Mining Companies: ESG Response in Time of Crisis

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This pandemic has brought to light ESG related risks, chief among them health, safety, and workforce dynamics. This panel discussion looks at lessons learnt and experiences gained through the crisis and how regional and multinational companies are maintaining critical services ensuring the safety of employees while sharing their outlook for the post-coronavirus recovery in the sector.

Moderator: Charles Bond

Partner, Head of Natural Resources (UK), Gowling WLG

As a corporate finance partner Charles Bond is always on the lookout to help his clients develop their business, whether through the investment of equity capital, a merger, or through acquisition. Clients in the mining sector and in the oil and gas sector benefit from his wide network of connections across the globe to source new money and find growth opportunities.

Charles brings considerable experience to every transaction, having spent ten years as a corporate lawyer within a major international London-based law firm, before heading to a leading equity capital markets and M&A team.

Charles also acts for large private, UK and international companies advising family shareholders, notably AGR, the Assaubayev family company.

Jeremy Wrathall

СEO, Cornish Lithium

A mining engineer by training, Jeremy initially worked in the South African gold mining industry and then followed an investment banking career, starting as a mining analyst in 1988. Over the last 30 years he has held various roles including Global Head of Mining Equities at Deutsche Bank, Global Head of Mining Equity Sales at UBS and, most recently, Head – Global Natural Resources at Investec Bank in London. In 2017 he left the investment banking industry and founded his own company, Cornish Lithium Ltd, where he serves as the Chief Executive Officer.

Paul Cronin

CEO, Adriatic Metals plc

Mr Cronin is a co-founder and Director of Adriatic Metals and is Managing Director of ASX listed Black Dragon Gold Corp, in addition to being a Director of TSX listed Global Atomic Corporation.

Mr Cronin has over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, investment banking, funds management, and commodity trading, with a strong European mining focus.

Yulia Chekunaeva

Director for Capital Markets and Strategic Initiatives, En+ Group

Yulia Chekunaeva is Director for Capital Markets and Strategic Initiatives of En+ Group. She is responsible for capital markets, investor relations, non-financial reporting, international strategic partnerships, stakeholder management and sustainability activities, including business Sustainability and Climate change strategy in the context of the UN SDGs and WEF Mission Possible project for Aluminium. Yulia joined the Company in September 2016 and successfully led the execution team to completing En+ Group’s IPO on the London Stock Exchange in November 2017.

Before joining the Group, Yulia was Executive Director of Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research. Prior to Goldman Sachs, she was Head of Metals and Mining Corporate lending at Sberbank CIB – Largest Corporate Clients department.

She holds an MSc from Warwick Business School (University of Warwick) in Economics and Finance. She completed her undergraduate studies at International College of Economics and Finance, which allowed her to graduate with two degrees: a BSc in Economics with honours from State University – Higher School of Economics, and a BSc in Banking and Finance from The London School of Economics and Political Sciences.