(via TheNewswire)

Vancouver, BC — TheNewswire —  January 13, 2026 — Energy and Mines is pleased to announce the BC Critical Minerals Forum, taking place April 14–15, at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, bringing together government, mining, First Nations and finance leaders to address the permitting, financing, infrastructure and partnership pathways needed to advance British Columbia’s critical minerals sector.

“This Forum brings together all the key decision-makers from First Nations leaders, mining CEOs and finance experts to the federal and provincial government representatives shaping capital, infrastructure, and approvals for critical minerals projects in British Columbia,” said Adrienne Baker, Director, Energy and Mines.

The Forum’s high-calibre agenda features senior government leaders responsible for Canada’s critical minerals strategy, defence supply chains, investment, and permitting, including:

• Isabella Chan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada 

• Wendy Hadwen, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy-Industry, Department of National Defence 

• Kendra Johnston, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, Government of British Columbia 

• Yannick Beaudoin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Growth Fund Investment Management 

• Divya Shah, Managing Director, Canada Infrastructure Bank 

Additional speakers include 40+ senior mining, First Nations and investment experts:

• Crystal Smith, Former Chief Councillor, Haisla Nation; Member, Indigenous Advisory Council, Major Projects Office 

• John Mullally, Head of External Relations, Newmont North America 

• Brian Kynoch, President, Imperial Metals 

• Ryan Hoel, President and Chief Operating Officer, Seabridge Gold 

• M Colin Joudrie, President and Chief Executive Officer, Selkirk Copper 

• Raman Randawa, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Capstone Copper 

• Michael Gray, Partner, Agentis Capital 

• Martin Turenne, President and Chief Executive Officer, FPX Nickel 

• Sam Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer, NorthIsle Copper and Gold 

• Chad Ulansky, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cantex 

• Anthony Huston, Chief Executive Officer, Graphite One 

• Mark Tory, President and Chief Executive Officer, Defense Metals 

• Chris Grove, President and Chief Executive Officer, Capacitor Metals 

• April Hayward, Chief Sustainability Officer, Li-FT 

• Claudia Tornquist, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kodiak Copper 

• Sven List, Senior Vice President, Canadian Corporate Business, Export Development Canada 

• Muhammad Imran, Vice President, Rare Earth Element Division, Saskatchewan Research Council 

• Andy Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Nisga’a Lisims Government 

• Charles Morven, Secretary-Treasurer, Nisga’a Nation 

• Todd den Engelsen, Chief Executive Officer, Tahltan Nation Development Corporation 

• Connor Pritty, Lands and Regulatory Affairs Director, Tahltan Central Government 

• Sean Magee, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Taseko Mines 

• Andrea Ross, Manager, Indigenous and Regulatory Affairs, Galore Creek Mining Corporation 

• Paul Blom, Chief Operating Officer, BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council 

• Booker Cornea, Associate Vice President, Market and Shareholder Engagement, First Nations Bank of Canada 

• Annie Sismanian, Chief Financial Officer, Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation 

• Monica Moretto, Vice President, Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion, Pan American Silver; Board Member, Lithium Argentina 

• Lisa Davis, Chief Executive Officer, PearTree Securities 

• Kody Penner, Vice President, Corporate Development, Nations Royalty 

• Keith Anderson, Senior Vice President, Customer and Corporate Affairs, BC Hydro 

• Michael Goehring, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mining Association of British Columbia 

• Tim McEwan, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Mining Association of British Columbia 

• Todd Stone, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association for Mineral Exploration BC 

• Brittney Kerr, Founding Partner, Framepoint Public Affairs 

• Roger Harris, Partner, Harris Palmer 

• Byng Giraud, President, Sedgwick Strategies 

• Sharon Singh, Partner, Environment and Indigenous, McMillan 

• Stuart McNish, Host, ConversationsLIVE 

Agenda Highlights

Across two days, the BC Critical Minerals Forum will address:

• Federal and provincial strategies for accelerating permitting and approvals 

• Indigenous-led equity, infrastructure and governance models 

• Financing and de-risking early-stage critical minerals projects 

• Energy and transmission infrastructure for the Golden Triangle and Northwest BC 

• Midstream processing and value-added supply chains 

• Offtake agreements, defence demand, and G7 buyer strategies 

• Global investment and policy lessons for BC 

For more information

https://bc.energyandmines.com

About Energy and Mines

Energy and Mines is an Ottawa-based B2B conference company focused on driving opportunities for mining and energy through in-depth content and high-calibre events. This Forum is part of Energy and Mines’ Critical Minerals event series, which also includes Critical Minerals for Defence (June 9–10, 2026, Toronto) and the Ontario Critical Minerals Forum (November 24-25, 2026, Toronto).

Media Contact Adrienne Baker Director, Energy and Mines [email protected]

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