The mining industry continues to attract talent from a wide range of backgrounds – some technical, some entrepreneurial, and others entirely unexpected. In this third instalment of our “Career Paths into Mining” series, we explore the journeys of four professionals who entered the industry through different doors and found success by leveraging their unique strengths.
Their stories shed light on the diversity of experience within mining, the opportunities for innovation, and the ongoing shift toward more inclusive leadership models.
From Investor to Industry Innovator: Tony Reda, Founder, President, and CEO of Tectonic Metals
Tony’s career path into mining began as a 21-year-old investor in 1995. He recalls buying his first mining stock and getting “the bug,” only to later experience the fallout from one of the largest scandals on the TSX involving Bre-X. After walking away from mining altogether in 1999, he returned in 2005, this time from the corporate side.
He joined Kaminak Gold Corporation as its second hire, starting in investor relations and eventually becoming VP of Corporate Development. Under his tenure, the company evolved from a $3 million prospect generator into a successful explorer that delineated five million ounces of gold and raised $165 million, before being sold to Goldcorp (now part of Newmont) for $520 million.
That experience, combined with his early lessons in investment volatility, led Tony to co-found Tectonic Metals. There, he’s focused on reshaping how early-stage exploration companies engage with Indigenous communities.
Rather than waiting until feasibility stages, Tony’s approach is to establish socio-economic agreements and partnerships from day one. Tectonic now operates in partnership with one of Alaska’s largest Native regional corporations and has received over $4 million in strategic investment. “If we’re here to find a mine, our actions need to reflect that,” he says, underscoring a belief that community collaboration is central to de-risking projects and building long-term value.
Tony’s experience illustrates how career paths into mining can evolve through investing, business development, and an innovative approach to community engagement.
A Non-Traditional Route to Industry Impact: Beth Borody, Founder and CEO of Femina Collective
Beth didn’t set out to join the mining industry. With an academic background in international development and political science, she spent her early career working in Ghana on initiatives to help local governments generate revenue through property taxation and business licensing. During that time, she began collaborating with major gold mining companies on community-related assessments.
Upon returning to Canada in 2015 and adjusting to life as a new mother, a connection from her development days reached out. “Have you ever thought about coming into mining full-time?” he asked. The conversation led Beth into consulting work with a mid-tier gold company dealing with community and stakeholder challenges. This eventually became a full-time role at director level, and later VP of Sustainability, the company’s first executive position dedicated to the function.
Beth helped lead the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the first mining company in Canada to offer private testing for employees and nearby communities. Her visibility grew, and she began questioning why so few women like her, mid-career, ambitious, and without technical mining backgrounds, were visible in the industry.
She launched quarterly Zoom sessions with other women in mining. What began as six participants soon grew into over 4,000 global members and the founding of Femina Collective, a membership-based organisation supporting women’s career advancement in mining.
Beth’s story highlights how career paths into mining can emerge from unexpected places, driven by transferable skills, strong networks, and a passion for making a difference.
A Technical Leader Driven by Geology: Terry Harbort, President, CEO and Director of Talisker Resources
Terry describes himself as a “pretty technical CEO” with a passion for structural geology and tectonics. His academic interest led him to a PhD focused on the formation and deformation of continents, and eventually into a career studying ore deposit controls and structural geology in exploration.
After the Bre-X scandal and a downturn in gold prices, Terry left his home country in the early 2000s to join AngloGold (now Anglo Gold Ashanti). He worked across Peru and Colombia, overseeing a large greenfield exploration programme with up to 150 geologists in the field. That effort led to significant discoveries, including La Colosa and Gramalote – projects now held by major producers.
Terry later joined the original Osisko Mining technical team, developing global exploration strategies and reviewing assets as the company transitioned into Osisko Gold Royalties. He remained involved with its successor companies, working on high-profile Canadian gold projects such as Windfall and Cariboo.
Now CEO of Talisker Resources, Terry continues to work on orogenic and epithermal vein systems – his geological area of expertise. His story reflects how strong technical foundations and a passion for discovery can drive leadership in mining.
His story reinforces how technically driven professionals can shape exploration strategies and make substantial contributions, another example of how career paths into mining can be built on deep subject matter expertise.
From Law to Leadership: Santiago Montt, CEO of Los Andes Copper
Santiago’s route into mining began in the legal profession. Trained in Chile and the United States, with master’s and doctoral degrees from Yale and Princeton, he entered the industry in 2011 when he joined BHP as VP Legal for Copper. Over time, he took on progressively larger responsibilities within the company.
Following the 2015 Samarco dam failure in Brazil, Santiago led the legal and corporate affairs response for BHP. He later moved to Melbourne to serve as VP Litigation for the group, before returning to Chile as VP Corporate Affairs for the Americas, covering operations across Canada, the US, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and Chile.
In 2022, Santiago transitioned to Los Andes Copper, first as COO and now as CEO. For him, mining represents an exciting and multi-dimensional sector, particularly when based in a mining-rich country like Chile. His career highlights the relevance of legal expertise in strategic leadership roles across the industry.
Santiago’s career highlights how legal and governance experience can transition into operational leadership. His journey offers a clear reminder that career paths into mining aren’t restricted to technical backgrounds.
Key Takeaways from Diverse Career Journeys
These stories show the diversity of career paths into mining:
- Mining welcomes a variety of skillsets – from law and international development to geology and investor relations, there’s no single route in.
- Impact and innovation matter – whether it’s ESG leadership, community-first exploration, or technical strategy, all four individuals pursued ways to influence the industry beyond traditional expectations.
- Mentorship and support play a pivotal role – each journey was shaped by opportunities, networks, and encouragement from others in the industry.
- Resilience and adaptability are essential – from market downturns to career pivots, success in mining often means staying the course through change.
These real-life career paths into mining illustrate that there is no single way into the mining industry, it is an industry that provides opportunities for those willing to take risks and embrace challenges.
To explore more real-life mining journeys, read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.
Listen to Dig Deep The Mining Podcast to discover more stories, experiences and career journeys from professionals across the global mining industry.
As part of our aim to support mining professionals with career advice and resources, we’ve developed a free CV Tips Guide. You can find it here.
How We Support Career Growth in Mining
At Mining International, we understand that no two career paths are the same. Our tailored and consultative approach helps companies solve their hiring needs, completing on mandates we are engaged in – whether it’s finding an experienced technical leader or someone with transferable skills looking to make a meaningful impact in mining.
With two decades of search experience, we support both clients and candidates through every step of the process. Whether you’re planning a strategic hire or considering your next career move, we’re here to provide advice, insight, and guidance.
