The Water Stewardship in Mining Workshop is an elective course extension from the BRIMM Executive Micro Certificate in Economic Leadership for Mining. It brings together stakeholders to explore practical, economically sound strategies for sustainable water management in mining.

Water is the core of the tailings, water, and energy nexus around mine planning.

If we get the water econometrics right and maximize recovery, the mine’s carbon and natural footprint will decrease. The key is to build business cases that enhance optimization and traceability.

In Chile, water management has become a nationwide topic of debate. Conflicts regarding the allocation and use of water have arisen between local communities, mining companies, and the national government. It is critical to prioritize water stewardship strategies centered on efficiency and traceability, integrate stakeholders who can contextualize this knowledge into the current mining operations, and propose inclusive alternatives for all parties involved.

Who Should Attend

  • Water Resources or Hydrology Engineers – specialists managing mine water balance, groundwater, and discharge compliance

  • Sustainability or ESG Managers and Analysts – leading sustainability strategy, reporting, and environmental governance

  • Process or Mining Operations Engineers – optimizing plant efficiency, water recycling, and process-water use

  • Community Relations or Social Performance Professionals – guiding stakeholder engagement, community partnerships, and social license programs

  • Government Water and Environmental Regulators – overseeing permitting, basin-level water management, and policy alignment between mining and public water use

What You Will Learn

Through case studies and interactive exercises, participants will learn to:

  • Value water as capital — measure its economic, social, and environmental worth within mining systems.
  • Link water use to performance — connect recovery and efficiency to revenue, jobs, and profitability.
  • Model shared systems — explore how collaborative water infrastructure supports regional growth.
  • Negotiate value gaps — balance desalination costs against real value-in-use.
  • Build consent-based frameworks — design operations grounded in informed, voluntary participation.
  • Align limits and opportunity — apply natural capital tools to balance environmental constraints with economic potential.

Each attendee will receive a ‘Certificate of Attendance’ from BRIMM at the University of British Columbia.

Who we are

The Economic Leadership in Mining team at the Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining (BRIMM), housed within the University of British Columbia (UBC), began developing content to bridge increased environmental sustainability with better business practices for the mining industry in 2020.

Our mission is to educate across existing silos in the mining industry, creating networks that help participants develop their skills and promote projects with a triple-bottom-line impact.

The team delivers proven, interactive online programs with exceptional student retention and career impact. Our multi-course live format has engaged over 1,000 learners, fostering lasting professional networks and helping graduates advance in their mining careers.

A Two-day Interactive Workshop

Antofagasta, Chile

November 12th-13th, 2025

Hosted By…