Belinda McFadzean, PhD

Centre for Minerals Research, Department of Chemical Engineering

University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa

Belinda McFadzean is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Minerals Research, which is a multidisciplinary research, teaching and consulting Centre at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her research focusses on the flotation process and ranges from fundamental molecular surface interactions to plant-scale optimisation techniques. She manages large research projects, supervises and teaches postgraduate students, and is a consultant to the mineral processing industry.

Professor Kym Runge

Associate Professor Kym Runge is a flotation specialist with over 30 years experience in both industry and academia. She is currently the leader of the Separation Research Program at the SMI-JKMRC. This program aims to develop novel separation processes that will make a step change in mining and involves research into high voltage comminution, coarse and fine particle flotation, improved classification and novel dewatering. She is also the technical director of a collaborative industry sponsored research program into coarse particle flotation (CPR) as well as a chief investigator within a government funded ARC Centre of Excellence for enabling eco-efficient beneficiation of minerals.

Eng. Pedro Castellares Torres

Senior Plant Metallurgist – Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Licensed and Certified Engineer in Metallurgical Engineering from National University of Engineering (UNI), School of Metallurgy. Specialized in R Data Science in Social Data Consulting - Data Mining from University of Applied Sciences (UPC). He has triple certification in Black, Green, and Yellow Belt Lean SixSigma; and one certification in Process Management. All issued by Pacífico University. He has a Data Analytics Certified Associate (DACA) International Certification from CertJoin. He has a certification in Machine Learning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Adam Price

Glencore Tachnology

Adam Price is the Principal Metallurgist for the Jameson Cell technology at Glencore Technology. He has over 13 years of experience in the minerals processing industry, with over 9 years spent at Glencore base metals operations in Australia, and 4 years at Glencore Technology. Key focus areas for the Glencore Technology Jameson Cell team recently have been educating the wider mining community on the technology’s flexibility to effectively process a wide range of commodities and all duties within a flotation circuit, and the subsequent launch of the Jameson Concentrator, which is a full flotation and regrind circuit consisting solely of Jameson Cells and IsaMills.

Kari Heiskanen

Kari Heiskanen is a graduate of the Helsinki University of Technology (Now Aalto University) where he obtained both his M.Sc and D.Sc. (Eng). He was professor and chair in Mechanical Process Technology and Recycling since 1985 and was Dean of the Faculty of Materials Science Engineering from 1998 to 2008. He received 2005 the “Teacher of the Year” award from Aalto University Student Corps and 2007 “The Excellence of Teaching Award” from the Technology Advancement Foundation of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce. He became an emeritus professor 2014 and has since served as a Technical Director at Outotec (now Metso-Outotec). He has published more than 130 scientific papers and about the same amount of publications meant for the larger public. Has been the author of books “Particle Classification” and “Metrics of Material and Metal Ecology” with others. He has served as President of the Finnish Mining and Metallurgical Engineers Society and was elected to the Finnish Academy of Engineering in 1999. He has been a member of the IMPC Council from 2008 to 2016. He is a member of SME, CIM, TMS.

Recent research interests:
Particle technology, particle interactions, classification, multi-phase flows and multiphysics modelling, flotation fundamentals.

Guillermo Bermúdez

B.Sc Chemical Engineering and MBA. From Sonora, Mexico.

Started working in Metso Outotec (Outotec-side) in 2014, previous operations experience in Pyro and Hydrometallurgical plants.

He has developed different roles in Metso Outotec including Process Metallurgist, Technical Sales Support, Site Account Manager and currently working in Leading the global Product Management team.

Has led Mineral Processing testwork , Process Assessments, Concentrator Plant commissioning and ramp up.

Developed and launched several products and technologies.

Has been based in different offices in Metso Outotec including Mexico, Finland and now Canada.

Hernan Ricardo Guerrero Flores

Senior Metallurgist, Concentrator Plant, Marcobre

Metallurgical Engineer from National University of Trujillo, Peru; and Master in Geometallurgy from San Marcos Major National University, Peru. The Mag. Hernan Guerrero has a vast experience with Mo and Cu minerals, SAG mill, cell flotation of high volume (300 m3), inverse flotation of talc, Plant commissioning and ramp up; and geometallurgical modelling. A long his professional experience, Mag. Guerrero has worked as Metallurgical Balance Engineer at Cerro Verde Mine and Metallurgist Supervisor at Barrick Gold Corporation.

Grettel Benavente

Metallurgical Civil Engineer

Eng. Benavente is a metallurgical civil engineer from University of Concepción, Chile. Eng. Benavente holds a Six Sigma Certificate (Black Belt) and has nine years of experience in mineral processing at concentrator plants – flotation. With broad and balanced theoretical and practical experience in operation and management of mining business.

John Viega

Vice President, Global Sales, and Service

John received a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut, an MBA from the University of Hartford and completed extensive course work in the International Management program at Rensselaer University.

Since joining CiDRA in 1997, John Viega has served in several senior operational roles with CiDRA as Vice President. During this period, John has led talented teams of professionals, successfully commercializing innovative technology solutions in the Northern Alberta’s mineable oil sands, hard rock mining and other industries.

John’s mission has been to build long-lasting, trusted partnerships with many of the largest companies in the world. CiDRA listens to its customers’ unserved and underserved needs and develops innovative process technologies that deliver step-change improvements to throughput, recovery and operating efficiency.

Mario Leon

Senior Data Scientist at IntelliSense.io

Mario Leon is a Senior Data Scientist at IntelliSense.io with expertise in real-time modelling and simulation of concentrator processes with both Machine Learning and Physical Modelling Techniques. He started his career as a Structural Engineer at University of Chile. Additionally, he has studied Mathematics, Graphic Computing and Finite Elements. High ability to use theoretical knowledge to solve engineering problems. He previously worked as a Lead Engineer of CAD Plant Design Systems (2D, 3D and 4D) and Lead Engineer in charge of developing Flotation Simulation software.

Eng. Maria Pia Arancibia

Northern Catholic University

Graduated from Civil Engineering and Metallurgical Performance, with more than 15 years of academic and operational experience in sulphide ore processing. With a high commitment to providing ecological low-risk alternatives for the industry, sustainability with the environment, and high social-environmental commitment. Her specialized areas are sustainable electrochemical process, water quality development and mineral process optimization. Currently, Eng. Arancibia is doing her post-doctoral in wastewater quality innovation using functionalized nanoparticles at Northern Catholic University by Fondef ID21I10411 project.

Dr. Elenice M S Silva

Graduated in Industrial Chemistry at Federal University of Ouro Preto (2003), master's in Mineral Engineering at Federal University of Ouro Preto (2008), and doctorate in Mining, Material and Metallurgical Engineering at Federal University of Minas Gerais (2018). Has experience in Mining Engineering, focusing on Methods of Concentration and Ore Enrichment. Is currently an adjunct professor at the Federal University of Catalão.

Prof. Dr. André Carlos Silva

Graduated in Mining Engineering (2000), Master in Mineral Engineering (2003) and Doctor in Materials Engineering (2010) at the Federal University of Ouro Preto. Post-doc researcher at Federal University of Minas Gerais (2015) and at Technische Universität Clausthal (2018). Has a research fellowship from the Brazilian agency CNPq level 2. Associate professor III in the Mining Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering at the Federal University of Catalão and coordinator of the Postgraduate Program in Exact and Technological Sciences (PPGCET), mandate 2020-2024. Has experience in Mining and Materials Engineering, with emphasis on mineral processing. Associated editor of the Technology in Metallurgy, Materials and Mining journal (TMMM).

Francisco Javier Lecaros Morales

President of Mining Foundation of Chile
Director & Business Consultant

Francisco Lecaros is President of Mining Foundation of Chile. Currently, Mr. Lecaros is a member of the board of directors of 6 companies related to the mining area and suppliers. He works as an advisor and consultant to companies as CEO of Asesorías Directivas SPA.Founder of TusAbogados.org. Francisco is a recognized opinion in Chilean mining industry; as well as, he is constantly invited to participate in mining, energy, oil and gas conferences.

Eng. Milton Rodríguez Guzmán

Licensed Chemical Engineer with more than 10 years of professional experience in hydrometallurgy and extractive metallurgy. In 2011, he held his Bachelor’s degree from Chemical Engineering Faculty at the National University of Trujillo. In 2019, he held his Master’s degree in Chemical Process Engineering from the National University of Trujillo. Currently, he is studying the last term of his Master’s program in Metallurgical Engineering with mention in Extractive Metallurgy at San Agustin de Arequipa National University (UNSA). Eng. Rodríguez has worked at process plant areas in numerous mining companies such as Yanacocha, Barrick Gold Corporation. Nowadays, Eng. Rodríguez is Head of Mining Development at Mercantil SA focused on new reagents development and research for flotation.

FELIPE SEPÚLVEDA UNDA

Metallurgical Civil Engineer – Northern Catholic University

Metallurgical Civil Engineer from Northern Catholic University, Chile and he is Doctor in Mineral Processing from Antofagasta University, Chile

Currently, he is an academic at Antofagasta University in Department of Mines. His work area lies in the possibility of connecting the experimental test with systematized mathematical analysis (process optimization, analysis of global sensibility, experimental design, statistics, geostatistics, simulation and metamodels)

Galo Sotomayor Llerena

Metallurgy Superintendent at Mine Constancia - HUDBAY PERÚ SAC

Chemical Engineer with Master's Degree studies in Sciences with a Mention in Metallurgical Engineering from the National University of San Agustin - Arequipa. 35 years of work in different Mineral Processing Plants in Peru.