Schulich Brings German and Canadian Leaders Together to Advance Critical Raw Materials Partnership
The Schulich School of Business brought together senior leaders from business, government and academia on September 16 for a discussion focused on strengthening cooperation between Canada and Germany in the critical raw materials sector.
The German-Canadian Critical Raw Materials Partnership: Moving from Diplomacy to Projects explored opportunities to turn growing bilateral cooperation into tangible business opportunities and projects, bringing together perspectives from the mining, energy, manufacturing, government and Indigenous economic development sectors.
“At Schulich, we believe some of the most interesting business questions sit at the intersection of business, government, technology and society. This panel discussion is a perfect example,” said Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick. “It attempts to answer an important question: How do we turn a strong Canada-Germany relationship into real business opportunities – and real projects – on both sides of the Atlantic?”
Co-hosted by Zwick and Anne Wagner-Mitchell, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Toronto, the event included a partnership dinner followed by a keynote address, panel discussion and audience Q&A.
Jochen Tilk, former President and CEO of Potash Corporation and former CEO of Inmet Mining Corporation, delivered the keynote address, Powering the Transition: Perspective on German-Canadian Resource Cooperation. Drawing on his extensive experience in the mining sector, Tilk focused on the role of mining and resource development within the evolving German-Canadian partnership.
Following the keynote, Burkard Eberlein, Professor of Public Policy and Sustainability and Director of Schulich’s BBA Program, moderated a panel featuring Dr. Erik Eschen, CEO of VAC-Group/Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co KG; Mark Podlasly, corporate board director and leader in global energy transition and Indigenous economic development; Afsana Qureshi, Assistant Deputy Minister, Mines and Minerals Regulation Division at the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines; and Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO of Rock Tech Lithium.
The discussion explored the geopolitical dimensions of critical raw materials, the importance of Indigenous partnerships, and the need for collaboration across governments, industry and communities. A recurring theme was the interconnected nature of the sector – and how greater cooperation can create opportunities and benefits across countries, industries and communities.
The evening concluded with a networking reception in Schulich’s CIBC Marketplace, providing speakers and guests with an opportunity to continue the conversation and build connections across the German-Canadian business and policy communities.
