Exclusive interview with Nathan Stubina, VP of Technology at Sherritt International Corporation

What inspired you to moderate the Big Ideas Session at COM 2023, and what are you hoping to achieve through your involvement in this event?

Last year I was the moderator of a similar event in Montréal. I was also one of the speakers. This year I am hoping just to host the event. Last year I found that the event generated quite a bit of buzz with the audience, and I hope to recreate that atmosphere. I enjoyed hearing all the pitches last year; many people reached out to me after the conference.?

What types of ideas and topics are you looking forward to exploring at this year's Big Ideas session?

The themes for COM 2023 are Climate Change and Sustainability.?The BIG ideas should align with the overall themes. However, a lot of latitude will be allowed.?Which of these ideas can be implemented in the short term, and which ones will take time to develop

Why is it essential for Sherritt to sponsor COM 2023, specifically the Big Ideas session?

At Sherritt International, we are big believers in innovation.?Internally, Sherritt Technologies has an Innovation Pipeline that generates dozens of good ideas every year.?Some of these are now in the process of being commercialized.?We are looking to reach out to others (inside and outside of mining) to continue the discussion and find the best path forward to reach our companies' targets.

How do you stay up-to-date with the latest developments and trends in your industry, and what advice would you give to professionals looking to do the same?

I use a variety of formats.?I follow certain people on LinkedIn.?I like reading articles or watching videos about innovation in mining and society.?I like to participate in panel discussions on accelerating the adoption of new technologies.

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry in the coming years, and how do you see companies like Sherritt addressing these challenges?

Our industry has many challenges (opportunities) to address: the world needs more metals if we want to reach our climate change targets, ore grades are decreasing, geopolitical challenges, license to operate concerns (e.g. water, local communities, etc.), attracting younger people into our industry, supply chain disruptions, etc.?We are looking for ideas that address these types of topics.

There isn’t a shortage of ideas.?Some of these may even be classified as “good ideas.”? But “good ideas” that actually make money are rare.?The problem with the mining industry is that it is difficult to implement good ideas.?There is a saying that mining wants to be “the first to be second.”? Now I keep hearing that we want to be “the first to be third.”??

Technology is going to play a vital role in addressing these challenges.?Many technologies the world needs to reach our 2050 targets don’t even exist yet. We need to find ways to accelerate the entire ideation and implementation timeline.?We need better collaboration amongst all stakeholders.

Finally, can you give us a preview of what attendees can expect from the Big Ideas session at COM 2023?

The ideas will be presented in a fast-paced session. Each speaker will be given 5-7 minutes to present their pitch and convince the audience.

The presenters are encouraged to follow the PechaKucha?method.

I want the session to be both fun and thought-provoking.?I want the audience members to reach out to the presenters following the conference.

If you were inspired by Nathan's vision and expertise and want to connect with him, you can find his LinkedIn profile here. Also, if you have a big idea to share, please submit it by following this link.

The deadline to submit your Big Idea is May 5th, 2023.

Don't miss out on the Big Ideas session at COM 2023, and get ready to be inspired by the innovative proposals for the future of mining and society.