Ryerson CSR Institute talk: Procurement as a Means for Mining Firms to Secure their Social License to Operate

Ryerson University’s Institute for the Study of Corporate Social Responsibility is pleased to present a talk by Jeff Geipel, Venture Leader of the Mining Shared Value of Engineers Without Borders, and Kevin D’Souza, Vice President of Sustainability & Environment at Centerra Gold, on how mining companies’ local procurement policies can be developed to create meaningful benefits to the local communities where they operate. The talk is based on Jeff Geipel’s recent project with Centerra Gold to review its local procurement strategy at its wholly own subsidiary, Kumtor Gold Company, in Kyrgyzstan, as well as the organization’s work to promote local procurement across the entire mining industry. This event will take place on Thursday, October 9 from 12-1:30 pm, in TRS 3-109 (9th floor), in Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management (55 Dundas Street West). The event is co-sponsored by the Ryerson CSR Student Association, the Ryerson Commerce and Government Association, the Ryerson MBA Mining Stream, and the Chang School Mining Management Certificate. There is no admission for this event, but seating is limited, and you must register in advance at http://ryerson-csr-institute-procurement-csr.eventbrite.ca

Creating and maintaining a social licence is one of the greatest challenges faced by mining companies today. In addition to being a more efficient and resilient form of procurement, supporting local suppliers is a key strategy for mining companies to strengthen their social license to operate. Local procurement can generate significant economic benefits at the local, regional and national level. As such, local procurement is an effective way for mining companies to respond to rising expectations amongst local communities and government officials of how mining activity should contribute to development in their country.

Centerra Gold has sought to proactively increasing local procurement at its wholly owned subsidiary, Kumtor Gold Company, in Kyrgyzstan. The operations at the Kumtor mine make for an ideal case study to show the Canadian mining industry that local procurement can be increased even in challenging jurisdictions.

About Jeff Geipel

Jeff Geipel is the Venture Leader of Mining Shared Value, at Engineers Without Borders Canada. With a background in Political Science and a Masters of International Development from the London School of Economics, Jeff began working with EWB on the topic of Canadian mining in 2012, and launched the Mining Shared Value Venture in early 2013. Mining Shared Value is a multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to make local procurement an industry norm amongst mining companies, in order to improve the development impacts of mining activities. As the Venture Leader, Jeff has advised Canadian mining companies and the Canadian government on local procurement strategies and best practices, as well as presenting on this topic at key industry association events, such as the 2014 PDAC Convention.

About Kevin D’Souza

Kevin D'Souza is the Vice President of Sustainability & Environment for Centerra Gold and prior to that worked with Barrick Gold in both the community relations and environment functions. He has worked his entire career in the mining industry having begun his career as an operational mining engineer in West Africa after graduating from the famous Royal School of Mines in London (Imperial College). He is highly experienced in a very wide range of mining environmental, sustainability, and Corporate responsibility issues, gained from working in remote exploration camps and operational mines to Corporate head offices. He has also worked on community development programmes for international NGOs and with the public sector (UN agencies, World Bank and DFID) on marco-level environmental and sustainable mining programmes. He has also worked extensively as a consultant with countless junior exploration and mining companies and many of the industry’s majors including AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Kinross and De Beers. Throughout his career Kevin has amassed direct experience in around fifty countries worldwide - with a deliberate and dedicated focus on developing countries in Asia, Latin America and in particular sub-Saharan Africa.

Event Details at a Glance:

Title: Ryerson CSR Institute talk: Procurement as a Means for Mining Firms to Secure their Social License to Operate

Speaker: Jeff Geipel & Kevin D'Sousa

Time: Thursday, October 9, 2014, 12 noon to 1:30 pm

Location: Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, 55 Dundas West, Toronto, ON, Room TRS 3-109, 55 Dundas West, Toronto

To register: http://ryerson-csr-institute-procurement-csr.eventbrite.ca

For further information concerning the Ryerson CSR Institute, go to: - http://www.ryerson.ca/csrinstitute/

Or contact Dr. Kernaghan Webb - kernaghan.webb@ryerson.ca

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