Critical Minerals at the Crossroads of Geopolitics
Panellists
Key topics
This episode explores how geopolitics is reshaping the landscape for critical minerals and the mining sector. The discussion highlights how export controls, tariffs, and investment policies are redefining access to key resources such as copper, lithium, and rare earths—and why these minerals are now viewed as strategic assets.
The speakers examine differing approaches in the United States and European Union, the role of partnerships and offtake agreements in building secure supply chains, and how ESG, transparency, and standards are becoming central to responsible production and long-term resilience.
Speakers include:
- Assheton Stewart Carter | Executive Chair & Founder, TDi Sustainability
- The Hon Geoffrey Pyatt | Former Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Energy Resources, U.S. Government, Senior Managing Director, Energy and Critical Minerals Practice, McLarty Associates
- Isabelle Dupraz | Deputy Director, European Institute for Energy Security
- Abigail Hunter | Executive Director, SAFE Center for Critical Minerals Strategy
The Hon Geoffrey Pyatt, who has a distinguished career of more than 35 years in the US Foreign Service, was most recently the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Energy Resources in the US Government. In this role he led the G7+ effort to mobilise international support for Ukraine’s energy resilience, and as America’s chief energy diplomat, he advanced energy partnerships with key allies and partners around the world, directing US diplomatic efforts to diversify supply chains for critical minerals to power the energy transition. He is now Senior Managing Director of McLarty Associates, Energy and Critical Minerals Practice, where he leads the company’s Europe, Eurasia and South Asia practices.
Isabelle Dupraz is the Deputy Director of the European Initiative for Energy Security (EIES), an initiative launched in December 2023 in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Isabelle has worked in the public policy sphere for almost a decade – in research and public and private sector advisory capacities, spanning all levels of government in the UK and US. Her expertise spans European energy policy, global freight transportation, and masterplanning.
Abigail Hunter is at the USA think tank SAFE , an acronym for Securing American’s Future Energy, where she is the Executive Director of the Centre for Critical Minerals Strategy, where she leads all aspects of the Centre’s work – overseeing strategic direction and government briefing memos, as well as the Centre’s unique partnership with the U.S. Department of State on the Minerals Investment Network.
This episode is part of the TDi Sustainability special series of podcasts produced in advance of the 2025 Resourcing Tomorrow event that will take place in London between 2-4 December. Find out more about the event>
