Allison has worked with local, national, and global leaders to transform the mining and extractive resource sector, with particular emphasis on transparency (Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative) management, systems, laws, regulation, taxation, and effective dialogue. The focus of which has always been People, Planet and Practices.

She has served in organisations at a national and international level, including the World Bank, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), and the Tony Blair Institute (TBI). She has worked as the lead mining advisor to support many governments, Presidents, and Prime Ministers across various jurisdictions. Most recently, she served as the lead mining advisor in Rwanda over a five-year period and oversaw a series of strategic reforms. 

Allison George is currently the Head of Programs and Initiatives, Development Partner Institute.

Angeles (Angie) Destefano has vast experience with global companies, specialising in Diversity, Inclusion and employee experience. Positions such as Inclusion, Diversity and Engagement Manager at Kinross and HR Consulting Manager at IAE Business School for the LATAM region helped her develop a strong HR background. During the past 15 years, Angeles has led projects for global organisations, delivering DEI, culture change management and leadership program implementations. Also, she has more than eight years in Higher Education positions as a Professor in master programs—author of books and articles on HR diversity and women leadership. 

On a personal note, Angeles deeply believes in empathy and compassion. She’s passionate about humanising the workplace and creating work environments where members can bring all themselves and feel empowered. 

Angeles Destefano is deeply committed to advancing gender diversity and inclusion in the mining industry. She believes that diversity and inclusion is not only an ethical imperative but also a strategic one that leads to better decision-making, more innovation and ultimately, more sustainable and profitable organisations. She has a wealth of experience in the mining industry, including leadership roles, and her skills and knowledge would be an asset to the team. Furthermore, she is passionate about supporting and empowering women in the industry, and she believes that being on the Advisory Council would allow her to make a meaningful and impactful contribution to this cause. Angeles Destefano’s motivation and passion for DEI will make a valuable contribution to IWIM and the community it serves. 

Briony is a sustainability professional in the global resource industry, with broad operational and business experience across risk, governance, external relations, environment, social responsibility and health/safety.

With an academic background in natural sciences and community relations, Briony has led sustainability programs for Newmont – the world’s leading gold mining company – at mining and mineral processing operations in Australia and the United States.

Briony’s current responsibilities include leading Newmont’s enterprise-wide risk and governance programs: developing and building strategy for the organisation’s conformance to legal commitments, external obligations, and internal standards; and driving continuous improvement of governance systems.  She is actively engaged in several international forums focused on responsible mining frameworks and standards.

Briony believes that responsible mining must be inclusive, transparent, and society-focused.  She brings a systems-orientated perspective and a strong commitment to fostering diverse representation in decision-making at all levels of the sector.

Deirdré de Jager is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in financial services and mining. Originally from South Africa, Deirdré immigrated to Australia with her family in 2017.   With over 10 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry, Deirdré has honed her skills in connecting with people and leading with humility. Her ability to build strong relationships, coupled with her commercial acumen have been instrumental in driving successful outcomes.  

In 2020, Deirdré transitioned to the mining sector and joined Rio Tinto, a leading global mining company. Currently serving as a Procurement Specialist, she brings valuable expertise in change management, project management, and leadership to her role. 

Beyond her professional endeavours, Deirdré is a survivor of breast cancer and serves as a Community Ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. As an advocate for early diagnosis and fundraising for life-saving research, she passionately supports initiatives that promote awareness and provide support to those affected.  

Deirdré holds a BCom Degree and a Post Graduate qualification in Business Administration. She is committed to continuous learning and staying abreast of industry trends and best practices.  

Deirdré drives diversity and champions equity and equality in the workplace. She believes in fostering an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. With her strong values and extensive experience, Deirdré is excited about the future of the mining industry and looks forward to making a lasting impact through her work.  

Irene Irazábal is an experienced independent consultant with over 11 years of expertise in development policy and peace matters. She operates at the intersection of the public and private sectors, focusing on the social sustainability aspects of the infrastructure and energy industries. Irene has successfully designed and managed multi-stakeholder programs in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. These programs aim to foster consensus among grassroots and policy-level stakeholders, supporting responsible supply chains and good governance. 

With a background in law and a Master’s degree in International Peace Studies, Irene believes in the value of clear and measurable social performance strategies. She advocates for Human Rights, diversity, and inclusion, recognizing their positive impact on business outcomes. 

Irene actively engages in challenging conversations to promote equity and ensure that diverse voices are heard and valued. She has a keen interest in conflict transformation and alternative justice systems, exploring innovative approaches to foster consensus.  

During her free time, she enjoys practicing sports in nature.  

Country Finance Manager, Thiess. Based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Responsible for overall finance function of Thiess projects in Mongolia. 

A CA qualified finance leader with over 20 years’ experience across various aspects of accounting and finance in both profit and non-profit sectors. Over 12 years of hands-on experience in the mining industry within a global organisation. Before joining the mining industry Itgel worked in the non-profit sector for over 7 years, making a contribution to put an end to childhood cancer.  

Itgel is a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, holds a Master’s degree from University of New England and Bachelor’s degree from University of Sydney.   

Advocates for Cultural Awareness – Strives to educate herself and those around her about the importance of cultural awareness.  

Jane Yelland has over 25 years of Australian mining experience focussing on health, safety, environment and community disciplines and she holds a Bachelor of Science (Resource and Environmental Management) from Australian National University.   

After starting her career as an environmental science graduate at North Parkes Mine, Jane has gone onto hold a number of technical and leadership roles with Newcrest, North Mining Limited, MIM, Xstrata and Peel Mining.  Providing opportunities for others and giving back to the community are pillars that Jane has held firm throughout her career – this has enabled Jane to blend her passion for mining with a commitment to supporting the development of competent and enthusiastic mining professionals to help meet the future needs of local communities and mines alike.

Juan Carlos Alonso is a global executive with over 25 years of experience leading transformation and growth in mining and minerals, building materials, and downstream industries. He has held senior leadership roles at Bekaert, Imerys, Lhoist, Cemex and Boston Consulting Group, driving strategies that significantly increased profitability, built billion-euro businesses across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas, and delivered large-scale value creation. Juan Carlos is known for building diverse, high-performing teams, and passionate about creating inclusive environments that unlock innovation and high performance.

With deep expertise across the mining value chain, from upstream development to downstream application markets, Juan Carlos has a strong track record of building growth platforms, advancing sustainability, and creating value through innovation and partnerships. Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, he champions talent development and cross-cultural collaboration as drivers of innovation. He is eager to bring this experience and energy to support IWIM’s mission of advancing equity in the natural resources sector, and looking forward to connect and partner with peers to exchange ideas and shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Juan Carlos holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a Mexican and Belgian national, most recently acting as the Chief Strategy, M&A and Sustainability Officer and Executive Committee member of Bekaert.

Juan Carlos has two lovely children, Marina and Pablo, aged 14 and 15, is an avid traveller and enjoys playing tennis and padel.

Kevin D’Souza is a distinguished professional and visionary thought leader with nearly three decades of direct experience in Environment Social & Governance (ESG) and more recently Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) related issues in mining. His career has focused on creating sustainable business value, combined with social purpose, through informed ESG strategic planning, and real tactical operational implementation for value protection and creation. He has conscientiously overseen the recruitment, development, and retention of multi-cultural and diverse talent in company-wide HSEC and security functions. He has led teams in multiple company processes, including acquisitions, restructurings, turnarounds, consolidations, and divestments whilst navigating unique ESG-related due diligence, and host country permitting and regulatory requirements. 

Kevin has gained wide-ranging knowledge, and both strategic and operational experience, in a variety of consultancy, managerial, and senior/executive leadership roles from remote exploration camps, construction sites, and operational mines, to Corporate and even Ministerial offices. He has expertly led, guided, and collaborated with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams to address and resolve conflict; reach consensus to secure and maintain local and Indigenous community acceptance (social license to operate); and the creation of sustainable socio-economic value and robust environmental performance.

Kevin has amassed direct operational experience in over fifty countries worldwide, especially in developing countries and fragile post-conflict areas. He is known for his strong cross-cultural competency and deliberate relationship-based approach, He has also worked extensively as a strategic advisor on extractive industry-related developmental programs for major NGOs and with International Funding Institutions (IFIs), including the World Bank, DFID, ILO, and several UN agencies supporting emerging market Governments on policy reform and investment programs. 

Kevin has overseen multi-level government relations and regulatory permitting in numerous jurisdictions coupled with meeting stringent international level financing conditionality for both strategic and tactical ESG-related performance requirements. He has proactively met Board, investor, lender, and key stakeholder expectations and the requirements of numerous ESG related performance and disclosure standards including (ICMM, RGMPs, IFC, EBRD, GRI, TCFD, SASB, etc) through the development of strong internal oversight controls and robust reporting procedures. 

Currently Kevin is Chief Sustainability Officer at Resource Capital Funds, based out of their Toronto office.

Liezl Davies is a seasoned mining executive with over two decades of experience spanning operations, production management, business improvement, organizational development, and strategic leadership. Currently serving as the General Manager of Human Capital, Safety & Sustainability at Rössing Uranium Limited, she plays a pivotal role on the Executive Committee, overseeing critical functions including health, safety, environment, mine closure planning, and stakeholder engagement.

Her career at Rössing Uranium has seen her rise through key leadership roles—from General Manager ofOperations to Production and Processing Manager— where she led large-scale teams and managed multimillion-dollar budgets and capital portfolios. Liezl has been instrumental in driving operational excellence, sustainability initiatives, and organizational transformation, particularly during the company’s shareholder transition.

Beyond her corporate leadership, Liezl is the founder of BTD Coaching, a part-time executive coaching practice. As an internationally accredited coach with the International Coach Federation, she has delivered over 290 hours of coaching and spoken at Women in Mining conferences across Southern Africa.

Her influence extends to national policy and education through board appointments by various Namibian ministries, including the Employment Equity Commission, Namibian Qualifications Authority, and Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Training Institute. She also serves as Chairperson of the Rössing Foundation Audit and Risk Committee and leads ESG efforts within the Namibian Uranium Association and Chamber of Mines.

Liezl holds a Master of Philosophy in Management Coaching from Stellenbosch University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration in International Management at Geneva Business School. The focus of her DBA research is to develop a Resilience Framework for Female Leaders in the mining industry, focusing on strategies for Overcoming Challenges and Enhancing Leadership Longevity. This research aims to highlight the methods used by successful female leaders to navigate their resilience successfully and, through the study, develop a customized resilience framework that can ensure sustainable replication in other current and future female leaders.

Her academic and professional journey reflects a deep commitment to purpose-driven leadership, sustainable mining, and human capital development.

Inclusion isn’t just inviting someone to sit at your table. It’s believing they belong there.

Head of Ownership Readiness, Portfolio Strategy & Development – BHP  

Nelly Pazó León is a resources industry professional with 16+ years of experience in law and mining, who is interested in inclusive leadership and innovation. Currently, Nelly represents BHP (BHP.AX) in Brazil, acting as board member of Samarco SA. and the Renova Foundation. Ms. Pazó is actively involved in Diversity & Inclusion initiatives. Nelly has prior experience as an accomplished international in-house counsel, with proven track record in M&A, environmental and social reparation and ESG projects, in the U.S. and Latin America. I  

Nelly Pazó joined BHP in 2011 in Santiago, Chile. She served as in-house counsel for the Base Metals division, working with Portfolio Strategy & Development and Exploration business clients. In such capacity, Nelly advised BHP on a variety of corporate law matters (incl. joint venture management), exploration arrangements in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Arizona U.S., community engagement and government affairs, regulated markets (Chilean power market), commodity transactions and related legal affairs, HSE management (including safety incident investigations), and capital investments for the company’s Latin American portfolio. From 2017 to 2019 Nelly acted as in-house counsel for the global Acquisitions & Divestments team, based in London and Houston, Texas. She has been based in Brazil since 2019, working on BHP´s environmental and social remediation activities in Minas Gerais. 

Prior to joining BHP, she practiced law for five years as a corporate attorney for international clients at Carey y Cia, based in Santiago. 

Nelly was admitted as Chilean attorney in 2006, and as foreign legal consultant in Texas between  2017-2019. Nelly holds an LL.M in International Law by the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and Universidad de Chile. She graduated suma cum laude in 2004 from Universidad Adolfo Ibanez in Viña del Mar, Chile. Nelly is fluent in Spanish, English, German and Portuguese.  

Olusola Olaniyi is a diligent Researcher, Regional/Exploration Geologist. She is the CEO of Berillos Proconsultants. A person of high integrity having excelled in the mining industry for over 3 decades, working in senior/upper management and directorate positions. She is a former Deputy Director Regional Geology and Liaison Officer, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), a Research Agency of Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development where she was actively involved in the general office management, geological data collections, production of maps and geological reports for the Agency’s Publications. She has also worked in Niger River Basin Development Authority and UNICEF Rural Water and Sanitation Project. 

She holds two Masters degrees in Geographic Information System (MGIS) and Business Administration (MBA) with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geology, Certificates in Gender and Mining Governance, and IGF Guidance for Governments: Local content policies.  

Olusola is an ambassador, Delve Exchange Anglophone Africa Forum (Online knowledge exchange and support network of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining associations/communities and quarry workers), member of Women In Mining Nigeria (WIMIN) and Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), and Certified member Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG).   

She is the Co-Author of Delve Country Profile – Nigeria (Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Data). She has a keen interest in equity, improved welfare and empowerment for all, most especially for women, young adults and children. 

A globally respected Sustainability and External Affairs Executive, Rebecca Darling brings over 20 years of experience leading transformative initiatives across the mining and natural resources sectors. Her work has spanned 11 countries on five continents, consistently advancing inclusive stakeholder engagement, Indigenous partnerships, and measurable sustainability outcomes.

Rebecca has held senior leadership roles at Newmont Corporation and Barrick where she shaped enterprise-wide strategies on social performance, human rights, and community investment. She led the integration of people and assets following the largest gold mining acquisition in history, and designed the USD20M COVID Community Support Fund, delivering targeted relief across nine countries.

A passionate advocate for education and equity, she negotiated a landmark agreement to ensure perpetual funding for the Western Shoshone Scholarship Foundation, strengthening Indigenous trust and access to opportunity. She also served as a Visiting Scholar at Cornell University for nearly a decade, where she pioneered a graduate course on Strategic Stakeholder Engagement.

Her board experience includes leadership roles with the Rocky Mountain Micro Finance Institute, Nevada Mining Association, and the Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Agency. Rebecca brings a deep commitment to values-based leadership, systems thinking, and sustainable development.

With over 24 years of experience in underground and open-pit mining, Rebecca specialises in optimising operations, driving productivity, and integrating safety as a cultural pillar. Her expertise includes strategic planning, contractor management, and a wide range of mining methods, such as caving, sublevel caving, narrow vein, and abatement.

As a certified first-class mine manager in multiple jurisdictions, Rebecca has a proven track record of improving operations, increasing safety and regulatory compliance, and achieving measurable results in development and production.

She is passionate about fostering inclusive, high-performing teams and mentoring the next generation of mining professionals. My leadership approach focuses on collaboration, innovation, and aligning operational objectives with community and environmental needs to achieve sustainable success.