Tony O'Neill, Mark Cutifani, Frances Wall and Tony Batchelor

Anglo American Chief Executive gives prestigious lecture at the University of Exeter in Cornwall

Staff, students and guests of the University of Exeter in Cornwall were pleased to welcome Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American plc, to deliver the Cornish Institute of Engineers’ Victor Phillips Memorial Lecture on Friday 15 November.

The Cornish Institute of Engineers (CIE) was founded in 1913 by the then Principal of the Camborne School of Mines, J.J. Beringer to advance mining and all branches of engineering. It maintains a lively programme of lectures and is a regional group of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), closely associated with Camborne School of Mines (CSM).

Ahead of the lecture, Mark, accompanied by Tony O’Neill, Group Technical Director of Anglo American, met Professor Kip Jeffrey, Director of the Camborne School of Mines, Tony Batchelor, Chair of CSM Trust, Hannah Hughes, Lecturer in Exploration and Mining Geology and MSc graduate student Jean Jacques Ferguson who worked on the Anglo American programme whilst studying at the University of Exeter.

They then went on to meet with the University’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Cornwall, Professor David Hosken and other guests and academics from a range of disciplines including mining, renewable energy, business, maths and engineering to discuss future opportunities to collaborate with Anglo American. Sustainability, climate change and developing safer mining practices are also common themes the University and Anglo American share.

Current undergraduate students also had the opportunity to talk with Mark and Tony whilst touring the CSM Museum.

The welcome and introduction to the Victor Phillips Memorial Lecture was given by Professor Frances Wall, President of the Cornish Institute of Engineers and Professor Pat Foster, Council member of both the CIE and its parent organisation, IOM3.

Professor Wall said, ‘We are delighted that Mark Cutifani was able to deliver this annual lecture. It was an opportunity for our members in Cornwall including many Camborne School of Mines students to be inspired by hearing one of the leaders in the industry talking about this exciting time in mining’.

Mark’s lecture focussed on the role of technology in sustainable mining. Anglo Americanis using technology and digitalisation, together with ambitious sustainability goals, to create a far more sustainable future for mining. Many of the technologies it is developing and now implementing at scale in its operations serve to significantly reduce energy and water usage per tonne of metal or mineral. Alongside the obvious benefits of a smaller environmental footprint, their plan is setting the tone throughout the business and covers three principal areas of sustainability, aligned to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals: first, to be a trusted corporate leader; second, to develop thriving communities; and third, to promote a healthy environment. They are working to be the mining company that host communities and governments choose to develop their precious natural resources.

Mark said of his visit: “Anglo American is proud to be a truly global business which brings together people from all backgrounds and it is institutions like Camborne School of Mines that are key to the continued growth and development of mining as an industry, and as a vocation.”

The lecture was followed by a Q&A chaired by Professor Frances Wall and a vote of thanks was given by Mrs Kim-Marie Jackson, North Coast Consulting and Council Member of the Cornish Institute of Engineers.

Guests were then invited to the Masters Suite for a drinks and canapé reception.

Date: 19 November 2019