Dr. Christian Both serves as an Optimization Specialist at Newmont Corporation, where he develops and implements advanced optimization workflows across the company’s global operations to unlock enterprise value and enhance strategic decision-making. Previously, Christian was a researcher at the COSMO – Stochastic Mine Planning Laboratory at McGill University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Mining Engineering. His research at COSMO focused on the simultaneous stochastic optimization of mining complexes, specifically integrating geometallurgical modeling and real-time production data to improve mine planning under uncertainty. He is dedicated to bridging the gap between innovative computing technologies and industrial applications to solve the mining industry's most complex challenges.

Cecilia Artica is a Geologist with over 25 years of international experience across copper, gold, and polymetallic projects and mining operations, spanning the mining value chain from exploration and resource definition through technical studies and production. She specialises in Mineral Resource estimation, geometallurgical modelling, and orebody knowledge, and was formally trained in Resource estimation by Dr Harry Parker. She leads and supports multidisciplinary teams in geological evaluation and resource confidence reviews, and has contributed to technical due diligence, project audits, and asset evaluations across South America, North America, Africa, Asia, and Australia, supporting investment and governance decisions. Cecilia holds a Master’s degree in Economic Geology and is finalising an MPhil in Geometallurgy at The University of Queensland. Her research integrates machine learning and conditional simulation to develop predictive geometallurgical models that quantify and communicate uncertainty. Her recent work focuses on modelling hardness and carbon distribution under uncertainty using machine learning and geostatistical simulation. Cecilia is a Fellow of the AusIMM (CP) and a Qualified Person (SME), and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

I am a Mining Engineer, graduated from UFMG in 2019, and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Mine Planning at UFRGS. I work at KPI Mining, focusing on strategic stochastic mine planning, where I support mining companies in managing uncertainty and leveraging variability to maximize project value. I have experience in long-, medium-, and short-term mine planning, with responsibilities including economic modeling, fleet sizing, filtered tailings management, mining database management, and mine closure planning for operations in Brazil. My primary experience is in open-pit base metal and iron ore operations (copper, gold, silver, nickel, lead, and iron ore), with additional involvement in underground mining projects (zinc and lead).

Dr. Farhad Faramarzi is a Mining and Mineral Processing professional with over 15 years of research, consulting, and field experience. He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Mining Engineering, specializing in Open-Pit Drill & Blast optimisation, and completed his PhD in 2019 at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC), University of Queensland, with a focus on Mineral Processing. He currently leads the development of technology-driven, integrated optimisation solutions at Dassault Systèmes, advancing Strategic Mine Planning through sophisticated approaches such as Integrated SMP and Strategic Mine-to-Mill.