Announcement: Leading figures join Global Advisory Council of Resource Resolutions

Text of media release dated 20^th January 2025.

As the threat of societal and geopolitical conflict over natural resources intensifies, leading figures from industry, diplomacy, international organisations and academia have joined the Global Advisory Council of Resource Resolutions, a new venture focused on tackling resource-related conflict through dialogue and mediation.

Today Resource Resolutions (RR) is delighted to announce a Global Advisory Council of eminent figures from industry, international diplomacy and academia to guide its work. These include two leading executives who have provided seed capital for RR.

RR is a new venture which aims to reduce growing societal and geopolitical divisions around natural resources, including minerals, energy and water. From Greenland to Ukraine, competition for resources is playing a role in current geopolitical conflicts and tensions, while scores of mineral and energy projects have become a focal point for local and national divisions.

The two industry executives joining RR’s Global Advisory Council who have also provided seed capital for RR are:

• Chad Holliday, former Chair of Royal Dutch Shell, former Chair of Bank of America, and former CEO of DuPont. Chad has also served as Chair of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and Chair of Mission Possible Partnership. Chad is the lead investor in RR and its Chief Advisor.
• Mark Cutifani, the former CEO of Anglo American plc, current Chair of Vale Base Metals, and former CEO of AngloGold Ashanti. Known for his leadership in transforming companies and advocating for responsible mining practices, Mark is also a board member of TotalEnergies and Laing O’Rourke.

Other members of RR’s Global Advisory Council announced today are:

• Professor Elizabeth Robinson, Acting Dean, Global School of Sustainability at the London School of Economics. A leading environmental economist, Liz has also been the Director of the LSE’s Grantham Institute on Climate Change, and has over 25 years of research experience, particularly in low-income countries.
• Dame Meg Taylor, former Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum. A leading advocate for conflict resolution and sustainable development, Meg was founding Vice President of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman at the World Bank, and ambassador of Papua New Guinea to the US, Mexico and Canada.
• Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, former UN Under-Secretary General, former founding CEO of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, and former two-term Director-General of UNIDO. A distinguished development and agricultural economist, Kandeh is now Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security in Sierra Leone.

RR has been founded by Daniel Litvin. Daniel previously founded Critical Resource, a leading advisory firm on sustainability and geopolitical risks, which he sold in 2020 to ERM, the world’s largest sustainability consulting firm. He is Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics and author of ‘Empires of Profit: Commerce, Conquest and Corporate Responsibility’. The co-founder of RR is Chris Melville. Chris is formerly head of political risk with Tullow Oil, an Africa-focused upstream oil and gas company. Chris is a qualified community mediator and conflict resolution expert.

Quotes

Daniel Litvin, RR’s founder, said: “We are delighted to welcome these illustrious figures to our Global Advisory Council. Geopolitical tensions, climate change, societal polarisation and distrust may lead to more and more conflict over natural resources in the years ahead. In this fraught context, we aim to create a space for balanced dialogue. With its senior and diverse perspectives, the Council will help us identify how to create common ground between different groups, corporate, government, local community, and civil society.”

Chad Holliday says: “Conflicts over natural resources have been a problem facing humanity for centuries. Given current local, national, and global divisions, such conflicts now risk becoming worse. New solutions and spaces for dialogue are sorely needed. For this reason, I am delighted to support Resource Resolutions. Its aim of ‘unearthing win-wins’ around resources to support the interests of stakeholders and governments as well as those of companies seems to me the only way forward”.

Mark Cutifani says: “The energy transition will require vast quantities of minerals to construct new infrastructure and manufacture low-carbon products such as EVs. Societal divisions over new mines and facilities risk holding up progress. The industry needs to further strengthen its sustainability credentials. Stakeholders also need to see how responsible mining benefits them. All this means constructive dialogue is more essential than ever. I am delighted to support Resource Resolutions’ work in this area.”