Eric Werker is the William Saywell Professor at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University and academic lead from SFU to the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute. He researches how less developed countries can build more thriving and inclusive private sectors, particularly when they are rich in natural resources, and how international actors can play a positive role in creating successful societies. In previous roles, Eric was on the faculty of Harvard Business School, ran International Growth Centre Liberia program, and worked as a consulting economist at Conservation International and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

I have worked as an organisational design and management ergonomist for over 30 years, particularly focussing on OHS governance and in the last 8 years on extractives industry governance more broadly. I have worked in over 20 countries, most recently Afghanistan, for governments, businesses and Non-Government Organisations. I prepared Australia's National Mine Safety Framework; established Transparency International's Mining for Sustainable Development Program in 2016; advised the Australian Government on their Mining for Development Program across Africa; and prepared a Culture Transformation Framework for the South African mining industry that was included in the Mining Charter 2.

Doctoral student at AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow, Poland. Master’s degree in environmental engineering. Scientific interests focused on social acceptance for mining activity and revitalization of post-mining areas.

Dr. Luke’s research intersects science, society, place and industry, drawing on theory from geography, rural-sociology, social-psychology and natural resource management. The focal point of her research centres on the social licence concept, including perceptions of land use change and public engagement in natural resource management. Emerging from her PhD in 2017, she published the diamond model of social license to operate which conceptualises processes occurring beyond social license withdrawal. Luke also is interested in public engagement with, and use of, science, particularly in contentious debates. As a Lecturer in the School of Environment, Science and Engineering at Southern Cross University, she is passionate about both research and teaching. She is presently leading several funded projects on farming practices and social license in horticulture. See: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanabeth-luke-b671ab54

George Gaidajis obtained his first degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece and his Master and PhD from Saitama University, Japan in 1993, in the field of Environmental Engineering. He has a 10-year working experience as environmental supervisor in chemical-mining industry and he is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Production Engineering & Management, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace. He coordinated several research projects and he has over 60 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and international conferences. His research interests extend to the principles and tools of Industrial Ecology, Life Cycle Analysis, and Mining and Sustainability.