Driving Innovation and Sustainability: An Interview with Zac Brown from SGS

In our latest interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Zac Brown from SGS , a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification. SGS is renowned for its comprehensive expertise across the mining lifecycle, helping clients reduce supply chain risk and meet industry standards. With over 99,600 employees and a vast network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, SGS stands as the global benchmark for quality, integrity, and sustainability. As a proud sponsor of the Big Ideas Session at COM 2024, SGS is committed to fostering innovative discussions on clean technologies and the future of the materials industry.

Can you tell us a bit about SGS and its role within the materials industry?

We are the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. Our experts solve your most unique challenges across the mining lifecycle. We are recognized as the global benchmark for?sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 99,600 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

We are a world leader, boasting decades of experience in the minerals and mining industry. Our expertise spans a broad range of commodities including base metals, precious and platinum group metals, critical and industrial minerals, recycling, non-ferrous metals, coal, coke, petroleum coke, fertilizers, dry chemicals, sulphur, solid biofuels and steel/steel-making raw materials. Globally, we are positioned to serve as trusted advisors on the ground reducing our clients' supply chain risk. We invest in the latest equipment, and continual training and ensure industry requirements are met at the global, regional, and local levels.?

Our demonstrated success in project development and support for operational improvement has provided hundreds of companies with effective and practical technical solutions. Our services encompass the skills of highly qualified geologists, mineralogists, mining engineers, metallurgists and process engineers brought together to provide accurate and timely support for all phases of project development from core logging, exploration advice, and resource estimation through to metallurgical and pilot plant testing, feasibility studies, engineering, construction and commissioning.

As the sponsor of the Big Ideas Session at COM 2024, what motivated SGS to support this event?

The mining sector will play a significant role in helping ensure the world can reach its goal for various emission targets globally. To help, the mining sector will need to push itself and bring to light new ideas and viewpoints. As a result, the Big Ideas session will allow for a fast-paced open floor for innovative perspectives and ideas to be heard and openly discussed. It’s going to be a fantastic event and SGS is proud to be a part of the event!?

With the session focusing on clean technologies for a materials-intensive future, how does SGS contribute to advancements in this area?

Mining operators face increasingly complex business environments, with high stakeholder expectations, including a focus on automation and sustainability. To meet these challenges our extensive services, help to minimize risk and improve decision-making and stakeholder engagement throughout the entire mining value chain.? The need for critical minerals has never been more important and we’re positioned across the entire project life cycle as the technical leader in the development of critical mineral projects.

Our technical expertise in geochemistry, metallurgy, process development and consulting, commodities trade and sustainability services is unmatched around the world. We have a global network of highly skilled experts to give our clients the insights needed to make timely business decisions and create efficient mine operations. We help organizations meet Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability expectations, and engage in the circular economy. We focus on removing the guesswork from our clients’ mining operations and provide them with industry-leading expertise to help them shore up their operations, increase efficiency, maximize ROI, and demonstrate sustainability credentials.

Zac Brown’s insights shed light on SGS’s pivotal role in advancing clean technologies and sustainable practices within the mining and materials industry. As we look forward to the Big Ideas Session at COM 2024, it is evident that companies like SGS are essential in driving innovation and achieving global emission targets. Check out the Big Ideas Session here.

Connect with Zac Brown on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest advancements and discussions. Stay tuned for more updates from COM 2024 and join us in exploring the transformative ideas that will shape our industry.