Anita Bertisen
Women in Mining USA
Session: Workforce Development
Presentation Title: Attracting students into mining and minerals careers
Biography: Coming soon.
Pat Risner
South32
Session: Workforce Development
Presentation Title: Recruiting talent for a greenfield domestic critical minerals project
Biography: Pat Risner is an industry expert in complex mine project planning and development. He has held executive roles across the United States and Australia, including Group Health Safety Environmental Officer for BHP, formerly BHP Billiton, where he had direct accountability to the company’s sustainability committee of the board of directors. As a seasoned leader, Pat brings a wealth of knowledge regarding sustainability, long-term economic development through mining, communities, and Tribal relations to the Hermosa project. He holds a degree in Mining Engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology.
Jamey Jones
US Geological Survey
Session: Exploration & Engineering Feasibility Studies
Presentation Title: Overview of USGS’ EarthMRI Project
Biography: Jamey Jones’ research is focused on the bedrock geology, tectonic evolution, and mineral resources of Alaska and western North America. He specializes in field geology, structural geology, metamorphic petrology, and U-Pb geochronology. USGS areas of focus include the Mineral Resources Program and the National Cooperative Mapping Program. Past and ongoing projects are also focused on the Precambrian tectonic evolution of the southwestern United States.
Mathew Oommen
WSP
Session: Exploration and Engineering Feasibility Studies
Presentation Title: Challenges and opportunities for critical minerals feasibility studies
Biography: Dr. Oommen has more than 15 years of experience in the global mining industry having managed and developed projects in Indonesia, India, Southern Africa, Australia and the U.S. He directs and oversees geologic modeling, resource and reserve estimation (JORC, NI 43-101), mine planning and design, due diligence reviews for operations and financial institutions, GIS services and economic modeling for mining, utility and financial clients for commodities include coal, phosphate and potash.
Additionally, Mathew has directed global corporate teams to support clients world-wide and has directed corporate initiatives and services for clients to help with training and best practice implementations for geologic modeling, mine planning and enterprise data management. Mathew is a Registered Member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
Thomas Lograsso
DOE Critical Materials Innovation Hub
Session: Dinner Keynote
Presentation Title: DOE Critical Materials Innovation Hub: A federal response to R&D gaps
Biography: Dr. Thomas Lograsso, Director of the DOE’s Critical Materials Innovation Hub and Ames Laboratory’s Division of Critical Materials, has recently led transformative efforts to secure and innovate the U.S. critical materials supply chain. Under his direction, the Hub receives over $30 million annually to advance research in rare earth recycling, substitutions, and efficiency. In 2024, he received the DOE AMMTO Visionary Award for renewing the Hub, and in 2025, he played a central role in strengthening U.S.-India cooperation on critical mineral strategies and research collaboration.
Michael Moats
Missouri University of Science & Technology
Session: Processing and Recycling
Presentation Title: Overview of critical mineral recovery challenges
Biography: Dr. Moats is an experienced professor of metallurgical engineering with a demonstrated history of working in higher education and the metal extraction industry. Research and teaching focus on extractive metallurgy with emphasis on the hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy of non-ferrous metals. Have performed research and consulted with many major mining companies. Very active in the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME).
Fabian Villalobos
RAND School of Public Policy
Session: Policy, Supply Chain Economics & Workforce
Presentation Title: TBD
Biography: Fabian E. Villalobos is a senior engineer at RAND and a professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. He is an inaugural fellow of RAND’s Global Scholar Program. He manages RAND’s Engineering and Applied Sciences Speaker Seminar Series.
Villalobos has an interest in the intersection of technology, economics, and geopolitics and primarily focuses on issues of national security. His work has included topics on emerging technologies, logistics, acquisitions, strategy, the defense industrial base, and China. He has a specific interest in the impact of electrification and critical minerals on technology, energy security, development, trade, climate, and international relations. Recent work includes critical mineral, battery, and semiconductor supply chains, U.S.-China technological competition, China’s industrial policy, military deception, military electrification, and technological risk.