Abstract
As the whole world discusses “de-risking” it’s obvious that the term has very distinct meanings and uses, with policy often not adequately reflecting private sector perspectives. Leading industrial markets are reshaping industrial policy and proposing “new partnership” models to resource-rich countries in a bid to improve resilience and responsibility; stakeholder expectations of “new practices” across mining and minerals value chains are high; and the tense global context and visible limitations of a growth model breaching planetary boundaries require “new governance approaches”. Despite the sense of urgency – and noise, it’s worth asking ourselves whether these approaches result in the reorganisation of value chains and improvement of responsibility across operations, linkages and borders. Are threats actually being mitigated or are we creating tomorrow’s problems? Are opportunities really being leveraged or are we misunderstanding the mechanisms to create and distribute value more fairly? To open a conversation about risk and innovation, let’s turn some of the slogans of the day on their head to see what they can deliver – and determine how each actor can play a role in addressing global stakes.
Bio
Ludivine Wouters is managing partner of Latitude Five where she is in charge of the Mining and Minerals practice. As a strategy, governance and policy adviser with expertise in transaction management, regulatory affairs, government relations and permitting, Ludivine assists natural resources companies and investors. She also works on technical assistance programmes for States, focusing on mining and minerals policy, governance and taxation, and assists donor agencies, policy shapers and other stakeholders in the definition and implementation of critical minerals and responsible sourcing priorities. Ludivine has experience in political risk insurance within a Lloyd’s insurance syndicate, and significant legal experience in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and capital markets with leading international firms in Paris; she also worked for an emerging markets investment bank in London. Ludivine holds a Master in Business Law from Université Panthéon Assas (Paris II) and JD in Law from Université Panthéon Sorbonne (Paris I) and is called to the bar in Paris. In 2013, she was nominated by her peers to be one of 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining. Ludivine is currently a Visiting Fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
