Carolyn Chisholm, General Manager of External Affairs for the Canadian branch of global mining giant Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO) (ASX: RIO) (LON: RIO), has been elected as the new Chair of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) for a term of two years.
MAC chose Chisholm, a veteran in the mining industry, who has been an active participant in various MAC working groups, including the Executive, Indigenous Relations, International Social Responsibility and Public Affairs committees.
Chisholm’s commitment to enhancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and sustainability in the mining sector is well-documented. She has served as Chair of MAC’s Towards Sustainable Mining Governance Team for the past two years.
Pierre Gratton, President and CEO of MAC, expressed his confidence in Chisholm’s leadership.
“Her dedication to the sector, both through her work at Rio Tinto Canada and vast experience with our association through her extensive committee work, makes her extremely well suited to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead,” MAC President and CEO Pierre Gratton said.
Chisholm replaces David Clarry, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Hudbay Minerals (NYSE: HBM) (TSX: HBM), who served as Chair from June 2021 to June 2023. Gratton acknowledged Clarry’s contributions during his tenure, particularly in guiding the sector through the impacts of the pandemic, supply chain issues, permitting challenges, and workforce shortages.
Read more: Mining pollution not adequately addressed by British Columbia laws: Dirty Dozen report
Read more: Canada partners with Rio Tinto to accelerate production of low-carbon aluminum
In her role at Rio Tinto, Chisholm leads the Canadian external affairs team, developing strategies for Rio Tinto at the federal and provincial levels. Before joining Rio Tinto, she spent over twenty years in external affairs and public policy in the private sector, including a stint as Vice President of the Natural Resources and Environment Group with Global Public Affairs.
Chisholm is also an active community member, serving on the Board of Directors of her local hospital, being a founding member of Women for Nature and a Board member of the Terry Fox Research Institute.
“Our industry’s role in providing the raw materials essential to the global energy transition has never been more critical,” Chisholm said.
“Our sector mines some of the lowest carbon intensity minerals and metals on the planet and this is one reason countries from around the world want products from Canada – our commitment to ESG, climate action and sustainable mining is second to none.”
The mining industry contributes significantly to Canada’s economy, adding $125 billion to the national GDP and accounting for 22 percent of Canada’s total domestic exports.
The industry employs 665,000 people directly and indirectly across the country and is the largest private-sector employer of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
