ICMM - International Council on Mining & Metals

Dr. John Atherton, Director, Materials Stewardship

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John Atherton is a policy manager in the field of regulatory and environmental affairs for metals with experience in both the public and private sector. He is currently a Senior Program Director with responsibility for the ICMM's Materials Stewardship Program, which includes the development of policy on chemicals management, life-cycle assessment, recycling and materials stewardship.

Before joining ICMM, John was Director for Environment (Europe) at the Nickel Development Institute (NiDi). He was responsible for the development of strategies and programmes to improve the environmental profile of the primary nickel industry and facilitated the nickel industry responses to key European legislative initiatives including ambient air and water quality objectives.

Prior to NiDI, John was the Director of the European office of the International Cadmium Association. His responsibilities covered both development and implementation of industry positions on the management of risks associated with the production and use of cadmium.

This involved interaction with governments and intergovernmental organisations to negotiate satisfactory resolution of risk management issues.

He served as the co-chair for an OECD collaborative group established to examine effective mechanisms for the collection and recycling of nickel-cadmium batteries. He was also responsible for membership development and management of the Associations finances.

From 1991 to 1995 John worked within the Environment Department of the UK Government as a metals policy advisor. He represented the Department at the technical negotiations of several European and OECD instruments for metals risk management. He was also responsible for consultation with industry and non-governmental organisations on the fulfilment of environmental objectives and the management of risks associated with the use of hazardous metals.

Helen Atkinson, Finance Manager

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Helen Atkinson joined ICMM as finance manager in May 2008, having previously spent several years as a company accountant for a privately-owned SME.

Prior to that she worked as an accountant for a large firm of solicitors and in a junior capacity for British Telecom. Helen is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Holly Bassett, Program Officer, Communications

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Holly Bassett joined ICMM in September 2011 where she works as a member of the communications team. She supports the team on media relations, assists with producing content for ICMM’s website, publications and social media channels as well as providing administration and research support.

Before joining ICMM she spent a year as an intern and Assistant Account Executive at Edelman’s market - research based consultancy StrategyOne as well as their technology public relations department. She has also interned in public relations for Golley Slater.

Holly has a degree in French and Spanish from Cardiff University.

Simone Cooper, Senior Program Officer, Climate Change

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Simone joined ICMM in June 2011, where she works on the climate change program.

During her career she has held a number of positions related to climate change policy. She worked for two years as a Research Associate at Climate Strategies, hosted by the University of Cambridge, focusing predominantly on the competitiveness impacts of carbon pricing on heavy industry and the economy. She has written a number of publications on this topic and more broadly on carbon pricing schemes and mitigation.

Previously she worked as a government economist at the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department for Business Innovation and Skills as part of their international climate change teams. Additionally, she has worked as a researcher at the Electricity Policy Research Group at the University of Cambridge.

Simone has an MPhil in Environmental Policy from the University of Cambridge and a BSc in Economics from the University of Birmingham.

Dr. Benjamin Davies, Manager, Materials Stewardship

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Ben Davies has worked with ICMM since 2004 and has a background physical science having obtained his PhD for research in metallurgy and materials at The University of Birmingham.

Working within ICMM's materials stewardship program Ben’s primary responsibilities are in the fields of chemicals management and sustainable consumption and production. This work seeks to address the issue of the ‘sustainability footprint’ of materials throughout the supply chain. The aim is to foster efficient industry practice, responsible application of materials and external regulation that is based on sound science.

Ben is actively involved within the industry developing guidance to ensure that companies have the necessary resources to meet their commitments as ICMM members. It also requires engagement in the international policy arena where Ben regularly represents the sector at the United Nations and OECD as well as with national governments, IGOs and NGOs.

Since 2008 Ben has also assumed responsibility for coordination of ICMM’s 30 association members, a function that has led to a broadening of interests into areas such as international trade and development policy.

Prior to joining ICMM, Ben held a joint research fellowship at Trinity College, Dublin and The University of Birmingham. His primary research activities concerned the development of sustainable technologies, in particular magnetic and hydrogen-storage materials. 

Aidan Davy, Director, Community / Reporting and Assurance

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Aidan Davy joined ICMM in June 2007. He is responsible for ICMM's Community and Socio-economic Development Program, including issues relating to Artisanal and Small-scale Mining, Community Development, Human rights and Indigenous Peoples. He also leads ICMM’s work on sustainability reporting and independent assurance.

Aidan has over 20 years cross-sectoral experience on sustainable development issues, working with a range of private, multi-lateral and not-for-profit organizations.

In the past decade, his primary focus has been on social responsibility and accountability issues relating to the extractive industries. During this period, he has worked:

• as an independent consultant for a range of multi-lateral/bilateral and private sector clients on many of the emerging challenges for the sector;
• as senior specialist with the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO) in Washington DC, the external accountability office for the two private sector institutions of the World Bank;
• as Director of Corporate Services for the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), where he developed practical CSR engagement strategies for a variety of multinational companies and represented IBLF on the Secretariat for the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights; and
• with the World Bank on the social dimensions of extractives, the value of tri-sector partnerships in delivering social and community development, and the integration of social concerns into privately financed extractives projects.

For the first decade of his career, Aidan primarily worked on environmental issues, in an international consulting company, a multinational manufacturing company, and the World Bank.

His initial focus was on Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) for projects in a variety of sectors, including mining, initially for an environmental consulting practice and later for the World Bank.

In the intervening years, he worked on environmental audits, Environmental Management Systems, and the then emerging sustainable development agenda.

Aidan has an Honours BSc in Environmental Sciences and Technology from the National University of Ireland.

Fernanda Diez, Senior Program Officer, Communications

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Fernanda Diez joined ICMM in November 2007. She is responsible for liaising with stakeholders and media, and for producing content for ICMM publications, newsletters and website.

With a background in economics and political philosophy, she has worked for eight years in Government and Congress in Argentina, particularly on issues of governance, regulation of privatised utilities, and questions of co-operation between government and business. She was also a free-lance journalist for MERCADO, a prominent business magazine in Argentina, for seven years.

More recently, Fernanda has worked in publications at an Oxford University Foundation dealing with socio-legal issues, and conducted research on Corporate Social Responsibility for the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford University’s Said Business School.

Fernanda obtained her BSc Economics and MSc Political Theory from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

John Drexhage, Director, Cimate Change

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John Drexhage joined ICMM in January 2011 as the new director of climate change.

John has worked on the issue of climate change for nearly 20 years. For the first 10 years, he worked for the government of Canada, where he developed their first national action program on climate change in 1994. 

In 1995, he moved into the international arena and took up the post of Associate Director on Climate Change. For the next six years he co-ordinated global negotiations for the Canadian government, focusing on the carbon market, including the Clean Development Mechanism, Joint Implementation and International Emissions Trading. 

In 2002, John accepted the position of Director of Climate Change at the International Institute for Sustainable Development. His work covered international and national policy issues, as well as ground-level programs in the areas of adaptation and land-use change.  

He has developed a strong reputation for championing a pragmatic, solutions based approach.

Anne-Marie Fleury, Director, Environment (on maternity leave)

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Anne-Marie Fleury is the Director of ICMM's environment program, and is responsible for a number of environmental and community and social development projects. She has been with ICMM since February 2004.

Previously, she was Technical Manager for the International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP) for over three years. She also worked for BHP Billiton at the Tintaya Mine in Peru as well as within the Health, Safety, Environment and Community department in Santiago, Chile.

Anne-Marie was also a research fellow for the landmark Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) project. Earlier experience involved an artisanal mining study in Potosi, Bolivia.

She was trained as a Chemical Engineer at Laval University in Quebec City and has a Master's Degree in Mining Engineering from the same university.

Kayley Gafur, Administrative Support Officer

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Kayley Gafur joined ICMM in September 2010 where she works as a member of the President’s Office as an administrative support officer.

In this role she provides support to the president and his executive assistant as well as maintaining the day-to-day operations in the ICMM office. Kayley comes from an administrative background.

Rheanna Hazeldine, Administrative Support Officer

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Rheanna Hazeldine joined ICMM in September 2010 where she works as a member of the President’s office as an administrative support officer.  

She provides administrative support to all program areas and the running of the member meetings. Her background is primarily in financial planning and event management. 

Dr. R. Anthony (Tony) Hodge, President

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On 1 October 2008, R. Anthony Hodge assumed duties as President of the International Council of Mining and Metals in London. This follows from his appointment a year earlier as Kinross Professor of Mining and Sustainability, Queen's University at Kingston. 

For some 30 years prior to ICMM Dr Hodge was in private practice as a consulting engineer. His projects ranged across a rich variety of assignments related to mining, aboriginal relations, nuclear waste management, water resources, energy policy, and the distribution of benefits from resource developments. 

Dr Hodge received his B.A.Sc. (1972) and M.A.Sc.(1976) degrees from the University of British Columbia (Geological Engineering). He was awarded his Ph.D. (interdisciplinary) in 1995 from McGill University as a result of work that focused on reporting on progress toward sustainability. He also previously taught at Royal Roads University in their graduate program on environment and management and at the University of Victoria, Canada as an adjunct in their School of Public Policy.

From 1989-1992, Dr Hodge was President of Friends of the Earth Canada. He served on the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) from 1992-1996. Through 2001 and 2002 he led the North American component of a global multi-interest review of practices mining/mineral industry (MMSD-North America). As part of this work he championed development of the Seven Questions to Sustainability – How to Assess the Contribution of Mining and Mineral Activities. He has written, spoken, and taught extensively on the issue of applied sustainability, particularly in terms of practical application in the mining industry.

Mark Holmes, Program Officer, Environment / Health and Safety

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Mark Holmes joined ICMM in February 2009 where he works on the Environmental Stewardship and Health & Safety work programs.

Mark has a degree and background in earth and environmental science and has recently obtained his MSc in Environmental Monitoring and Analysis from Aberystwyth University.

Gemma James, Program Officer, Environment

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Gemma joined ICMM in April 2009.  She works on the Biodiversity and Water projects under the Environmental Stewardship program. 

Prior to joining ICMM, Gemma completed an internship at ISEAL (International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling) Alliance where she worked on a stakeholder communications project. 

Gemma obained her BA Geography and MA Environment, Politics and Globalisation, both from King's College London.

Andrew Mackenzie, Director, Health and Safety

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Andrew Mackenzie joined ICMM in January 2010. As Senior Program Director, Andrew leads two of ICMM’s work programs; Health & Safety and Environmental Stewardship & Biodiversity.

He comes to the organization with a wealth of both corporate and practical mine-based experience in the industry. He served eight years as AngloGold Ashanti’s representative on the Environmental Stewardship & Biodiversity Task Force in his capacity as Manager: Corporate Environmental Affairs. Prior to that he spent three years at the company’s Sadiola Hill Gold Mine in Mali, West Africa, having transferred across from De Beers Consolidated Mines diamond operations in Namaqualand, South Africa (where he’d also spent three years). More recently Andrew served as Director, Environment for Katanga Mining Limited, where he spent a significant amount of time at the company’s copper and cobalt operations in Kolwezi, DRC (2008-2009).

He has a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Zoology from the University of Kwazulu Natal and also holds a Masters degree in environmental management from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. After completing his studies he started his professional career with three years as a Junior Consultant at the University’s Environmental Evaluation Unit. He has continued his professional development by participating in various business related courses including the Global Executive Development Programme at the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute for Business Science.

Casilda Malagón, Senior Program Officer, Communications

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Casilda joined ICMM in February 2009. She leads the development of new media projects and coordinates ICMM’s participation in international events.

Previously, she worked as a Project Manager and later Communications Manager for a USAID project for Democracy and Governance in Mexico where she spearheaded the Quality Journalism Network and worked on the Presidential government innovation agenda working with the Organization of American States, the United Nations Programme for Development and the World Bank, among other international and local stakeholders.

More recently she collaborated with the Liberal Democrats’ Innovation Department during the London Mayoral campaign and designed new media strategies for Mexican Non-Profit organizations.

Casilda holds an MA in Corporate Communication from The Media School at Bournemouth University and a BA in Communications from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.

Kathryn McPhail, Director, Resource Endowment

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Kathryn McPhail, Senior Program Director at the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) joined ICMM in 2002 following over 20 years of development work with the World Bank Group in Washington D.C. and four years in the British High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya.

Since 2002, Kathryn has led the development of ICMM’s Sustainable Development Framework. This comprises ten principles, reporting indicators and third party assurance. She leads and oversees ICMM’s successful Resource Endowment initiative, a policy research project designed to identify good practice and to document the socio-economic contribution of mining investments in poor countries. She managed ICMM’s participation in the World Bank Group’s Extractive Industries Review, the IFC’s Performance Standards review, the successful development of a joint World Bank/ICMM Community Development Toolkit and ICMM’s submissions to the UN Secretary General Special Representative on Business and Human Rights.

At the World Bank, Kathryn designed the monitoring system used to track the compliance of World Bank projects with social and environmental policies. She also developed good practice social assessment guidelines for the Global Environmental Facility. She represented the World Bank Group on the Assurance Group for the Metals, Mining and Sustainable Development project (MMSD).

As program manager at the World Bank and IFC, Kathryn participated in the design, implementation and evaluation of development operations in thirty developing countries. She has authored over 40 articles and publications.

In 2008, she won third prize in the Second Annual IFC/FT Essay Competition for a research paper: ‘Sustainable Development in the Mining and Minerals Sector: The Case for Partnership at Local, National and Global levels’. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya and brought up in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Ben Peachey, Director, Communications

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Ben Peachey is the Communications Director at ICMM, a post he has held since May 2005. He develops and implements the organization’s communications strategy, which includes overseeing the communications activities of all ICMM’s work programs and providing strategic support and advice to the President. He also acts as a catalyst for integrated thinking and knowledge management across the organization and its membership.

He manages ICMM’s communications team, whose remit includes stakeholder relations, media relations, events management and the production of publications.

Previously he has worked as a communications consultant at the global engineering consultancy Arup, where he advised a senior management board responsible for a global sector of 1,000 staff on a broad range of communications issues. He also spent seven years at the BBC, where he worked as an online journalist for the Newsnight and Panorama programs.

Duncan Robertson, Director, Administration and Operations

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Duncan Robertson joined ICMM in February 2011 and is responsible for the organization’s support services including finance, human resources and information technology.

Prior to joining ICMM, Duncan had 14 years' board-level experience heading up these functions within both the not-for-profit and private sectors, including the last eight years as Director of Finance and Administration at the European subsidiary of a privately owned US manufacturing company.  

Duncan qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACA) with Grant Thornton in 1990 and has a degree in economics and politics from the University of Exeter.

Sarah Stern, Executive Assistant

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Sarah Stern joined ICMM in February 2002 from Rio Tinto, where she worked as the Administrator for the Global Mining Initiative.

At ICMM she provides support to the President and acts as Secretary to Council and the Executive Working Group. She is also responsible for co-ordinating ICMM’s biannual members meetings, and assists in the everyday running of the office.

Before joining Rio Tinto, Sarah’s background was primarily in events, office and finance management.

Meera Thankey, Program Officer, Climate Change

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Meera Thankey joined ICMM in April 2011, where she supports the climate change team with administration, communications and strategic engagement.  

She obtained her degree in marketing from the University of Hertfordshire. Prior to joining ICMM she has held marketing positions across a number of sectors including health, digital media, online commerce and public relations.

Ruth Thomas, Manager, Environment

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Ruth Thomas joined ICMM in July 2011 to provide maternity cover for the environment work program area.

Ruth is a corporate sustainability professional and has over 10 years experience in the private, non-profit and consulting sectors. Ruth began her career in the sustainable development group at Shell International, and then moved to WWF as their business relations manager. Most recently, she was a program manager at the British American Tobacco Biodiversity Partnership.

Ruth has a postgraduate certificate in sustainable business from the Cambridge Programme for Industry (2009), a Masters in Environmental Science from University College London (1999) and is a reviewer for the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) journal Partnership Matters.

Claire White, Program Officer, Community / Reporting and Assurance

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Claire White joined ICMM in October 2007. She works on the Community and Social Development Program and the Sustainable Development Framework.

Prior to joining ICMM, she spent a year at the United Nations in New York where she co-published a report for the Evaluations and Studies Unit before working for a humanitarian aid fund in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Claire has a background in political affairs and obtained her MA in Politics at the University of Edinburgh (UK).