known as Institutional Investor Research) on numerous occasions. She was named President of Freeport in 2021 and became a member of the Board of Directors in 2023. As a senior member of the company’s executive team for more than 20 years, she has been instrumental in Freeport’s strategic planning and execution of company goals. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Vulcan Materials Company. Ms. Quirk is a graduate of Louisiana State University.

Ivan Arriagada

Iván Arriagada joined Antofagasta Minerals S.A., a Chilean-controlled company listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index in February 2015. In April 2016, he was appointed CEO of Antofagasta plc, the holding company of Antofagasta Mining Group. Mr Arriagadais a Commercial Engineer, graduate of the Adolfo Ibañez Business School at Universidad Federico Santa María and holds a Master of Science from the London School of Economics. Prior to joining Antofagasta Minerals, he held the position of ChiefFinancial Officer at Codelco. Before this, he was President of Pampa Norte at Base Metals BHP Billiton, Vice President of Operations at Base Metals BHP Billiton and Chief Financial Officer for Copper at BHP Billiton. Mr Arriagada previously worked in the oil and gas industry at Royal Dutch Shell International, holding various posts in finance and business development, primarily in England, USA and Argentina.


Iván Arriagada ingresa al Grupo Minero Antofagasta Mineral S.A, empresa chilena inscrita en el London Stock Exchange y constituyente del Indice FTSE 100 en febrero de 2015. En abril de 2016, es designado Presidente Ejecutivo de Antofagasta PLC, empresa controladora del Grupo. Iván es Ingeniero Comercial, graduado de la Escuela de Negocios Adolfo Ibáñez de la Universidad Federico Santa María. Posee un Masters en Ciencias del London School of Economics. Antes de unirse a Antofagasta Minerals, ocupó el cargo de Vice Presidente de Finanzas de Codelco, Presidente de Pampa Norte de BHP Billiton Metales, Vice Presidente de Operaciones de Metales Base de BHP Billiton y Vice Presidente de Cobre de BHP Billiton. Previamente trabajó en la industria del petróleo y gas en el Royal Dutch Shell International, ocupando diversos puestos en finanzas y desarrollo de negocios , principalmente en Inglaterra , EE.UU. y Argentina.

Erik Heimlich

Erik Heimlich is Head of Base Metals Supply at CRU. Since joining CRU in 2012, Erik has been involved in the analysis of the copper market with a particular focus on Latin American mine supply.
Erik regularly undertakes site visits to copper operations around the world.

Erik holds an MSc in Economics and Econometrics from Essex University and is based in CRU’s Santiago office.

Peter Harrisson

Dr Peter Harrisson has worked on CRU’s Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid analysis since joining the company in early 2011 and is Head of the Sulphur team. He also works across other nutrient areas, including both market and cost analysis. Prior to joining CRU, Dr Harrisson completed a PhD in Industrial Chemistry at Durham University.

Nicholas Snowdon

Nicholas Snowdon heads the metals and mining research at Mercuria Energy Trading. He brings 17 years of experience in the commodity trading industry previous that, most recently working at Goldman Sachs as a Managing Director, Head of Metals Research. Previously, he was with Deutsche Bank as Director, Base Metals and Bulks Strategist for 2 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Durham and a Master’s degree in Development Economics and Finance from the London University, School of Oriental and African Studies.