Mining Indaba: Circularity and Regenerative Thinking | Transformative Force or Incremental Fix?
Panellists
Key topics
This podcast discusses a deceptively simple question:
“Is circularity really part of the solution for meeting the demand for critical materials, or is it just one piece of a much bigger puzzle?”
Silver bullet, or silver buckshot?
Using cobalt as a case study, this podcast explores how circular approaches could reshape supply security, value chains and the role of mining itself. The discussion unpacks what’s possible, what’s missing, and what needs to change next.
Speakers include:
- Assheton Stewart Carter | Executive Chair & Founder, TDi Sustainability
- Susannah McLaren | Head of Responsible Sourcing & Sustainability, Cobalt Institute
- Tom Fairlie | Senior Manager, Sustainability & Batteries, Cobalt Institute
Susannah leads the Cobalt Institute’s Responsible Sourcing and Sustainability strategy, bringing over 20 years of cross-sector experience, including in the extractives and minerals sectors. She serves as Vice Chair of the Board of the Global Battery Alliance and sits on several key advisory bodies, including the DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum, Drive+ and the OECD Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group. She also represents the Cobalt Institute across a range of influential international platforms, the Voluntary Principles Initiative, ICMM, and Eurometaux.
Tom manages the Sustainability work programme at the Cobalt Institute. His work focuses on the development of life cycle assessment data on cobalt products, development of circular economy approaches, and the decarbonisation of cobalt value chains – whilst advocating the need for a just energy transition. He is committed to ensuring that critical materials, like cobalt, are sourced and used efficiently and responsibly in the pursuit of decarbonised transportation through electrification. Tom leads Cobalt Institute’s in-house work on batteries and sits on working groups of the Global Battery Alliance, Recharge and ICMM.
This episode is part of the TDi Sustainability special series of podcasts produced for the Mining Indaba event that will take place in Cape Town between 9th – 12th February 2026. Find out more about the event>
