With the aim of continuing to strengthen ties with partners in Chile and Latin America, a delegation from The University of Queensland (UQ) is visiting us this week, along with its highest authorities. They are holding a busy schedule of meetings with representatives from the mining industry, academia, and the public sector.
This mission includes UQ President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry; Peter Varguese, Chancellor; Brett Lovegrove, Pro-Vice-Chancellor; Kayla Warner, Manager of Strategy and Partnerships, Global Partnerships; Rick Valenta, Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute; and Mark Noppé, CEO of JKTech, a UQ partner technology company.
In her presentation at the SMI-ICE-Chile headquarters, UQ Vice-Chancellor Deborah Terry briefly outlined the University of Queensland’s position in Australia and globally, and the main challenges it faces in the coming years.
The University of Queensland is ranked 42nd in the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2025, with particular emphasis on its Mining Engineering program, which is ranked 6th globally, and Sports Science, where it is ranked 2nd worldwide.
Deborah Terry highlighted the important role of research and development (R&D) at UQ, underscoring the close commitment to industry in seeking impact through innovation. She also emphasized the focus on mining education and research: «We have a strong profile in mining research, based on deep relationships with global industry leaders, such as Codelco, Rio Tinto, Glencore, Thiess, and Newmont,» she stated.
He also explained that UQ’s strategic plan for the coming years defines as a central challenge achieving an impact on public well-being, both locally, nationally, and globally. «We are very impressed by what SMI-ICE-Chile has achieved, and it supports our goal of continuing to strengthen our ties with Latin America (…) In both Australia and Chile, mining is very important, and through this Center in Chile, we have been able to develop collaborative work with a very beneficial impact that we hope to continue enhancing in the future.»
Doug Aitken, Executive Director of SMI-ICE-Chile, welcomed the UQ delegation and briefly outlined the Center’s main achievements and the challenges it faces in this new phase of self-sustainability. «We are growing in partnerships with industry and academia, and we have an excellent team to address the greatest challenges of sustainable and responsible mining,» he said. «We aspire to be the reference center for mining sustainability for Chile and the region, and that poses a major challenge for us in the coming years. SMI-ICE-Chile is now a consolidated center, transitioning toward a long-term self-sustaining model, recognized for its innovation, collaboration, and dedication. The next challenge is to expand our impact: promote larger and more ambitious R&D projects, translate innovation into commercial services and products, expand continuing professional training programs in Latin America, and facilitate the large-scale transfer of knowledge and technology from UQ to the entire region.»
A special moment during the presentation of SMI-ICE-Chile to the UQ delegation was the message from Manuel Escalante Selti, a researcher in the Social Performance and Resource Governance area at SMI-ICE-Chile, who spoke online as a representative of the Atacama people.
“I was born in a small town located in the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world, and was raised by my maternal grandmother. She, along with my entire family, passed on to me the most precious thing I have in life: my culture,” he said. “I am indigenous, belonging to the Atacameño people, and I feel a profound respect and love for our planet and all the living beings that inhabit it (…) Our worldview is rooted in nature: the Earth is our mother, the Sun is our father, and the volcanoes represent the spirit of our ancestors. Patta Hoiri—Mother Earth—is our mother because she gives us life. We plant our crops in her soil, and thanks to its fertility, supported by our work, she feeds us. Tata Ckapin—Father Sun—is our creative father, who provides us with vital energy. The Cabur, Mallkus, and Achachilas volcanoes represent the spirit of our grandparents, all the ancestors who inhabited our territory.”
Manuel Escalante also explained that he works with the Social Performance team, supporting the indigenous communities of San Pedro de Atacama in the administration of the funds they receive as compensation for lithium extraction projects, guiding the Atacameño communities in the development of long-term projects that guarantee the sustainability of resources and allow the preservation of the Atacameño culture.
«I thank the University of Queensland for its contribution to the long-term development of the Atacameño territory,» he concluded.
The University of Queensland delegation continues its tour of Latin America, visiting Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.
Review some moments from this meeting
