Newsletter December 2024 - Five years of thinking differently about mining
Welcome to the final newsletter of 2024! I hope you’re all keeping well as we head into what has become one of the busiest times of year for those working in the mining sector.
Many of you will already know that The Intelligent Miner turned five years old this year. Someone asked me recently why I hadn’t made a bigger deal about this milestone. If I’m honest, at the time, I felt too shy. But the truth is, The Intelligent Miner has become a success. And not just for me, but for the other people who’ve helped to shape it too.
While it provides me with a source of income and markets my skills as a writer to a broad audience, The Intelligent Miner has never felt like a ‘job’. The editorial freedom this platform has given me and, I hope, the experts who I collaborate with, feels like a breath of fresh air. I still sit down at my desk every day excited to share thoughts and explore new topics with you.
From the start, The Intelligent Miner has been a community-led publication with readers telling me what they’d like to read (or listen to – hello, podcast!), trusting me to help share their opinions on important, sometimes sensitive, subjects, and authoring their own articles with my encouragement.
I’m proud to have created a space where contributors can show up as their whole selves, and that a handful of you have chosen to work with me as regular contributors going into 2025. The Intelligent Miner is now read by around 30,000 people each year in over 100 countries (only a small portion of you are in the UK). More than 2,000 people receive this newsletter every month. From CEOs to government officials, marketeers to consultants, I see and appreciate you all.
The point of this is that I want to say thank you. Whether you’ve been with me since day one, or for only one day, this space is as much yours as it is mine and I’m grateful for your continued support and feedback. It’s not just my success, it’s our success. So happy birthday to us. I’m excited to see where we will go together over the next five years.
Have a great Christmas break! And, if you'd like to see what's coming up next year, check out our 2025 editorial calendar.
Carly
This month on the podcast
Transition planning: mine closure for the 21st Century
Editor's pick
Our top three articles from November..
Reading list
Our editorial theme for December is 'making businesses more resilient'. Here are eight interesting reads to whet your appetite...
ICMM: We cannot ignore the tension between the need to mine for critical minerals and respecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights
Danielle Martin emphasises balancing critical mineral mining with Indigenous rights through consent and meaningful engagement for a just energy transition
The Changing Face of Mining: Democratising education for diversity
Benjamin Cox and Ben Murphy are on a mission to democratise mining education. Join Peggy Bell on The Changing Face of Mining as they discuss how accessible education could transform the industry's future
SEI Perspectives: EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act fails to protect Sámi rights – here’s how to strengthen it
The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act risks compounding injustices for the Sámi people. Rasmus Kløcker Larsen and Kaisa Raitio propose key amendments to protect Indigenous rights and ensure a just climate transition
Beth Borody: How women can mitigate risks in mining
Femina Collective CEO, Beth Borody, outlines five key mining risks and explains how greater female participation throughout the industry could help to address them
Kevin Hendry: Doing Everything Is Not Strategy
Kevin Hendry explores why true business strategy isn’t about doing everything but about understanding customers' needs, focusing on what matters most, and creating a clear value proposition to guide your business. Not mining specific, but an interesting read nevertheless
Beth Borody: Mining & Government - where does one role end and the other begin?
Beth examines the complex relationship between mining companies and governments, highlighting the need for strong ESG principles and partnerships to drive sustainable, equitable outcomes for communities
Deep Dives with DPI: Building authentic partnerships with Dr Chris Anderson
Intelligent Miner alumni, Chris Anderson, shares powerful insights on community engagement in mining, highlighting how collaboration and respect drive sustainable development
Think & Act Differently Podcast: Live at IMARC - ecosystem collaboration for innovation
The TAD podcast is back, hurrah! Join Katie Hulmes, live from IMARC 2024, as she discusses ecosystem collaboration and innovation in mining with Neville Plint (Mining3) and Sam Forbes (SPARC)