IAN THOMSON, Ph.D. , D.I.C.

Ian has over 30 years of experience in the mining industry, working for the last decade to advance and refine the management of social issues in resource development projects.  His area of expertise includes stakeholder engagement, capacity building, design and development of sustainable social relations and guiding multi-stakeholder processes.  His years of working at the exploration and feasibility stages of the mine cycle, enable him to ground his assessment of social issues in an understanding of the technical aspect of mine finding and development.

He has been instrumental in developing new standards and guidelines considered best practice in managing social issues during exploration. Ian is a founding member and principal of On Common Ground Consultants Inc.  Prior to founding On Common Ground, he  held positions with Orvana Mineral Corp, Placer Development and Barringer Research.

EDUCATION

• B.Sc. Geology.  University of London, England
• Ph.D. Geochemistry, University of London, England
• D.I.C. Economic Geology.  Imperial College, England,

FOCUS AREAS

• Management of social issues associated with resource development projects;
• Compliance with international best practice and World Bank Group standards;
• Facilitation of stakeholder involvement and collaboration;
• Assessment of social risk;
• Integration of sustainability with mineral development programs.

LANGUAGES

• English:  Native Speaker
• Spanish: Fluent

Relevant Experience

1. Social Risk Assessment
2. TeckCominco Limited – Mexico, Panama and Ecuador.  Conflict and social risk assessment of a late stage exploration projects. 
3. Navajo Nation – USA.  Social profile and assessment of community relations at the Peabody Western Coal Company operations at Black Mesa with recommendations for action.
4. Newmont Mining – Suriname.Social Scoping Study and Risk Assessment of a late stage exploration project with recommendations to bring practice to international standards,
5. Due Diligence and Compliance
6. Barclays Capital – London, England.  Provide independent assessment of social performance of the San Cristobal mine development project of Apex Silver.  On-going monitoring of project for compliance with Equator Principles and international best practice.
7. Carbones de Cerrejon – Colombia.  Strategic review of corporate management of social, community and indigenous issues in an operating mine relative to changing international standards; review of community relations, company foundations and social management capacity.
8. Compania Minera Antamina/MIGA – Peru. Independent review of resettlement, community relations and community development programs over several years, compliance with World Bank standards and corporate social policies. 
9. International Finance Corporation/Newmont Mining - Peru.  Independent evaluation and assessment of community development programs, community relations and crisis response at Yanacocha Mine. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Community Relations

1. Rio Tinto Project La Granja – Peru.  Strategic advisor to project on community relations, social risk assessment, stakeholder engagement and resettlement. 
2. Fortuna Silver Mines/Minera Cuzcatlan – Mexico.  Strategic advisor for community relations.  Design and implement management system, training of personnel, stakeholder mapping, community engagement and communications plan, design and supervision of social baseline studies, social risk assessment and management plan.
3. BHP Billiton – Cerro Colorado Mine – Chile.  Workshop and follow-up assistance in application of the Seven Questions to Sustainability and international best practice to the management of social issues at the mine.
4. Policy Development
5. Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada – Canada  Creation of working Principles and Guidelines for responsible mineral exploration through a multi-party process.
6. Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development Project -  Canada
7. Member North American Working Group, Program design and coordination, Leader of “Access to Information” research initiative.
8. E3 – Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and BC and Yukon Chamber of Mines – Prepare the social component (community engagement) for the web-based Environmental Excellence in Exploration (E3) good practice manual.