Speakers
Juan Carlos Guajardo
Founder and Executive Director – PLUSmining
Between 2006 and 2014, Juan Carlos Guajardo directed the Center for the Study of Copper and Mining (CESCO). Before that, he was Director of Studies of the Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco). He also worked as an economist for the International Copper Studies Group.
Juan Carlos is a member of the Copper Price Expert Committee convened annually by the Ministry of Finance to determine the parameters with which the Chilean national budget is built, a member of the PDAC International Affairs Committee, and responsible for the organization of Asia Copper Week, the largest global copper event in Asia and one of the largest in the world since 2012.
Juan Carlos holds a PhD in International Economics and Development from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. He excelled as the best graduate in his undergraduate studies of Business and Economics at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile. He also has a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Economics from the Complutense University of Madrid and a Diploma of the Advanced International Program of Mining and Environment from the University of Luleä, Sweden.Juan Carlos maintains a permanent presence in national and international media on mining issues.
Gonzalo Grez
Partner – Cariola Díez Pérez Cotapos
Gonzalo specializes in M&A, corporate, mining, and project development, with strong expertise in all types of contracts, including mining high-tech contracts and other areas related to the mining chain, communities, land access, and cross border transactions. He advises companies on mining, energy, and regulatory matters in Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador based on a comprehensive understanding of the mining business.
Gonzalo has recognized experience in designing and structuring strategies for acquiring and merging mining companies and in structuring, negotiating, and documenting all types of mining and joint venture agreements and transactions. He has participated actively in almost all relevant Chilean mining exploration, project development, and M&A, and joint venture transactions over the last several years with private and state-owned companies and has actively worked in project development and operations of numerous mining companies such as Rio Tinto, South 32, Newmont, Newcrest, BHP, IAMGOLD, Nueva Unión, Norte Abierto, and others.
Gonzalo has been continuously ranked among the top mining lawyers in several international legal publications on an on-going basis during the last several years. He was recently appointed a member of the International Committee of The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (formerly the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation).