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Grace Yungwirth (P.Eng, C.Eng) is a senior technical advisor to mining companies and financial institutions, recognised for her ability to bridge technical, corporate, and asset‑level perspectives across the mining and metals value chain.
Grace is currently Director of Mining, Mine Water, and Sustainability in WSP’s Global Mining & Metals business. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry, complemented by experience in construction and infrastructure, her practice spans technical risk management, new project development and execution, operational performance, and project life‑cycle strategies from early design studies through to mine closure. She has authored numerous technical publications focused on mine water management innovation and best practice, water stewardship, and ESG‑aligned investment and risk mitigation approaches that reduce risk and enhance project performance. Grace has also played a key role in championing innovation across the global mining and metals sector, leading informed dialogue on balancing carbon and water considerations in critical mineral extraction.
Beyond her technical work, Grace is committed to supporting the long‑term success of a responsible and inclusive mining & metals industry. She actively contributes to STEM outreach, mentoring, culture and DE&I initiatives, and the promotion of safe and sustainable work practices across the sector.
For those interested in the references supporting this presentation, please see the following references:
General Resource Stewardship:
IOM3 2025 Is ESG Dead? Why sustainability is now core business for mining at https://www.iom3.org/resource/is-esg-dead-why-sustainability-is-now-core-business-for-mining.html (Accessed 24 April 2026)
Engineering and Mining Journal 2026 Is Mining Moving Beyond ESG? at https://www.e-mj.com/flipbooks/march-2026/#march-2026/28/ (Accessed 24 April 2026)
Water Stewardship
Alliance for Water Stewardship (2026) What is Water Stewardship? Available at: https://a4ws.org/about/what-is-water-stewardship/ (Accessed 24 April 2026)
Anglo American (2026) Water stewardship approach and targets. Available at: https://www.angloamerican.com/sustainability-strategy/healthy-environment/water (Accessed: 24 April 2026).
South African Policy and Learnings:
Department of Water and Sanitation (2016a). Benchmarks for Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WC/WDM) in the Mining Sector. Republic of South Africa. https://cisp.cachefly.net/assets/articles/attachments/74887_benchmarks-report-06june2018.pdf
Department of Water and Sanitation (2016b).Guideline for the Development and Implementation of Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Plans for the Mining Sector. Republic of South Africa. https://cisp.cachefly.net/assets/articles/attachments/74886_implementation-guideline06june2018.pdf
Singh, G., Juggath, N., Pulles, W. and Mudau, S. (2024). Implementing water conservation and water demand management in South Africa’s mining industry, Proceedings of the 15th International Mine Water Association Congress & West Virginia Mine Drainage Task Force Symposium, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA, 21–26 April 2024. International Mine Water Association, pp. 582: https://www.imwa.info/docs/imwa_2024/IMWA2024_Singh_582.pdf
Contact: Givarn Singh for further detail Givarn.Singh@wsp.com
Integrated Mine Closure:
ICMM (2025) Integrated Mine Closure: Good Practice Guide Available at: https://www.icmm.com/integrated-mine-closure (Accessed: 24 April 2026).
Diaz, A, Ahmed, I, Kerry, P, Corrigan, P & Stewart, F 2023, ‘Filtered tailings plant design at Krumovgrad Mine’, in GW Wilson, NA Beier, DC Sego, AB Fourie & D Reid (eds), Paste 2023: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 316-323, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2355_24
