Deep decarbonisation of the mining sector: lessons and opportunities towards Net Zero

This is our first event in our OxCAN Asia, Australia and New Zealand series led by our regional Climate Action Director, Tracy Jin Cui, focusing on in-depth climate conversations relevant to this region. 

We particularly encourage participation in the wider Asia, Australia and New Zealand region, as well as interested regional observers who would like to contribute your voices in these upcoming dialogues. 

About our speakers: 

John O’Brien

Partner, Energy Transition & Decarbonisation - Deloitte Financial Advisory, Australia

John has 30 years’ experience in the Australian and global clean energy and clean technology sectors and now leads Deloitte’s decarbonisation work in Australia. He works extensively with global clients on translating decarbonisation ambitions into practical financial and strategic actions. John is also Deloitte’s Global Lead for decarbonisation in the Mining and Metals sector.

John started his career in the oil & gas industry in Scotland and Syria, engineering roles in London and Adelaide before joining Origin Energy in corporate development. In 2007, John established Australian CleanTech, a boutique advisory firm that led the development of the cleantech sector in Australia for ten years.

John is widely published with his most recent book, Visions 2100, being launched at the Paris COP21 Climate Conference in 2015 with a follow-up to that planned for release at the Glasgow COP26 event in November.

Stephen Lezak 

Gates Scholar and manager of Oxford Programme on the Sustainable Future of Commodities and Infrastructure 

Stephen works on social and ecological justice in the extractive industries, with a particular focus on mining and minerals. He will be speaking about what role, if any, gold mining could have in a sustainable future.

Stephen is a Gates Scholar at the University of Cambridge and the manager of the Oxford Programme on the Sustainable Future of Commodities & Infrastructure. He also leads an elective module on environmental political theory at the Oxford School of Geography and the Environment and collaborates frequently with the US-based Rocky Mountain Institute. His writing has been published in a variety of academic and non-academic outlets, including The Independent, Grist, The Arizona Republic, The Revelator, and Emergence. Stephen also served as an Expert Reviewer for the IPCC 6th Assessment Report.

This event will be followed by an optional coffee/networking session for our OxCAN members.