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The Mineral Policy Institute: Profile, people and achievements

Available online:
  • MPI's 2002-2003 Annual Report (600kb pdf)
  • MPI's 2002-2003 Auditor's report (1.2mb pdf)

    MPI's address and contact details are on the contacts page.

    Contents (clickable)
  • Profile
  • Key activities
  • MPI's current project priorities are:
  • Photo of MPI Staff
  • Mineral Policy Institute Staff
  • MPI Board Members
  • MPI Advisory Committee


  • Asia-Pacific Mining Skillshare participants
    Above: Participants in the Asia Pacific
    Mining Skill Share, Philippines.
    Click for larger picture.

    Profile 
    The Mineral Policy Institute (MPI) is an Australian-based non-government organisation specialising in advocacy, campaigning and research to prevent environmentally and socially destructive mining, minerals and energy projects in Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

    MPI aims to set the agenda for mining operations by
  • working to preventing mining, minerals and energy projects that threaten environments, social welfare and human rights;
  • promoting mineral and energy use efficiency and reduced resource consumption that will limit the number and impact of mining and energy exploration and extraction projects and,
  • ensuring that mining, minerals and energy projects comply with the principles of ecologically sustainable development, social justice and human rights.


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    Key Activities
    MPI’s key activities are

  • Conducting and promoting “politically engaged” research, linked with public campaigning in partnership with affected communities and NGOs. This research analyses and exposes the social and environmental costs and benefits of the minerals and energy industries and their relationships with national and international governments and financial institutions.
  • Raising community awareness and stimulating action to publicly pressure governments, mining companies, financial institutions and shareholders for changes in practices and policies, moving towards responsible mining, minerals and energy use.
  • Supporting and building the capacity of communities, activists and their organisations to intervene strategically to promote responsible mining, minerals and energy projects and prevent irresponsible projects and effect changes in policy, law and institutional behaviour.


  • Although it is a relatively small organisation, MPI has a wide reach and strong networks with development, environment, labour, church and indigenous organisations across the world. MPI’s campaigners travel to remote areas to research environmental and human rights issues and take part in discussions with affected communities, governments, other human rights and environmental organisations and industry.

    MPI publishes a quarterly journal, Mining Monitor, which is highly respected for it investigative stories on environmental and human right issues associated with the industry.

    MPI specialises in providing research, advocacy, information and capacity-building support to communities and NGOs campaigning against environmentally and socially destructive mining and energy projects, particularly focusing on Australian companies wherever they operate in the world, and mining affected communities in the Asia Pacific region.

    MPI is a member or affiliate of the following organisations:
  •   Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA);

  •   Climate Action Network Australia;

  •   Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network;

  •   Friends of the Earth International;

  •   Asia-Pacific Research Network.


  • The Mineral Policy Institute is a not for profit organisation. Unlike the mining companies whose behaviour we seek to change, we don't have a big budget! To carry out much of our work, we rely on donations of money, equipment and volunteer labour.

    MPI is funded by our individual supporters and on a 'project by project' basis by community, church, human rights and philanthropic organisations focused on environment, social justice and corporate accountabiilty issues. MPI does not accept funds from mining and energy corporations. To become a supporter or make a donation to MPI see: Please consider becoming a supporter or making a donation to MPI.

    MPI has a staff of five people (mostly part-time), and is governed by a board of ten members, each with extensive experience in environment, development, academic and/or social change organisations. MPI has an Advisory Committee of eight members.

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    MPI's Current Project Priorities Are:
  • Mining Futures & Socially Responsible Investment: Increase public scrutiny of the role and practices of Australian and international financial institutions (banks, superannuation funds, insurers, analysts and shareholders) in the mining and energy industry to achieve a re-focusing of investments from harmful mining and energy projects and instead into renewable energy and sustainable minerals use.


  • Renewable Energy Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Dependency: Prevent the expansion of fossil fuel dependency for energy markets in Australia and the Asia Pacific and achieve ‘just transitions’ for workers and communities dependent on fossil fuel mining energy production that contribute to climate change.


  • Mineral Sands Mining in the Murray Darling Basin: Ensure that a proliferation of mineral sands exploration and mining does not prevent a co-ordinated approach in protecting the water resources and biodiversity of the Murray-Darling Basin region of Australia.


  • Papua New Guinea NGO Capacity Building: Supporting the development of a strong NGO sector in PNG that can defend communities from harmful social and environmental impacts of mining and energy projects.


  • Ok Tedi, PNG: Supporting communities to ensure that the Ok Tedi mine operators commit to operate the mine in accord with environmental best practice and clean up, rehabilitate and restore the Fly/Ok Tedi Rivers, and that the mine's past operators and owners (BHP Billiton) are accountable and properly meet their responsibilities for the past and future environmental and social impacts of the mine.


  • Indonesian Mining-Affected Communities Support: Assist Indonesian communities and NGOs to effectively resist environmental and social abuse by mining corporations, including prevent mining in protected areas in Indonesia and disposal of mine wastes into rivers and seas and protect human rights.


  • Mining in the Mekong Basin Region: Inform affected communities and government decision makers about costs and benefits of mining and assist them to ensure that mining projects are operated according to best practice.


  • Mining and Ecosystem Protection in New Caledonia: Support the rights of indigenous peoples to protect their lands, prevent damage to ecosystems from destructive mining projects and to make informed decisions about mining.


  • Resource Development and Human Rights in West Papua: Ensure that mining and resource development in West Papua supports, rather than undermines, human rights and the aspirations of the indigenous people.


  • Submarine Tailings Disposal: Stop the mining industry’s use of seas and oceans for disposal of mine wastes and tailings


  • Mining Monitor: Provide high quality referenced information on the activities of the mining industry in the Asia Pacific region and Australian companies worldwide for target audiences


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    Past and present  MPI staff and friends
    MPI's staff
    Above: Past and present MPI staff and friends
    Click for larger picture.

    Mineral Policy Institute Staff
    Igor O’Neill
    Igor O’Neill is a graduate in law and environmental science. He has worked as an environmental scientist, an environmental law advisor, a volunteer bush regenerator and a theatre technician for the Sydney Opera House. He has been active in a range of environmental issues and is currently working on resource management and human rights issues in the Asia-Pacific, including volunteer work for the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI).

    Techa Beaumont
    Techa Beaumont is a graduate in sociology and law who has been involved in both environmental and human rights activism for the last seven years, for organizations including Amnesty International and the Wilderness Society. She worked as a researcher for the Australian Centre of Human Rights and spent six months in India as an intern at the South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre.

    Jo Symonds
    Jo Symonds is an administrator and coordinator with over 20 years experience in administering both non-profit and commercial entities. Jo manages MPI’s administrative systems including accounting and financial planning for the organisation. ^ Go up to contents ^
    MPI Board Members
    Chris Dubrow (Chairperson)
    Chris Dubrow is an activist, musician and student, currently completing a law degree at UNSW. He has an arts degree majoring in Science and Technology Studies, and has also studied economics. Chris formed the Australian branch of the international NGO 'ATTAC'. ATTAC campaigns on global justice issues such as the democratisation of the world's financial markets and related institutions. He was the singer and songwriter in the politically focused rock band 'Insurge'.

    Helen Cheney
    Helen Cheney is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF). Her work in the field of sustainable development has focused on community development, participative and community based research, education and public policy. She has worked as a manager, researcher, educator and consultant throughout Australia with a range of community, government and industry groups. She has particular experience in rural, remote and regional communities working with people who are disadvantaged including Indigenous, low-income, youth, migrant and women's groups.

    Lachlan Riches
    Lachlan Riches is a Sydney-based industrial and immigration lawyer, working on cases for Australia’s largest trade unions, the Australian Manufacturing Workers and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy unions. He has a Master of Laws degree and Economics degree. He is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. In 1997, he visited, investigated and wrote a detailed report on proposals by WMC Australia to establish a large open-cut copper/gold mine in Mindanao, Southern Philippines and assisted the affected communities argue their opposition to WMC within the Australian community.

    Anna Cody
    Anna Cody is a human rights lawyer who has worked in Australia, Latin America and New York, USA. She is particularly interested in economic, social and cultural rights and has documented human rights violations in the mining industry and advocated around these issues at the United Nations. Her work in Latin America has combined human rights education and community organising around specific issues. She currently works with Caritas Australia as the Program Coordinator for East Timor and Indonesia.

    Geoff Evans
    Geoff Evans is an environmental scientist, specialising in land appraisal, social ecology and environmental education. He has worked as national liaison officer of Friends of the Earth Australia and for many years with Aboriginal people in central Australia as a community development worker and educator in organisational management and land management. Geoff is the NGO representative on the federal government's Environment Australia Best Environmental Practice in Mining Steering Committee, President of the Climate Action Network Australia and Convenor of the Australian Council for Overseas Aid Mining Advocacy Working Group. Geoff lives in Newcastle, NSW, the centre of Australia's largest coal mining and export and fossil fuel power generation region. Geoff is a former Director of MPI.

    Miranda Nagy


    Nina Lansbury
    Nina is a Senior Research Consultant at the Institute for Sustainable Futures. She has a first class Honours degree in Environmental Science from the University of NSW, majoring in human geography, and a Bachelor's degree in Arts, majoring in Asia studies. Nina's work background covers local government, university teaching and research and non-government organisations, and brings together skills in investigative research, media, campaigning and advocacy in the issues of social justice and environmental conservation issues, including climate change, mining, human rights, and community development. Nina was the Research Coordinator at the Mineral Policy Institute for almost four years, and her work involved cross-disciplinary research that represented grassroots perspectives, and community education through lectures and workshops. In her current position at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, Nina manages and researches on a range of projects that include issues of climate change, waste management, and social sustainability.

    Kate Walsh
    Kate Walsh joined AID/WATCH in September 2001 as the Export Credit Agency Campaigner. Previously, Kate worked as a NSW Forest and Nuclear Campaigner and spent 3 years working for the NSW and Australian Greens in the office of Lee Rhiannon, as the Coordinator of the Australian Young Greens and organiser of the Global Young Greens Conference 2001, and as the assistant National Coordinator for the 2001 Federal Election. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) Degree from Charles Sturt University, Bathurst.

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    MPI Advisory Committee
    Nic Maclellan
    Nic Maclellan has worked as a journalist, researcher and community development worker in the Pacific islands. Since 1984, Nic has travelled extensively throughout the South Pacific region, and worked for nine years as a field officer and Pacific program manager for the Australian Volunteers Abroad program. Between 1997-2000, he lived in Fiji, working with the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) in Suva. He has written widely on development and environment issues in the South Pacific, and is co-author of three books including: La France dans le Pacifique - de Bougainville à Moruroa (Editions La Découverte, Paris, 1992); After Moruroa - France in the South Pacific (Ocean Press, Melbourne, 1998); and Kirisimasi - Na Sotia kei na Lewe ni Mataivalu e Wai ni Viti e na vakatovotovo iyaragi nei Peritania mai Kirisimasi (PCRC, Suva, 1999).

    Russell Fisher
    Russell is an ecologist and adult educator with a diverse background in environmental planning, social housing, community development, education and organisational development.

    Russell started his activist career campaigning against uranium mining in the late 1970’s. After some years focussed on nature conservation, he broadened his horizons in social housing campaigns then as a community development worker and educator with Aboriginal people in Central Australia for 10 years. This included work designing culturally appropriate workplace trainers courses for the Northern Territory mining industry. For the last few years Russell has been working in Melbourne consulting on strategy, leadership, learning and organisational change. Apart from his role with MPI he mentors/advises a number of environmental leaders and has been assisting a Mittagong Forum sponsored project to strengthen the capacity of the environment movement. In another life Russell is the Principal Consultant Sustainability with the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.

    Robin Chapple
    Robin Chapple was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council on February 10, 2001. He is the first member of the Greens (WA) ever elected for the vast Mining and Pastoral Region. With a background in engineering, Aboriginal community development, local government, nuclear and mining issues

    Robin became involved in many community activities and had the privilege of being a Port Hedland Town Councillor for seven years, retiring in May 1993. He was the co founder of LEAF.(Local Environment Affinity Force) of Hedland, the local environment group.

    Robin established Chapple Research after it had become apparent that most environmental and social impact consultancies were constrained by their dual roles of providing guidance to proponents and the need to provide in-depth assessments on behalf of community groups and local authorities Chapple Research was established to meet the community's, local authorities' and local industry's need to for an impartial environmental/social impact consultancy.

    Recent Times Robin spent a number of years as a member of the Department of Minerals and Energy's Minerals Environmental Liaison Committee (MELC). He also served on the State Government’s mining industries annual “Golden Gecko Environmental Excellence Award” program, as a conservation representative on the technical review and assessment panel.

    He was employed as the coordinator of the Anti Nuclear Alliance of West Australia for a number of years, campaigning against the establishment of a uranium mining industry in WA and the proposed international nuclear waste dump

    Cam Walker
    Cam Walker is National Liaison Officer of Friends of the Earth Australia and Campaign co-ordinator, Friends of the Earth Melbourne where he is involved in policy development, representation, membership development, outreach, training, fundraising, media, short-term campaigning on Indigenous issues, toxics, forests, local campaigning, population and environment, corporate governance, ecological debt, sustainability.

    Cam is a Secondary teacher by training specialising in Environmental Science with experience in Melbourne secondary schools. He has been a lecturer in Community Development at a number of TAFE colleges in Melbourne. He has spent considerable time working with Indigenous communities in the USA and Canada who are resisting mining, nuclear testing, forced relocation and radioactive waste facilities.

    Gail Collins
    Gail Collins considers herself as a displaced landowner impacted by open cut coal mining

    in the Upper Hunter Valley, NSW. She has been involved with Minewatch NSW Inc. for about 10 years, Secretary for the last six years. Minewatch is a community based organisation advocating for better outcomes for the environment and the communities impacted by mining. Gail represents the community on Muswellbrook Shire Council's Environment committee as well as several Community Consultative Committees including a CCC set up by the Minister for Mineral Resources to consider a proposed open cut mining development at its exploration stage.

    Ruth Rosenhek
    Ruth Rosenhek is an international environmental activist, educator and co-director of the Rainforest Information Centre in Lismore, NSW. Ruth organizes and campaigns at home and abroad on behalf of forest protection and against toxic mining projects. Ruth is the founder of the international GoldBusters campaign which aims to end unecological and socially devastating practices of gold mining. Ruth teaches and tours both in Australia and abroad on deep ecology, eco-psychology and compassionate activism.

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