ABSTRACT
Founders of the Critical Minerals Association (CMA), Jeff Townsend & Kirsty Benham explain how Government works, and how to build effective relationships in order to influence key stakeholders. The CMA has been operating since 2020 and engaging Governments on a number of issues, including through its ESG report, Government workshops, and bilateral collaboration in order to support policymaking on responsible critical mineral supply chains.
BIOGRAPHY
The Critical Minerals Association unites industry, academia and other actors while lobbying government to address risks in critical mineral supply chains.
We enable industry to generate a collective voice when outlining concerns and future recommendations, providing a direct line of communication between industry and government.
We aim to improve societal perceptions of the sector by showcasing the economic and social benefits of critical minerals. We will ensure our critical minerals extraction and processing adhere to internationally recognised standards and best practice.
Find out more here: https://www.criticalmineral.org/
Information on joining as a member can be found here: https://www.criticalmineral.org/membership
Jeff Townsend
Jeff founded the Critical Minerals Association in 2020 alongside Kirsty Benham after identifying the need to provide a platform to unify industry and academia voices whilst lobbying the government to address risks in critical minerals supply chains. The association has grown steadily and now includes a UK and Australia chapter with further expansion on the horizon.
Jeff is a public affairs, communications and campaign strategist with experience working in the highest levels of business and politics. He is well connected with political arenas in the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. From a mining background, he knows the importance of the mining sector and is passionate about securing an alternative critical mineral supply chains.
Kirsty Benham
Kirsty is Co-Founder of the Critical Minerals Association (CMA), which unites industry, academia and the UK government to address risks in critical mineral supply chains. The CMA enables industry to generate a collective voice when outlining concerns and future recommendations, providing a direct line of communication between industry and UK government. We aim to improve societal perceptions of the sector by showcasing the economic and social benefits of critical mineral, and ensuring our critical minerals extraction and processing adhere to internationally recognised standards and best practice.
Prior to forming the Critical Minerals Association, Kirsty worked as a consultant to The McCain Institute and The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and as a Communications Associate at Aspect Consulting. She holds a BA International Relations from King’s College London.
