Executive Lunch, Jorge Riesco (SONAMI), May 12
May 13 ,2026
May 13 ,2026
Santiago, 12 May 2026. The Chilean-British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham Chile) brought together representatives from some of the country’s leading mining companies, international investors and business institutions for an Executive Lunch featuring Jorge Riesco Valdivieso, President of the National Mining Society (SONAMI). The event provided an opportunity to examine the current outlook for Chile’s mining industry, its future prospects and the opportunities for strengthening collaboration between Chile and the United Kingdom.
Held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Las Condes, the exclusive gathering brought together a select group of investors, board directors and senior executives, creating a strategic forum to exchange views on one of the sectors that plays a pivotal role in both Chile’s economy and the bilateral relationship between Chile and the UK.
The event was opened by Ricardo Garib, Vice President of BritCham Chile and representative of Weir, who highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for direct dialogue between the private sector, industry associations and businesses driving the country’s economic development.
During his presentation, Jorge Riesco addressed the principal challenges facing Chile’s mining industry at a time when global demand for critical minerals continues to grow, driven by the energy transition and the increasing need to strengthen the country’s international competitiveness while maintaining a stable and attractive investment environment.
He also discussed the current investment climate, the regulatory developments affecting the sector and the opportunities available to consolidate Chile’s position as a strategic supplier of the minerals essential for clean technologies and the global transition towards a low-carbon economy.
A central theme of the discussion was the strategic role mining continues to play as a key driver of Chile’s economic development and as a catalyst for innovation, sustainability and technological advancement.
Participants reflected on the profound transformation currently taking place across the mining industry, where digitalisation, automation, artificial intelligence, energy efficiency and increasingly sustainable resource management are becoming essential factors for maintaining international competitiveness.
The discussion also explored the significant opportunities arising from closer collaboration between Chile and the United Kingdom. Drawing upon the UK’s recognised expertise in mining innovation, engineering, specialised services, project financing, digital technologies and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, participants examined how both countries can deepen cooperation to support the sector’s continued development.
The conversation highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships between companies, public institutions and research centres, particularly in areas such as smart mining, productivity, operational safety, circular economy initiatives and workforce development.
Another key topic was the mining sector’s contribution to the global energy transition. As worldwide demand for copper and other critical minerals continues to accelerate, Chile is uniquely positioned to play a fundamental role in enabling the development of electric mobility, renewable energy technologies and energy storage solutions.
Against this backdrop, participants agreed that sustainable growth will depend upon successfully combining competitiveness, innovation, regional development and effective collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The discussion also examined the challenges associated with permitting processes, productivity, access to highly skilled talent and attracting long-term investment, all of which were identified as essential to maintaining Chile’s position as the world’s leading copper producer and one of the mining industry’s most attractive investment destinations.
The exclusive format of the event encouraged an open and constructive exchange, allowing participants to engage directly with the President of SONAMI on the future of the industry, investment expectations and both national and international economic trends.
Among those attending were representatives from SONAMI, Weir, Marsh, Ebury, BDO, Telefónica, Anglo American, Collahuasi, Greenmind, Indemin and the British Embassy, together with senior representatives from BritCham Chile.
Participants included Jorge Riesco, President of SONAMI; Carolina Vásquez, General Manager of SONAMI; Ricardo Garib, Vice President of BritCham Chile and representative of Weir; Elle Denton, Executive Director of BritCham Chile; Armando Fernández and the Mining Team from Marsh; Alfonso Molinare, Country Manager at Ebury; Héctor Salgado, Partner at BDO; Joanna Pérez, Chair of BritCham Chile’s Technology, Innovation and Science Committee; Anita Josipovic, Business Development Manager – Mining and Energy at the British Embassy; Laura Landeta, Commercial Manager at Greenmind; Joaquín Lagos, Commercial Manager at Indemin; Esteban Rojas, Head of Public Affairs and Regulatory Affairs at Anglo American; and Jorge Gómez, Chief Executive Officer of Collahuasi, among other senior executives.
Through initiatives such as this, BritCham Chile continues to strengthen its role as a platform for dialogue between the Chilean and British business communities, fostering strategic discussions that contribute to the development of sectors that are critical to both economies. Mining remains one of the cornerstones of the bilateral relationship, not only because of its economic significance but also because of the opportunities it presents in innovation, sustainability, investment and technological collaboration.
By facilitating high-level exchanges of this nature, BritCham Chile reaffirms its commitment to building meaningful connections, promoting knowledge-sharing and supporting initiatives that contribute to a more competitive, resilient and future-ready mining industry.