SUDBURY, ON. Oct. 30, 2019 -- Laurentian University and its Mining Innovation Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO) are pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Abols as the next Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines and President and CEO of MIRARCO effective November 4th, 2019.
When Dr. Bruce Jago completed his term as Founding Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines and Vic Pakalnis retired as the President of MIRARCO, this created an opportunity for one person to lead both organizations. This change will take advantage of synergies between the two entities, which will help position Laurentian University as Canada's Mining University.
“As Laurentian builds its position as Canada’s Mining University and expands its reach internationally, it was looking for a passionate industry innovator, with global connections who can be a bridge between industry and the university. We have found a leader who can bring people from across campus together and help ensure we are preparing graduates to transition successfully to careers and be vibrant contributors to the innovation that will help move the mining sector forward,” says, Dr. Robert Haché, Laurentian University’s President and Vice-Chancellor.
Jennifer Abols was the unanimous choice of the selection committee, comprised of representatives from Laurentian University, and the Boards of the Goodman School of Mines and MIRARCO.
Abols grew up in Sudbury, graduated from Laurentian University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Extractive Metallurgy, and obtained her MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University with a focus on marketing and international strategy. Abols is a bilingual, professional engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the mining and minerals sector. Her wealth of experience across the mining cycle made her the perfect candidate to build Laurentian’s reputation as Canada’s Mining University.
She is the past chair of the Canadian Mineral Processors (2005), was the president of the Western Australia Mining Club (2009-2010) and received the Canadian Mineral Processors Mineral Processor of the Year award in 2015. “I am very excited about the opportunity and eager to jump into this new position at Laurentian University,” Abols commented. “I look forward to working with the talented people at MIRARCO and the Goodman School of Mines to further position Laurentian as Canada’s Mining University.”
Jonathan Goodman, Executive Chairman, Dundee Corporation and Chair of the International Advisory Board to the Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines, was a member of the selection committee. “My family invested in the University because we believe it is educating tomorrow’s mining executives by integrating the environmental, social, governance and finance into the fabric of a strong technical education.”
Dominic Fragomeni, Vice-President of XPS Expert Process Solutions (a Glencore Company) and Chair of the MIRARCO Board of Directors, was a member of the selection committee. He is familiar with Ms. Abols’ strong business and marketing acumen and experience with industry. He is confident that these strengths will be key to MIRARCO serving the mining innovation ecosystem including its researchers, other collaborative mining innovation organizations, government and the industry, both locally and abroad, while MIRARCO pursues is industry focused research programs.