Rio Tinto and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) announce a multiyear partnership that will provide valuable professional development opportunities to Rio Tinto employees.

The announcement came at SME’s Annual Conference & Expo in Phoenix, AZ, among representatives from both organizations.

This agreement will allow Rio Tinto employees to benefit from the full range of services offered by SME, a leading professional association with 14,000 members worldwide, including access to high-quality technical content and trainings, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities with thought leaders.

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As a leading mining and metals company, Rio Tinto will also play an active role across the SME network, with a particular focus on promoting best practices in health and safety and developing the next generation of mining professionals. For instance, Rio Tinto will sponsor a competition open to SME’s 77 university-based student chapters, which challenges participants to find a solution to a real-life situation.

Rio Tinto Growth and Innovation group executive Stephen McIntosh said, “Attracting and developing the best people is essential to support Rio Tinto’s goal of achieving excellent safety and operational performance, both now and as we continue to grow. Partnering with SME provides our team with a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference in our dynamic industry.”

SME Executive Director David L. Kanagy said, “As the leading international resource for technical information about mining and related industries, SME offers indispensable science and technology from, and for, the people and businesses that discover, develop, and deliver the world’s mineral resources. This partnership gives Rio Tinto employees access to benefits that will help grow their technical skills and expand their professional networks to stay current with the latest industry trends.”

The new agreement will provide SME memberships to 150 employees across Rio Tinto. All employees will have access to webinars and a digital library, including papers, articles and presentations on topics ranging from safety to geotechnical models. They will also be engaged in volunteer and mentor opportunities with SME programs, divisions, and student members.

Rio Tinto will also be a sponsor for SME’s Young Leaders Network and an SME Foundation Roundtable Partner, which supports a pipeline of mining academic resources.

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