Spring 2011 - The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia

PROFILE
Mona Forster
BIG ON ADVANCING B.C.
BY JONATHAN BUCHANAN
Mona Forster, a director of AME BC since 2006, and executive vice-
president at Entrée Gold Inc., was named chair at the Association’s
99th annual general meeting. Mineral Exploration talked to Mona about her transition from her native
Alberta to B.C. and her passion for the mineral exploration and mining sector.
You have over 20 years of management
experience in the mineral exploration
and mining industry. How did you get
your start?
I entered the mining industry as a temporary
data entry clerk in Edmonton for
an operating gold mining company in
1988. What was an original three-week
contract became nine years with the
same company, working at their head
office, at a remote fly-in/fly-out operation
in the Northwest Territories and
the exploration office in Vancouver.
As someone who has worked on projects
spanning the globe, what makes B.C. a
good place to explore?
B.C. is blessed with considerable geological
potential, a large land base –
much has been underexplored – but also,
the best place to find a mine is often
near a former or current operating
mine. B.C. is home to several worldclass
coal operations like the Elk Valley
and northeast coal deposits, and worldclass
metal deposits ranging from past
producers such as Sullivan to potential
and future mines such as Mt. Milligan,
Red Chris and Galore Creek, to name a
few. In addition to, or because of, the
geological endowment present in the
province, B.C. is a centre of excellence
for the mineral exploration and mining
industry. A unique combination of
technical and support personnel, exploration
and mining companies, engineering
and environmental consultants,
financial institutions, brokerage houses
and educational institutions create an
environment that encourages the
advancement of mining projects not
only in B.C. but worldwide.
What would make British Columbia a
great place to explore?
In order to realize the full potential of
our geological endowment, it’s important
for companies that wish to invest
hundreds of millions or possibly billions
of dollars in our province to have
clarity and predictability about how to
advance their projects. If companies are
not sure their projects will be subject to
a reasonable and fair process, they are
less likely to make the initial exploration
investment here when they can
look elsewhere on the globe. Capital is
mobile and will be put to the best and
highest use, wherever that may be.
Typically, it takes several years (and
sometimes decades) from initial discovery
of a deposit to mine operations.
During this interim of time, the projects
are subject to considerable study,
regulatory requirements, scrutiny by
stakeholders and investors. B.C. could
be a great place to explore if all stakeholders
knew they were participating in
a transparent and predictable process.
You have recently been appointed chair
of AME BC. What are your goals as the
Association moves toward its 100th
anniversary next year?
It’s important for AME BC, as an advocate
for the mineral exploration industry,
to communicate what we do, why we do it
and create a dialogue with policy-makers
and stakeholders about how specific decisions
impact our industry. World demand
for commodities, whether it’s coal, gold,
copper or other metals and minerals, is
increasing and B.C. should be well-positioned
to meet that demand, to the benefit
of all British Columbians. I believe it’s
imperative to inform and educate the
general public, community leaders, policymakers
and other stakeholders about the
importance of mineral exploration and its
role in the advancement of our society.
You have played a key role in the Labour
Market Task Force to encourage people
to choose careers in the industry. What
more needs to be done to make mining a
career of choice for more youth?
Public outreach and education, with the
objective of creating a better understanding
of the role of mineral exploration and
mining in society, should help. The
Labour Market Task Force has attempted
to reach out to youth through the creation
of a mining blog [www.bcminingblog.com],
for example, with the goal of getting secondary
and post-secondary students in
the exploration and mining industry. We
would like to see more touchpoints within
the Kindergarten-Grade 12 school system
where students can learn about geosciences
and how it makes a difference to their world.
With a career that includes an executive
management position as well as demanding
volunteer roles, how do you unwind?
I love working in the mining industry and
I strongly believe in the power of what we
have to offer to broader society, so my volunteer
roles are simply an extension of that
passion. Working in this industry gives me
the opportunity to travel the world – and
all that time in airports and on planes gives
me a chance to catch up on my reading.
Golfing is also a favourite pastime and a
great way to catch up with friends. I go on
a golf holiday every year with a group of
friends, most of whom work in the mining
industry, and it’s a highlight of the year. �
58 SPRING 2011 Photograph: Brian Dennehy/AME BC