Responsible Resource Development 1

Reflective Essay Diego Silva

Foundation Program: Reflections and learnings

In recent years business increasingly has been viewed as a major cause of social,
environmental, and economic problems. Companies are widely perceived to be
prospering at the expense of the broader community. In this context the program
Sustainable Development in the Minerals Industry was a marvellous opportunity
to hear from a variety of professionals involved and specialized in sustainability
subjects, on other words, the best mix of people who lead and live the daily effort
to drive the mining industry as the best in its field.
Important learning were gained in this experience, including how the industry react
to the joint endeavour in sustainable development, drivers of change, factors which
limit and constrain improvements, social and technical challenges and how to face
these challenges, everything in this current unfavourable economic environment for
commodities.
Perceptions related to the program and its content are mainly based in the way to
face sustainable issues, where for instance are considered opportunities, while the
form to look at the sustainability has change in the history of the industry, where we
passed from Philanthropy to Corporate Social Responsibility.
Even more surprising is what Michael Porter suggest about these matters, the
widely commented idea of Creating Shared Value, which comes to discussion
with the concept of win-win, in a common effort of the stakeholders.
Important ideas in terms of the experience are connected with the motion of how
important is Sustainable Development for mining industries. In this sense the term
License to Operate emerges as a key factor for decision makers, to ensure the
future of the company.

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Responsible Resource Development 2

Reflective Essay Diego Silva

On the other hand, there are some aspects that were very inspiring, but not less
difficult. At the workshop was mentioned that Sustainable Development implies
opportunities to improve processes through technological solutions, that result in
enhance the operational performance while we contribute with the efficiency to the
environment.
Furthermore, what was really challenging, was to understand and discover that it is
possible to contribute to the Sustainable Development from different positions, in
that line I am highly motivated to mark a trace with my Research at BRC-SMI,
considering that every new finding has a deep impact in the chain of value of the
Mining Industry.
I got the conclusion that Sustainable development, is today more important than
ever, and as professionals of this field, we have to take an active role heading
changes, considering that the grades and quality of resources are going down,
every time energy and water accesses are more complicated, new regulations
appear, larger unskilled workforces are involved, significant health issues take
place, among many other aspect that affect and directly impact our performance
and options by adding risk, but also thinking that everything is an opportunity to
benefit our operation and the people.
Finally just mention that the workshop provided me a better understanding of the
context where to conduct my research and how contribute to better sustainability
outcomes for the mining sector. As well understanding the concepts of sustainable
development and their relevance to mining. While enhancing my knowledge of the
mining industry and of the factors that drive and constrain decisions in the sector.

Diego Silva
d.silva@uq.net.au

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