The Net Zero Paradox: Progress or Political Pinball?

Panel Chair:  Mark Fellows - Co-Founder & Executive Director, Skarn Associates

Mark has over 30 years of experience, providing strategic advice on metal markets, exploration, development projects, operating mines and corporate development. Mark's expertise includes asset evaluation, benchmarking and optimisation, and encompasses, geology, mining, ore processing, and mining finance. He has conducted investment appraisals of numerous companies, mining projects and mining sector services businesses. Prior to co-founding Skarn, Mark led the metals & mining consulting business at SNL Financial.  His career started in 1987 as an exploration geologist with Anglo American Corporation in Southern Africa. He went on to work for junior diamond and gold explorers in West and East Africa. He subsequently spent 13 years at Brook Hunt & Associates Ltd (now Wood Mackenzie) where he held the position of Director with primary responsibility for bespoke consulting work. From 2009 Mark was Managing Director of GFMS Mine Economics Limited, a business co-founded with GFMS Limited, which was sold to Thomson Reuters in 2011.  Mark graduated from University of Liverpool with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology.

Jonathan Dunn OBE - Head of Climate, Strategy and Sustainability, Anglo American

Jonathan has responsibility for climate strategy development and implementation across the Anglo American group. This includes emissions mitigation, climate engagement and advocacy, building the company’s resilience to a changing climate and drawing together different parts of the group to ensure the company is contributing to a Just Transition. Previously, Jonathan worked in Anglo American’s Corporate Relations team, leading on UK Government Relations and building an advocacy strategy in relation to critical minerals policy. Prior to joining Anglo American in 2018, Jonathan served as a British diplomat for 21 years, during which time he spent four years in Hanoi, Vietnam and eight years in Brazil (5 in Brasilia and 3 in Rio de Janeiro). His time in Rio coincided with the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Jonathan led the UK Government’s work on the Games, receiving an OBE from HM Queen Elizabeth for this work. Jonathan holds a bachelor degree in Geography from the University of Sheffield and is based in London.

Dr John Murton – Senior Sustainability Advisor, Standard Chartered Bank

John leads the work of the Blended Finance Programmes team and fronts Standard Chartered’s engagement with major donors.   He also supports the wider work of the bank in the sphere of climate policy. He was awarded a CMG by King Charles III in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List for services to foreign policy and climate change

Nick Stansbury – Head of Climate Solutions, Legal & General Investment Management

Nick is the Head of Climate Solutions in L&G's Asset Management business and is a well-recognised, expert and respected commentator on climate issues. His views are frequently quoted in leading national and international media on key matters such as climate solutions, the net-zero transition and energy company investment. 

Sophie Chung - Chief Executive Officer - Strategy & Development, Skarn Associates

Sophie joined Skarn in 2020 as an Executive Director and has played a leading role in developing the GHG and Energy products. She also oversees Consulting, and manages product development and strategy.  Sophie's roles prior to Skarn include Principal Copper Analyst at Rio Tinto, Manager of Copper Mine Cost Service at Wood Mackenzie and Equity Research Associate for Metals and Mining at Desjardins Capital Markets, in addition to providing independent consultancy for the Metals and Mining industry. Her expertise ranges from financial valuation of individual assets and companies to dynamic modelling of global mine supply and costs, long term price forecasting, carbon and financial risk analysis for projects, asset due diligence for financing deals and strategic advice on business development.  Sophie holds a B.Sc. Hons. in Geology and Physics from University of Toronto, Canada.

Flowing Into the Balance Sheet: Water Risk in the Metals Sector

Panel Chair:  Mark Fellows - Co-Founder & Executive Director, Skarn Associates

Mark has over 30 years of experience, providing strategic advice on metal markets, exploration, development projects, operating mines and corporate development. Mark's expertise includes asset evaluation, benchmarking and optimisation, and encompasses, geology, mining, ore processing, and mining finance. He has conducted investment appraisals of numerous companies, mining projects and mining sector services businesses. Prior to co-founding Skarn, Mark led the metals & mining consulting business at SNL Financial.  His career started in 1987 as an exploration geologist with Anglo American Corporation in Southern Africa. He went on to work for junior diamond and gold explorers in West and East Africa. He subsequently spent 13 years at Brook Hunt & Associates Ltd (now Wood Mackenzie) where he held the position of Director with primary responsibility for bespoke consulting work. From 2009 Mark was Managing Director of GFMS Mine Economics Limited, a business co-founded with GFMS Limited, which was sold to Thomson Reuters in 2011.  Mark graduated from University of Liverpool with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology.

Kaisa Toroskainen - Senior Programme Manager, Global Battery Alliance

Kaisa is a resource governance expert with over ten years of experience in promoting good environmental, social and governance practices in mineral supply chains, and advising governments, companies and civil society on compliance with related standards.  Prior to joining the GBA, Kaisa worked as a component manager in the German development cooperation/GIZ and European Union’s West Africa Regional Resource Governance project, as Africa Governance Officer at the Natural Resource Governance Institute, as well as a management consultant and a researcher. She holds an MSc in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and an MSc in Management from the Helsinki School of Economics.

Stefan Debruyne - Director of External Affairs, SQM

Focusing on SQM’s engagement with stakeholders of the global EV battery value chain, Stefan joined SQM in 2005 as Lithium and Iodine Sales Director Asia-Pacific where he witnessed firsthand the boom in lithium-ion battery production in Asia and the emerging electrification of transportation in China.  He earned a master's degree in commercial engineering from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) in 1997 and an Executive MBA from Vlerick Business School (in Belgium) in 2021.  Prior to joining SQM in 2005, he held a variety of international commercial roles in different listed companies.

Scott Gordon – Sustainable Investing Research, Barclays Investment Bank

Scott is a sustainable investing research analyst within Barclays Investment Bank. He has over a decade of experience spanning sustainable investing, investment strategy, and public policy. Before joining Barclays, Scott worked as a Senior Policy Adviser in the UK government’s Inclusive Economy Unit, and he has held roles with several investment management firms.

Raymond Philippe – General Manager, Skarn Water

Raymond is a senior expert in mine water management with more than 25 years of international experience across technical, commercial, and strategic roles. He combines deep engineering expertise with strong business insight and was an early leader in advancing integrated water governance for the mining sector. As head of Skarn Water, Raymond has advised major mining companies, financial institutions, and technology firms on water-related risk, governance, and project development. With a technical foundation in mineral processing and environmental engineering, his experience spans the full spectrum of mining water challenges: from complex seawater desalination projects, effluent treatment, and site-level water balances to water efficiency, climate adaptation, strategic water planning and governance, and due diligence on water-related risks. He also contributes to the global sustainability agenda as a member of the IFRS Sustainability Reference Group.