Amber Johnston-Billings Brings RESOLVE’s Minerals Vision to the World Mining Congress

At the World Mining Congress (WMC) 2026 in Lima, Peru, Amber Johnston-Billings, joined global mining leaders to target solutions for nature and remining “waste”.

In 2026 the WMC mattered because it gathered leaders from 70+ countries around the central theme: "Mining for the Future: Trust, Transformation, and Technology". Through dialogue and problem solving, leaders and delegates tackled the challenge: How do you
meet the increased demand for metals globally, while also protecting and restoring nature, and supporting Indigenous and other human rights?

Amber spoke on the panel "Can We Unlock More Value from Waste?", where she made three central points:

1. Mine waste is an asset. Many "waste" deposits contain higher grades of target commodities than the greenfield deposits being developed today. Critically, many strategic and defense-relevant minerals are embedded in this waste, simply because they were not targeted for recovery during the first mining cycle.‍
2. The policy environment needs new incentives to enable and increase assets that reprocess waste. In most jurisdictions new policy is needed that allows for, targeted liability protection for restoration-focused actors, better data, permitting that is efficient and scaled to the level of risk, and consent rights for Indigenous Nations codified at the outset.
3. We must address the more than 500,000 abandoned mines, for two reasons. First, these sites pose real hazards; health and safety risks alongside significant environmental challenges. Second, these sites can leave a negative legacy for communities and Indigenous peoples, eroding trust in the mining sector and, sometimes directly slowing new greenfield developments.

Amber's remarks reflect work already underway through Mission Critical, a five-year strategic program designed to transform the mining sector. Mission Critical convenes diverse groups of people to deliver more nature and more responsible minerals as mutually reinforcing outcomes, through six programs of work.

Learn more about Mission Critical and RESOLVE’s broader work to advance more responsible approaches to mining waste, restoration, protection of nature and delivering social benefits at RESOLVE.

A key leading example of this work in action is Regeneration, a RESOLVE enterprise focused on turning mine waste into environmental, social, and economic value while reducing long-term liabilities and restoring ecosystems.

We must reduce the division and conflict that surrounds natural resource development and put that energy into solutions and outcomes for our natural world. RESOLVE has a well-established Resource Mediation practice that looks to gain nature outcomes in exchange for a reduction in project opposition.

RESOLVE also leads a Policy Innovation and Practice Lab, that focuses on supporting governments to promulgate incentive based approaches to more nature in mining, and targeting mine waste as an asset. The Labs share best practice globally and design unique policy that fits specific jurisdictional regulatory needs.

Amber’s leadership brings these values and objectives into practice. Her experience spans mining, sustainability, climate, government affairs, and community development, with work ranging from dialogue with Indigenous and Tribal Nations to policy leadership, environmental problem-solving, and community-led development.

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