Explore every episode of the podcast Deep Dives with DPI

In this episode of Voices of Transformation, DPI Executive Director Florence Drummond speaks with K Prahalad, a research analyst at the Center for Social and Economic Progress in New Delhi. Prahalad works on India's critical minerals and on a responsible mining and processing framework the centre is developing for the country.

Tune in to understand:

• Why two pressures sit in tension across India's mining regions: the urgency to secure minerals for the energy transition, and the time it takes to build projects that host communities accept as legitimate.
• How free, prior and informed consent often works in practice, where power and knowledge asymmetries can leave consent recorded on paper without genuine agreement behind it.
• Why Prahalad argues for social forecasting alongside financial forecasting, so the social conditions a project will meet are studied as closely as its economics.
• What changes when leadership shifts from managing issues as they arise to negotiating between parties, with each party leading on the questions it understands best.
• How other jurisdictions have planned for the period beyond the life of a mine, from Norway's sovereign wealth fund to India's District Mineral Foundation, and why young people in mining regions are central to that planning.

In this episode of Voices of Transformation, DPI Executive Director Florence Drummond speaks with Dr Robin Smith, geologist, environmental scientist and project manager at the World Resources Forum. Robin has spent most of her career working on the fate and transport of contaminants in mining environments, with related work in remediation, waste management and community engagement. At the World Resources Forum she works on responsible sourcing and on the position of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector in global mineral value chains.

Tune in to understand:

• Why the global race for transition minerals such as copper, lithium, cobalt and graphite carries a paradox, with the minerals needed to decarbonise often extracted under conditions that harm local communities and ecosystems.
• How the ASM sector supplies an estimated 20 to 26 percent of various critical raw materials, and why disengaging from ASM when it appears in a supply chain tends to worsen conditions on the ground rather than resolve the risk.
• Where Robin sees the greatest need for innovation: participatory governance, and systems that treat socioeconomic data from mining communities as seriously as estimates of mineral reserves or export logistics.
• What changes when capacity building is co-designed with miners themselves rather than delivered as a fixed curriculum written elsewhere.
• Why repeated consultation without visible follow-through fatigues communities and puts a company's social licence at risk.

In this episode of Voices of Transformation, DPI Executive Director Florence Drummond speaks with Nikita Hunt and Zac James, the Tjiwarl delegates who joined DPI's Youth Salon delegation to the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) Conference in Vancouver and Toronto in April and May 2026. 

Tune in to find out:

• What it meant to be in a room of over 2,000 delegates—many of them First Nations peoples from across the world—where culture came first, leadership was conducted in culturally appropriate ways, and the conference was opened with smoking and song.
• How both delegates' understanding of leadership shifted through the experience
• The seven generations framework that shaped the conference's thinking: that decisions made today carry consequences for seven generations to come
• Why Zac frames Indigenous participation in mining and energy transition projects as a question of timing, not method
• The connections formed outside the conference rooms: conversations with First Nations and indigenous delegates from Canada, South Africa, and beyond, and what it revealed about communities globally 
• What Nikita and Zac would say to Tjiwarl youth considering the program 

Their participation in the delegation was a direct extension of DPI's Regional Catalyst work on Tjiwarl lands, where DPI, Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation, and ARCA have been exploring the opportunity to turn mine rehabilitation into a carbon removal industry.

In this episode of Voices of Transformation, DPI Executive Director Florence Drummond speaks with Kwasi Ampofo, a mining engineer and Head of Mining and Metals at BloombergNEF.

For seven years, Kwasi has helped clients understand what the energy transition means for mining supply, demand, and investment decisions, bringing both mining expertise and data-driven analysis to the global commodities challenge.

Tune in to understand:

• The three external pressures reshaping mining
• How mining companies solve problems by scaling, not by innovating at the fundamental level - shown by the cobalt demand curve
• Why education and perception matter more than mining admits - demonstrated by mining engineer graduates in Australia
• The transformational economic impact mining can deliver - from artisanal to large-scale lever, delivering value that reaches communities, not just corporations.

Throughout the conversation, Kwasi emphasizes that mining is everyone's responsibility. If you consume metal products, you own an ore body sitting in drawers, garages, and landfills. The industry recovered only 3.5 percent of copper stock in use through recycling. Moving from a mining company to a material company model depends on consumers becoming suppliers in a closed loop system.

In this episode of Voices of Transformation, DPI Executive Director Florence Drummond speaks with Doris Hiam-Galvez, a system thinker who created the design sustainable prosperity method. With over three decades transforming organizations globally, Doris works at the regional system level to help resource-driven economies evolve past boom and bust cycles into resilient regenerative economic systems.

Tune in to understand:

• Why urgency is real and gradual change is no longer an option.
• Where innovation is most needed: upstream design and initial conditions for success, integration of projects within regional economic and social ecosystems, and decision intelligence using data and systems models to reduce opinion-driven bias in evaluating projects and risks
• The critical leadership capabilities for navigating complexity: systemic awareness that sees beyond quarterly results, the ability to operate across multiple time horizons, and creating space where people feel safe to take risks and reach their full potential
• How regional economic development functions as risk mitigation. 
• Why infusing the love of science without pushing recruitment would change mining's image permanently. 

In this episode of Voices of Transformation, DPI Executive Director Florence Drummond speaks with Jon Stanton, Chief Executive of the Weir Group. As a global technology provider serving almost all major mines worldwide, Weir brings a unique vantage point on transformation across the mining industry.

Tune in to understand:

• Why different stakeholder groups are at different stages of transformation—and what that means for collective progress. 
• How innovation extends far beyond technology into regulation, capital efficiency, and stakeholder collaboration. 
• Water consumption as a critical, granular challenge requiring system-wide solutions. 
• The "great tsunami" of retiring talent leaving the industry, combined with urgent needs for data scientists, software engineers, and mining engineers. 
• Why mining needs to be braver about its purpose. 

Throughout the conversation, Jon emphasizes that awareness exists across stakeholder groups, but progress requires getting granular. Leaders need to tackle specific challenges, build system-wide thinking, embrace uncertainty and risk, and figure out how to collaborate on connected solutions rather than working in isolated silos.

In this episode of Voices of Transformation, DPI Executive Director Florence Drummond speaks with Iliana Rodriguez, President of Women in Mining Ecuador and former VP of Human Resources at Lundin Gold. Drawing from decades of experience across South America, North America, the Middle East, and Africa, Iliana offers critical insights into building mining's talent pipeline in a country new to large-scale mining.

Tune in to understand:

• Why high school students in Ecuador's mining regions aren't choosing mining careers—and what this reveals about communication failures across the industry
• The difference between listening to be present and listening with the purpose of understanding, and why that distinction matters for long-term community relationships
• How Ecuador's first indigenous woman mining engineer is changing conversations by speaking both the technical language of mining and the cultural language of her community
• Why Women in Mining networks have evolved from addressing particular regional needs to forming a global movement of horizontal leadership and shared learning
• The importance of early regional investment—like building a community museum before the mine reaches peak production—to demonstrate respect for culture, history, and local identity
• How transformation requires leaders to get close to where conversations actually happen, break down silos, and continuously retrain themselves rather than relying on outdated business models

In the first episode of Voices of Transformation, DPI Executive Director Florence Drummond sits down with Allison Coppel, CEO of Pacha Associates and co-founder of Maven Exploration. Allison shares her unique perspective spanning consulting work, a women-founded exploration startup, and direct experience advising projects across the mining value chain.

Tune in to learn about:

• The shift in the US mining sector toward proactive social performance, moving beyond legal and permitting frameworks to build genuine long-term community relationships
• Maven Exploration's innovative model that considers land, people, and natural resources holistically from day one—before deciding whether a mineral deposit should even be developed into a business
• Why the most challenging stakeholders are often inside the company, and how organizational culture directly affects the ability to build strong external relationships
• The power of values-based leadership under pressure, and why defining company values isn't just "flowery language" but the foundation for navigating complex stakeholder relationships
• How Gen Z is reshaping mining's narrative through authentic digital presence—and what established leaders can learn from mentoring the next generation

In this inspiring episode of Deep Dives with DPI, we explore the vital role of youth voices in shaping mining's future through conversation with Makomborero Carl Muropa, business and human rights lawyer and ambassador for DPI's Youth Salon. Drawing from his extensive experience across South and East Africa, Mako offers compelling insights into how young people can become authentic change agents in the mining sector.

Tune in to understand more about:

• Shared Purpose through Youth Engagement: How mining companies can create meaningful opportunities for young people through capacity building, youth-owned supply chains, and authentic community partnerships that cascade economic benefits beyond traditional employment
• Flourishing Ecosystems in Evolution: The dynamic nature of ecosystems around mining operations, and how conscious development can create new models of harmony between existing communities and incoming mining operations, rather than disruption
• Development Partnerships that Recognize Value: The critical importance of tripartite partnerships between governments, mining entities, and communities—with special emphasis on recognizing indigenous peoples as custodians of land and young people as key contributors rather than obstacles

In this enlightening episode of Deep Dives with DPI, we welcome Sean Lowrie, Head of External Affairs for ARCA, one of DPI's associate members. Sean shares insights from his 30-year career in international development and his current work with ARCA, a climate technology company pioneering innovative ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Tune in to understand more about:

• How ARCA is developing technology that can turn carbon dioxide into rock using mining waste materials, creating a potential multi-billion dollar opportunity for the mining industry
• The importance of building relationships with host communities and traditional owners before defining projects
• Why experimentation is crucial for balancing urgent climate action with responsible risk management
• The power of multi-stakeholder collaboration in creating shared value and overcoming challenges in the minerals value chain

In this powerful episode of Deep Dives with DPI, we sit down with Mark Podlasly, Chief Sustainability Officer at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition and DPI Board Director. Drawing from his experience growing up near Canada's largest open pit copper mine on Nlaka'pamux Nation territory, Mark offers unique insights into mining's relationship with Indigenous communities and its critical role in the energy transition.

Tune in to understand more about:

• The evolving dynamics between mining companies and Indigenous communities, driven by increased investor scrutiny and climate change imperatives
• The importance of creating lasting benefits for communities that host mining operations "forever"
• The critical need to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and participation from project inception through closure

DPI drives collective impact for sustainable development.

In this inspiring episode of Deep Dives with DPI, we catch up with Grace Akinyi, CEO of Women in Mining Kenya and winner of the 2024 Mining Innovation & Research Battlefield. Grace shares her journey from ideation to implementation of her groundbreaking bio-glove project, designed to protect women working with mercury in artisanal gold processing.

Listen to Grace and Florence discuss:

• The development of a bacterial cellulose-based protective glove that offers both immediate mercury protection and long-term safety applications
• The challenges and triumphs of transforming a laboratory concept into a practical solution for mining communities
• The ripple effects of innovation success, from inspiring other scientists to creating new mentorship opportunities

The conversation provides a unique glimpse into the process of developing mining innovations in challenging environments, while highlighting the importance of community engagement and collaborative research. 

In this enlightening episode of Deep Dives with DPI, we sit down with Ana Gabriela Juarez, DPI's newest non-executive director and President of Canadian Operations at CTA Environmental Consultants. With over two decades of experience in the global mining sector, Ana shares her unique perspective as both a "miner at heart and advocate by purpose," drawing from her experiences in Guatemala and across the Americas.

Ana emphasizes the transformative potential of responsible mining, sharing compelling examples of successful projects that have positively impacted communities. 

In this episode of Deep Dives with DPI, we sit down with Dr Chris Anderson, an anthropologist turned mining industry expert, who shares his unique perspectives on community engagement and sustainable development in the mining sector. Drawing from his extensive experience living with Indigenous communities and working with mining companies globally, Chris offers profound insights into the complexities of community relations and development partnerships.

Through compelling stories from the Daintree Rainforest to West African mines, Chris emphasizes that successful mining projects require true collaboration with local communities. He highlights that Indigenous communities are generally supportive of economic development when three key conditions are met: environmental protection, meaningful decision-making roles, and long-term benefits for future generations.

In this episode of Deep Dives with DPI, we sit down with Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council South Africa and a prominent leader in the African mining industry. With 30 years of experience spanning from mining engineering to investment banking, Mzila shares his insights on the industry's role in sustainable development and the importance of partnerships.

The conversation explores the three pillars of the Development Partner Framework:

• Shared Purpose: Mzila emphasizes the importance of developing a shared vision among stakeholders in the mining industry, highlighting mining's potential as a vehicle for social good.
• Flourishing Ecosystems: The discussion delves into the local nature of life experiences and the importance of addressing global issues like climate change at a local level.
• Competitive Communities, Companies, and Countries: Mzila explains how the metrics for competitiveness are evolving to include social impact and stakeholder-centric approaches.

This Deep Dives with DPI podcast episode features a conversation between Florence Drummond, Executive Director of the Development Partner Institute, and Jon Samuel, a senior executive with Anglo American and De Beers Group. The discussion revolves around the Development Partner Framework (DPF) and its three pillars: shared purpose, flourishing ecosystems, and competitive communities.

Jon reflects on the evolution of the DPF and its relevance today, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts among various stakeholders to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative ones. He discusses the industry's progress in environmental and social performance, highlighting examples such as the transformative impact of responsible mining in Botswana. Jon also stresses the importance of education and transparency in improving the industry's reputation and calls for customers and investors to play a more active role in demanding responsible practices throughout the mining value chain.

This Deep Dives with DPI podcast episode features a conversation between Florence Drummond, Executive Director of the Development Partner Institute, and Tricia Wilhelm, Group Head of Social Impact at Anglo American. The discussion revolves around Anglo American's approach to sustainable mining and social impact, framed by the Development Partner Framework's three pillars: shared purpose, flourishing ecosystems, and competitive communities.

This episode of Deep Dives with DPI dives into the critical but complex topic of local procurement in the mining industry. Jeff Geipel, founder of the Mining Shared Value Program at Engineers Without Borders Canada, joins the conversation to discuss how collaboration between industry, government, and communities can unlock the potential of local procurement for a more sustainable future.

The discussion highlights the environmental and economic benefits of local procurement, including reduced carbon emissions and increased opportunities for communities surrounding mines. However, it's emphasized that successful local procurement goes beyond simple transactions. Trust, a long-term vision, and a commitment from all stakeholders are crucial for building thriving ecosystems around mining operations.

Geipel emphasizes the importance of shifting the conversation around local procurement. Instead of viewing it as charity, it should be seen as a strategic business opportunity that benefits both mining companies and communities. He also cautions against a one-size-fits-all approach, stressing the need to map out existing initiatives and resources before diving into new projects.

The Deep Dives with DPI podcast engages in critical conversations surrounding the global minerals value chain, advocating for mining's pivotal role in a just energy transition and sustainable future.

In this episode, Raymond Offenheiser shares insights from his extensive career. We look into forming the Development Partner Framework and its three pillars, as well as the history of relationships between stakeholders. These relationships have changed significantly over the years due to factors such as altering a decades-old operational model, investing in research, and legislative changes that pushed for transparency. 

Offering insight into how the industry got to this point, the podcast delves into the importance of collaboration with stakeholder groups. Raymond's emphasis on the importance of dialogue among civil society, businesses and governments resonates deeply, especially in today's polarised environment. His call to action serves as a reminder of the importance of building dynamic civil societies that promote collaboration, inclusivity and shared purpose. With the growing importance of considering broader societal impact, these factors help the mining industry shape a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous future for all.

In this podcast, Florence Drummond engages in a lively conversation with Mark Cutifani, DPI's Co-Founder and non-executive Director and a seasoned professional in the mining industry with nearly five decades of experience. Tune in for: 

• insights from Mark's leadership journey, highlighting the importance of addressing safety challenges and fostering positive change, while 'listening differently'.
• another perspective on the creation of the Development Partner Framework (DPF), which promotes shared purpose, flourishing ecosystems, and competitive communities, companies and countries.

The call to action for listeners? To not underestimate the significance of listening to diverse perspectives and the power of collective action to create a positive impact on society.

In this Deep Dive episode, Peter Bryant, DPI's Board Chair and Co-Founder provides insights into the DPI journey, highlighting: 

• the Development Partner Framework's 'origin story'
• the three pillars of the DPF, and its role in bridging the gap between societal expectations and mining industry performance
• our Catalyst and RESCO initiatives, which demonstrate DPI's commitment to fostering impactful dialogues and responsible sourcing
• the importance of DPI's partnership with the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, focusing on integrating Indigenous values into projects and addressing the challenges posed by the urgency of the energy transition.

This episode's call to action? Peter encourages everyone in the mining sector to deepen understanding through active listening and dialogue, emphasizing the importance of building trust and finding common ground for collaborative action.

The Deep Dives with DPI podcast aims to have the brave conversations that challenge the global minerals value chain.

Whether you're curious or convinced about mining's critical role in a just energy transition and a sustainable future, this is the podcast for you.

Join us as we explore the industry's journey - the past, the present and the future - through the lens of our Development Partner Framework pillars:

• shared purpose
• flourishing ecosystems
• competitive communities, companies and countries.