THE TEAM

Mark Rachovides is a Consultant to Dundee Precious Metals, Chairman of Venus Minerals a mining company operating in Cyprus and a Director of Greenroc Mining a mining company operating in Greenland. He has held numerous board positions in Natural Resource and other Companies active in Europe and elsewhere over the last twenty three years. Executive roles included Executive Director of European Goldfields which was acquired by Eldorado Gold in 2012 and Vice President, Europe at Dundee Resources Limited. He also spent 11 years at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD.) He has been involved in a wide variety of projects in Southern and Eastern Europe and holds an MA from Oxford University.

DI Dr. Roman Stiftner, CSE, is Managing Director of the Austrian Non-Ferrous Metals Federation and the Austrian Mining and Steel Association. He is President of the Austrian Logistic Association (BVL), Vice President of Euromines and the European Logistics Association (ELA), Member of the Board of European Shippers Council (ESC), Secretary General and Director General of EUMICON as well as Chairman of National Association Leaders of European Aluminium. He has a Doctor degree from the Technical University of Vienna.

Jani Lösönen is the Managing Director of Agnico Eagle Finland Oy and Vice-President, Europe of Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. Prior to his appointment, Jani worked as the CEO of Ekokem Ltd. He graduated from the Lappeenranta University of Technology with a Master’s degree in industrial engineering and management, and he has also held various production and business executive positions at Kemira.

Tobias Andres is Managing Director of the Association of the Potash and Salt Industry (VKS) based in Germany. He held several positions in business associations with a strong focus on competitiveness and sustainability, and represents the German potash and salt mining industry at national and European level. He has served as a member of the EU Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee on Extractive Industries and contributes to the activities of several associations including the International Fertiliser Association, the European Salt Producers Association, the European Potash Producers Association, the German Business Association and the German Employers Association. Mr Andres holds a diploma in economics and has profound expertise in European and public affairs.

Pekka Suomela was appointed Executive Officer of the Finnish Mining Association (FinnMin) on April, 2012. Based in Helsinki, FinnMin is the national organization for the Finnish mining cluster. Its members are engaged in mineral exploration, mining, mining equipment and technology. Previously since January 1, 2007 he worked for the Ministry of Employment and the Economy as the Chief Inspector of Mines. Mr. Suomela has gathered broad experience in the mineral policy issues. He holds over 15 years of professional experience. He is a Master of Law from the University of Helsinki, Finland, 1989.

Mr Wiktor Kowalczyk currently manages the Department responsible for funding applications at KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., with a focus on innovation, environmental protection, and energy efficiency. He has a background in food chemistry and is a graduate of the Faculty of Engineering and Economic Industry.

Mr Kowalczyk has many years of experience in external fundraising, particularly through EU Framework Programmes, including the 7th Framework Programme, Horizon 2020, and Horizon Europe.

From 2014 to 2016, he served as Chairman of the 10th National Intelligent Specialization Group (KIS), “Modern technologies for obtaining, processing and using natural resources and producing their substitutes,” at the Ministry of Development

Rolf Kuby has an extensive experience in EU public affairs and advocacy. Next to engaging with EU policymakers on behalf of the industry and his active involvement in sustainability strategies, he is also a senior expert in EU Environment, Climate and Energy policies. Mr. Kuby’s most recent roles were Head of the EU Brussels Office of Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl and previously Director External Affairs and Head of the EU office at Aurubis.

Lluis Rodríguez is currently Corporate Relations and Legal Director of ICL Iberia. He has a background in Law and Political Sciences in Spain. After he practices in different sectors and activities with huge involvement in international field, he joined to ICL (IBP) in May 2015, occupying different positions inside of the organization (see CV part), dealing during last years, with public affairs matters inside the organization. He is also representing IBP in other associations such as Foment del Treball, Confedem, Circulo de Economia o Fedequim in Spain on behalf of ICL.

Maria Sunér is since 2019 the CEO of Svemin, the Swedish Association for Mines, Mineral and Metal Producers. Ms Sunér has a profound background from the business sector, and has held several positions at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, as well as for the Swedish Association of Energy producers. She has collaborated extensively with Business Europe and Euroelectric in her former positions. She has also worked for the Worldbank and Eon. Ms Sunér is a honorary member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering, a vice chair of the Energy and Environment Committee for Business at the OECD, and a member of the World Energy Council International Advisory Group.

Mikael Staffas is the President and CEO of Boliden. He has been a member of the top management group at Boliden since 2011, first as CFO and then as Head of Business Area Mines before taking over as CEO in 2018. Mikael is the Chairman of the board of GAF and Vice-Chairman of Industriarbetsgivarna and SveMin as well as a member of the Executive Board of Svenskt Näringsliv. He is the chairman of the International Zinc Association and member of the board of ICMM. He also serves on the board of the chemical company Kemira. Mikael holds a MSC in Engineering Physics from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleu, France.

Peter Richardson holds an MSc in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy from Luleå University of Technology Sweden. He is an accomplished mining executive with more than 30 years of international experience across Europe, North America, and South America, specializing in the base metals and gold sectors. Before joining LKAB as Senior Vice President Iron Ore, Peter held senior leadership positions with Boliden, Lundin Mining, and Barrick Gold.

His expertise spans health and safety, environmental management and permitting, social performance, operations, project management, exploration, procurement, and strategic planning.

He is 55 years old, married with two adult daughters.