The £3.5 million donation will fund a research programme combining the study of mining engineering with environmental and social sciences.

Philanthropic donation will help achieve a sustainable future for mining

Anglo American, one of the world’s leading mining companies, has made a transformational donation to support sustainable mining research and education at the Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter.

The £3.5 million donation will fund a research programme combining the study of mining engineering with environmental and social sciences and include interdisciplinary and policy-related work. It will include a Professorial Chair and a cohort of post-Doctoral Fellowships.

The ‘Mark Cutifani Anglo American Chair in Mining Innovation’ will honour the achievements of Mr Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American, who retired in June 2022 after nine years.

During his time as Chief Executive Mr Cutifani led a transformation that reduced environmental incidents by 97% and led to a 92% drop in occupational health cases. He also introduced a sustainable mining plan with nine stretch goals to achieve a healthy environment, support thriving communities and being recognised as a trusted corporate leader. These goals include reducing emissions, achieving net positive impact on biodiversity, improving energy and water efficiency, and being carbon neutral by 2040.

The ‘Mark Cutifani Anglo American Chair in Mining Innovation’ will reflect the ambitions set out in this sustainable mining plan and recognises the need to approach mining activity responsibly. The successful candidate will establish a research group for the future of mining with an emphasis on the proactive development of new technologies, taking into account their technical, social, environmental and governance impacts. The new Chair will promote creative and inter-disciplinary research collaborations between Anglo American, Camborne School of Mines researchers and educators, and the wider stakeholder communities.

Professor Stephen Hesselbo, Head of Camborne School of Mines said: “This generous donation will be incredibly impactful for our work in sustainable mining. With increased demand for minerals and metals in a profoundly transforming world, it is vital we develop sustainable practices and innovative technological solutions for extraction. This programme will influence mining practice for the good of industry, society, and the natural world.”

Anik Michaud, Group Director of Corporate Relations and Sustainable Impact at Anglo American said: “The mining and metals we produce are the essential ingredients for modern life and for the transition to a decarbonised economy.  We are committed to producing our products responsibly and making a positive contribution to the communities where we operate and to society at large, by reducing our environmental footprint and contributing to socio economic development. We are delighted to support this world-leading research at the Camborne School of Mines which will help our industry to address critical challenges in the way we use land, energy, and water. This exciting partnership will help us deliver our goal of fostering innovation and delivering step change results across the entire mining value chain.”

The ‘Mark Cutifani Anglo American Chair in Mining Innovation’ will be appointed in 2023 and the donation will fund an expendable endowment for a 14-year period. 

Date: 19 July 2022