SPEAKERS

Alan R Butcher BSc PhD FGS is a geologist with a specialization in rocks of commercial importance. He started off as an igneous petrologist but his experience quickly grew to include geochronology, applied mineralogy, ore deposit geology, forensic geoscience, and reservoir characterization. Alan has also worked on lunar and Martian rocks with NASA.
Alan is best known for his visionary development and enthusiastic evangelism of new and emerging capabilities and business opportunities within the field of Automated Mineralogy & Petrology (particularly in the areas of process mineralogy, reservoir petrography, and environmental mineralogy), as well as Digital Rock Analysis (involving the integration of 2D, 3D and 4D imaging and analysis of rocks).
He is currently Professor of Geomaterials & Applied Mineralogy at the Geological Survey of Finland.

Chris Calam has spent the last 25 years implementing analytical tools with particular emphasis on XRF used in Geochemistry.
Chris speaks and writes articles on geochemistry and has had the opportunity to assist exploration and mineral processing companies, large and small, to develop, calibrate and implement portable XRF into their decision making protocols in the field.
Global mining is on the upturn with companies investing in technology and data analytics to improve decision making in the field. Chris continues his passion to ensure correct implementation of portable XRF in the field to drive return on investment.
chris.calam@thermo.com

Chris is a Solution Partner and Head of MineLens and MineSpans with McKinsey & Company in New York office.  Chris is a proven business builder with significant management, entrepreneurial, financial and consulting experience.

Main focus

• Entrepreneurship, business creation and team building
• Extraction of insight from information – big data, advanced analytics
• Finance, mergers & acquisitions, private equity

Dr. Ali Soofastaei is a Research Developer at the Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence at Vale and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Vale is a multinational corporation engaged in metals and mining. It is one of the world’s foremost producers of iron ore and the largest producer of nickel. UQ has been ranked in the world’s top 50 universities and is one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions.

Dr. Soofastaei uses innovative models based on artificial intelligence (AI) methods to improve safety, productivity, and energy efficiency, and to reduce maintenance costs. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and has an in-depth understanding of energy management (EM) and equipment maintenance solutions (EMS). The extensive research he conducted on AI and value engineering (VE) methods while completing his Master of Engineering also provided him with expertise in the application of advanced analytics in EM and EMS.

Dr. Soofastaei completed his Ph.D. at UQ in the field of AI applications in mining engineering where he led a revolution in the use of deep learning (DL) and AI methods to increase energy efficiency, reduce operation and maintenance costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in surface mines. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Assistant Professor, he has provided practical guidance to undergraduate and postgraduate students in mechanical and mining engineering and information technology.

In the past 15 years, Dr. Soofastaei has conducted a variety of research studies in academic and industrial environments. He has acquired in-depth knowledge of energy efficiency opportunities (EEO), VE and advanced analytics. He is an expert in the use of DL and AI methods in data analysis to develop predictive and optimization models of complex systems.
Dr. Soofastaei has been involved in industrial research and development projects in several industries including oil and gas (Royal Dutch Shell); steel (Danieli); and mining (BHP, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, and Vale). His extensive practical experience in the industry has equipped him to work with complex industrial problems in highly technical and multi-disciplinary teams.
As a member of research and development teams, Dr. Soofastaei has been actively involved in site inspections, business problem identification, and root cause analysis. He has experience in managing brainstorming sessions with operators, supervisors, managers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the areas of automation (e.g., with electrical and computer systems engineers), maintenance (e.g., with mechanical engineers and maintenance supervisors) and production (e.g., process engineers, metallurgists).

Dr. Soofastaei has more than 10 years of academic experience as an Assistant Professor and leader of global research activities. Results from his research and development projects have been published in international journals and keynote presentations; He has presented his practical achievements at conferences in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Dr. Soofastaei has published three chapter books and is on contract to write two new handbooks that will be published by Springer and CRC Press. He has also been granted three patents and has developed three software products.

More information is available at www.soofastaei.net

Joe Cucuzza is the Managing Director of AMIRA International. Experienced Managing Director with a demonstrated history of working in the mining & metals industry. Skilled in facilitating collaboration, and delivering results. Joe Cucuzza is successful in building local and global multi-company, multi-institution collaborative programs that address complex problems. Joe Cucuzza has deep knowledge in innovation and collaboration. Joe Cucuzza is sensitive to cultural differences and with an extensive global network in minerals industry and research community. Also, Joe Cucuzza has strong business development professional with a Master of Business (Enterprise Innovation) focused in Business & Entrepreneurship from Swinburne University of Technology. Graduate of the AICD.

Leonardo Feltrin, Mineral Exploration Research Centre

Dr. Feltrin has recently joined HES at Laurentian University (January 2018) as Associate Professor of Earth Systems Modelling. His research considers the use of computational geoscience, AI and modern data analytics to increase the chance of discovery of ore deposits and improve the understanding of factors controlling mineral resources location in the Earth’s crust. Applied research focuses on GIS-based mineral prospectivity mapping, data analytics, robotics and Earth systems 3D reconstructions and simulations. Starting in Winter 2018, he will be teaching the course GEOL 3056 titled Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences.

Phillips S. Baker, Jr., President and CEO

Phillips S. Baker, Jr., a director since 2001, has been our Chief Executive Officer since May 2003 and has served as our President since November 2001. He served as Hecla’s Chief Financial Officer from May 2001 to June 2003; Chief Operating Officer from November 2001 to May 2003; and Vice President from May 2001 to November 2001. He has also served as a Director of QEP Resources, Inc. (a leading independent natural gas and oil exploration and production company), since May 2010, as well as serving as a Director for Questar Corporation (a Western U.S. natural gas-focused exploration and production, interstate pipeline and local distribution company) from February 2004 through June 2010.

Phillips S. Baker, Jr., a director since 2001, has been our Chief Executive Officer since May 2003 and has served as our President since November 2001. He served as Hecla’s Chief Financial Officer from May 2001 to June 2003; Chief Operating Officer from November 2001 to May 2003; and Vice President from May 2001 to November 2001. He has also served as a Director of QEP Resources, Inc. (a leading independent natural gas and oil exploration and production company), since May 2010, as well as serving as a Director for Questar Corporation (a Western U.S. natural gas-focused exploration and production, interstate pipeline and local distribution company) from February 2004 through June 2010.

Dr Rob Hough is the Science Director for CSIRO Mineral Resources based in Australia. The research entity has over 270 researchers, across a range of disciplines, working to support the minerals exploration and mining industry. The Discovery program alone is working with juniors, mid-tiers and major mining companies as well as in the commercialisation of technology with the METS sector. He is a geologist with over 20 years’ experience in research with industry and a passionate advocate for innovation that can support industry to explore for our future mines. He is also the lead for Minerals engagement with the large Data Science capability in CSIRO called Data61, providing for new data science driven technologies and approaches to support the minerals industry.

Stephen is currently the CEO and Director of Orefinders Resources Inc. and Power Ore Inc.. With over fifteen years of experience in finance and in the mining and metal industries, his interests lie in acquiring and developing natural resource assets. Previously he has held roles with RTO Capital and OMERS Pension Plan where he focused on acquisitions and asset management. He also the Chairman of the Young Mining Professionals not for profit group and lectures at the University of Toronto’s Lassonde Institute of Mining.

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and a Master of Science from the University of Florida.

Thomas Gaisecker finished his studies with master degree in geography with focus on geoinformatics at the University of Salzburg. From 1995 to 2003 he was CEO of ICRA and from 2000 to 2003 also partner of NextGIS.

Since 2003 he is with RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems, now as Senior Manager International Sales (responsible for sales, training and support working with RIEGL distribution partners worldwide) and as Mining & Monitoring Business Division Manager.

He is an expert for Terrestrial Laser Scanning / UAS-based laser scanning and applications in mining.