Rio Tinto partners with the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration

Phoenix, Arizona – Rio Tinto and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) today signed a multiyear partnership that will provide valuable professional development opportunities to Rio Tinto employees. The announcement came at SME’s Annual Conference & Expo in Phoenix, Arizona, attended by representatives from both organisations.

This agreement will allow Rio Tinto employees to benefit from the full range of services offered by SME, a leading professional association with 14,000 members worldwide, including access to high-quality technical content and trainings, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities with thought leaders.

As a leading mining and metals company, Rio Tinto will also play an active role across SME’s network, with a particular focus on promoting best practices in health and safety and developing the next generation of mining professionals. For instance, Rio Tinto will sponsor a competition open to SME’s 77 university-based Student Chapters, which challenges participants to find a solution to a real-life situation.

Rio Tinto group executive, Growth and Innovation, Stephen McIntosh said, “Attracting and developing the best people is essential to support Rio Tinto’s goal of achieving excellent safety and operational performance, both now and in the future. Partnering with SME provides our team with a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow and make a difference in our dynamic industry.”

SME Executive Director David L. Kanagy said, “As the leading international resource for technical information about mining and related industries, SME offers indispensable science and technology from, and for, the people and businesses that discover, develop and deliver the world’s mineral resources. This partnership gives Rio Tinto employees access to benefits that will help grow their technical skills and expand their professional networks to stay current with the latest industry trends.”

The new agreement will provide SME memberships to 150 employees across Rio Tinto. All employees will have access to webinars and a digital library, including papers, articles and presentations on topics ranging from safety to geotechnical models. They will also be engaged in volunteer and mentor opportunities with SME Programs, Divisions and student members.

Rio Tinto will also be a sponsor for SME’s Young Leaders Network and an SME Foundation Roundtable Partner, which supports a pipeline of mining academic resources.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto has a clear purpose: as pioneers in metals and mining, we produce materials essential for human progress. By doing so efficiently and effectively, we aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society. Our diverse portfolio includes aluminium, copper, diamonds, gold, industrial minerals (borates, titanium dioxide and salt) and iron ore. Our approximately 48,000 people work in around 35 countries across Australia, North America, Asia, Europe, Africa and South America. 

About SME

SME is a professional society (nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation) whose members represent all professions serving the mining, minerals and underground construction industries in more than 100 countries. SME members include engineers, geologists, metallurgists, educators, students and researchers. SME advances the worldwide minerals community through information exchange and professional development.

Contacts

Rio Tinto

Simon Letendre

M: +1 514 796 4973

simon.letendre@riotinto.com

SME

Jackie Dorr

M: +1 303-948-4244

dorr@smenet.org

Category: general