Biographies​

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Paula Brunetto - Senior geologist, Lundin Mining

Paula is an exploration geologist with over ten years of experience in greenfield, brownfield, and project evaluation. Paula obtained her BSc degree from Universidad de Chile, and completed an MSc degree at the Mineral Deposit Research Unit at UBC in Vancouver. Paula has worked in porphyry, epithermal, and IOCG deposits in South America and NW Turkey with Teck and Lundin Mining. Currently, she works as a Senior Geologist at Lundin Mining in Santiago, working closely with the exploration team in the Candelaria Mine, integrating datasets to define new targets, and looking for new project opportunities in Chile and South America.

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Mary Doherty - Adjunct Professor, Colorado School of Mines

Mary is currently an adjunct professor at Colorado School of Mines, and Program Manager for the Applied  Professional Master’s Degree in Mineral Exploration.  Her most recent industry role was Chief Geoscientist  leading the Global Technology group for Newmont exploration, having worked as the Chief Geochemist for Newmont exploration on global projects.  Following an M.Sc. in exploration geochemistry at Queen’s University, Mary has worked in exploration for Freeport, BHP, IGGC, as a Chief Geochemist, Senior Mine Geologist, and Exploration Geologist involved in the search for Au, Diamonds, and Base Metals.  She spent 5 years working as Manager for ALS Chemex USA and Business Development Manager for ALS North America.  Her passion is new technology development related to geochemistry and mineralogy. Time spent in globally in Mine Geology, Grassroot and Development Geology and Business Management have given her a broad perspective of roles within the industry. 

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Francisca Maepa - PhD candidate, Laurentian University

Francisca Maepa obtained an undergraduate degree in geology and chemistry from the University of Limpopo in South Africa. Soon after graduation, she worked as a graduate geologist for Southern Mapping Company (SMC), a geospatial consulting company, where Francisca was involved in numerous projects that utilized satellite remote sensing data such as hyperspectral, and multispectral datasets for mineral mapping, mineral exploration, agricultural monitoring. Francisca is currently a PhD candidate at Laurentian University specializing in the use of machine learning and geostatistical techniques for exploration targeting. Specifically, her project is using data analytics and machine learning tools to evaluate for gold prospectivity in the Swayze greenstone belt in Canada.

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Alexandria Marcotte, P.Geo. - VP Project Coordination, Osisko Mining

Alexandria Marcotte is the Vice President, Project Coordination for Osisko Mining. Prior to joining Osisko, Alexandria held increasingly senior roles in gold and base metal junior exploration companies, both internationally and across Canada. She started her career working underground in a base metal mine. 
Alexandria received an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, has a Certificate in Mining Management from Ryerson University, and is currently an MBA candidate at the Schulich School of Business. Alexandria is passionate about responsible mining practices and is a member of the Sustainability Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Working Group with the PDAC and is a member of the PGO.

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Christopher Atchison, PhD - Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati

Chris Atchison is an Associate Professor of Geoscience Education in the School of Education and Department of Geology at the University of Cincinnati, and the Founder and Executive Director of the International Association for Geoscience Diversity (www.TheIAGD.org). Through his research and activism, he advocates for students and geoscientists with disabilities by creating opportunities for active participation along pathways that lead to the geoscience workforce. This is done through the intentional development of inclusive communities of learning in classroom, laboratory, and field studies, and the implementation of universally designed instructional strategies. Chris’ work reaches students, instructors, and practitioners across all field-focused science disciplines through presentations, workshops, and accessible field trips and courses.

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Susan Lomas, P.Geo. - Consulting Geologist, Founder of Me Too Mining Association

Susan is a professional geologist with over 30 years of experience as a consultant in exploration and mining.  She has worked as an underground geologist and surface explorationist and now focusses on geological modelling, resource estimation, due diligence reviews and NI 43-101 reporting.  Her career has included working at remote sites all over the world, with junior exploration firms to operating mines, large consulting firms, and ultimately the company she founded in 2006, Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc. (LGGC).  In 2018, Susan founded the Me Too Mining Association (MTMA, www.metoomining.com) to start the conversation about sexual violence, sexual harassment, racism, bullying, intimidation and discrimination in the mining and mineral exploration industries and mining impacted communities.  MTMA designed a mining focussed bystander intervention program, DIGGER, to provide guidance on actions to address inappropriate workplace behaviours with considerations for safety.   Susan was honoured in 2018 to be included in the Women in Mining (UK) 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.

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Pamela Ellemers, P. Geo. - Principal Mineral Resource Manager, De Beers Group

Pamela’s career in the mining industry has spanned more than 25 years. She has held a variety of roles within exploration, laboratory services, project management and resource estimation within the De Beers Group across Canada and South Africa including work in Australia, Brazil, Botswana and India. She is currently the Principal Mineral Resource Manager,
based in Calgary, Alberta. From her early days in the field to the present, Pamela has been passionate about mentoring
and about raising the awareness of geology and science amongst young people, in particular amongst young women. Pamela has led the De Beers Canada Diversity and Inclusion working group and sits on the De Beers Group Diversity and Inclusion Steercom. The De Beers Canada team has made great progress in engaging the entire De Beers Canada workforce in order to determine the real issues and to create real action. Pamela is accredited as a Professional Geoscientist in the province of Ontario and the North West Territories/Nunavut. She holds Bachelor of Arts in Geography, and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Regina, a Management Development certificate from the
University of Pretoria and a post graduate citation in Geostatistics from the University of Alberta.

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