Mining Association of Canada appoints Julie Gelfand as Vice President, Sustainable Development

    OTTAWA, Nov. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) is
pleased to announce that Julie Gelfand has been appointed Vice President,
Sustainable Development, effective immediately.
    As past President of Nature Canada, Julie is familiar with the
Association and has been engaged with MAC (and other partners) on development
of Species at Risk legislation, the resolution of park boundaries, and joint
studies on the issues related to mining and park ecosystem integrity. As well,
Julie is a member of the federal government's Mining Sector Sustainability
Table and has been a Nature Canada representative on many multi-stakeholder
processes which have included MAC over the years.
    "Ms. Gelfand brings to the association a wealth of experience in
sustainability issues and proven leadership in multi-stakeholder processes,"
said Gordon Peeling, President of the Mining Association of Canada. "We are
very pleased to have Ms. Gelfand take on such an important role with MAC, as
the primary driver of the Towards Sustainable Mining initiative."
    Julie Gelfand has been the President of Nature Canada (formerly the
Canadian Nature Federation) since November 1992. During the nearly 25 years
she has spent working in the environmental field, Julie has focused on policy
development for a range of conservation issues, including protected areas,
environmental assessment, ecological integrity and species at risk.
    She co-founded and co-chaired the Canadian Endangered Species Campaign.
She also founded and chaired the Green Budget Coalition, an unprecedented
alliance of 19 of Canada's national ENGOs working to achieve ecological fiscal
reform. Julie was a founding member of MiningWatch Canada. She sat on the
Board of Directors of Wildlife Habitat Canada and the Global Council of
BirdLife International. Julie has been a member of many multi-stakeholder
groups, including the Advisory Committee on Environmental Protection, the New
Directions Group, the Biodiversity Convention Advisory Committee, the Species
at Risk Advisory Committee and the North American Bird Conservation
Initiative.
    Julie holds an Honours degree in Biology and Social Sciences and a
Masters Degree in Business Administration.

    The Mining Association of Canada is a national organization of the
Canadian mining industry. Its members are companies engaged in mineral
exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication.

    Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) is an initiative of the MAC which
focuses on improving the mining industry's sustainable development
performance. Member companies follow guiding principles and report on
indicators that measure their performance for specific mining activities such
as tailings management, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions management,
external outreach and crisis management. Three draft frameworks are in
development: Mining and Aboriginal Peoples, Biodiversity and Mine Closure.

    The initiative's development has been guided by a 14-member Community of
Interest Advisory Panel. MAC launched the TSM in 2004 and was honoured by the
Globe Foundation as its 2005 Globe Industry Association Award for
Environmental Performance.

For further information: Maggie Papoulias, (613) 233-9392, ext 325,
mpapoulias@mining.ca