NMIC Seminar Series: Lessons for Policy and Investment from Mining for a Critical Mineral in a Conflict Zone: The Case of Alphamin Bisie Mining's Tin Project in Democratic Republic of Congo

Richard Robinson joined Alphamin as Managing Director in January, 2016 and is responsible for all in-country construction and development operations for the Bisie Tin Project of ABM in Walikale Territory of North Kivu Province.  Richard has senior level experience with a particular focus on managing political and social risk as an executive and adviser in DRC mining projects, with USAID, and with Pact, a development NGO for the last 16 years. From 2011 to 2016 Richard was the focal point at USAID for U.S. Government efforts to reform conflict minerals and to create practical conflict-free certification systems.  From 2008 to 2011 Richard was Social Program Manager for Freeport-McMoRan’s $3 billion copper and cobalt mine, Tenke Fungurume Mining, in the former Katanga Province, where he managed social development, community relations and resettlement.  From 2003 to 2008, Richard was the country representative for Pact, a USAID implementing partner, which he led in corporate social responsibility partnerships with responsible mining investors, USAID and the World Bank.  Prior to that, Richard managed private and public sector MBA and graduate training and consulting programmes in South Africa as a Fulbright post-doctoral fellow (University of Fort Hare) and the USA (University of San Francisco). Richard holds a Doctorate of Education (University of San Francisco) on successful entrepreneurship in central and southern Africa. He was born in the DRC and is a permanent resident, living in Goma. 

Richard was recently elected General Secretary of the newly formed Mining Promotion Initiative, an alternative grouping of major international mining companies who have invested in the DRC to work with the GDRC and all other stakeholders to promote improved governance and an improved enabling environment for responsible mining investment.