Making Systemic Change: Mining Shared Value at PDAC 2025

Earlier this month, Mining Shared Value (MSV) made a powerful impact at PDAC 2025, the world’s largest annual mining event. During a panel chaired by MSV, industry leaders addressed the urgent need for human rights due diligence during procurement of goods and services. With Canada’s new Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act aligning with global legislation, the mining sector faces mounting pressure to adopt robust due diligence practices.

Previously, MSV partnered with GIZ to develop guidance helping companies integrate effective human rights due diligence into their procurement systems. This year’s PDAC panel emphasized that beyond compliance, strengthening supplier oversight drives business value, fostering transparency and boosting credibility. The event also highlighted the importance of collaboration, with past EWBer and MSV team member Kyela de Weerdt (now at SHARE) moderating the panel, alongside Cornelio Delgado (Orla Mining) and Simon Chorley (ERM), offering practical insights into implementing supplier screening mechanisms.

👉 Learn more about MSV’s due diligence guidance: Mining Shared Value

Last year, during PDAC2024, the MSV team also made systemic change, by launching the Local Procurement Checklist to Support Indigenous Procurement in Mining, with the support of Indigenous consultancy Mokwateh, and funding from Natural Resources Canada. The checklist provides guidance to mining companies to better engage with and support Indigenous-owned businesses to competitively supply goods and services to the sector. The checklist aims to help mining and exploration companies implement strategies that support Indigenous-owned business and support economic opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities to provide more goods and services. The Community Guidance is aimed at Indigenous communities, showing them the best practices that they should expect from mining companies, providing them with questions to use in their engagement.

Read more about the checklist and additional resources here: https://www.minescanada.ca/en/strategic-directions/advancing-participation-indigenous-peoples/local-procurement-checklist. 

Overall, PDAC 2025 underscored that ethical procurement is no longer optional—it’s a business imperative. With MSV leading the charge, the mining sector is moving toward sustainable, responsible, and locally beneficial practices. However, the road ahead demands deeper industry-wide commitment, stronger enforcement of due diligence frameworks, and continuous collaboration.

As MSV continues to drive systemic change, their work is a reminder that responsible mining is not just about extracting resources—it’s about uplifting communities, protecting human rights, and creating shared value.