Overview
The Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) is an independent, non-profit organization that leads collaboration among mining and exploration companies, organized labour, contractors, educational institutions, industry associations and Indigenous groups to identify and address the human resource and labour market challenges facing the Canadian minerals and metals sector.
Our Mission
To lead collaboration across the Canadian mining sector to analyze and disseminate labour market information and develop actionable solutions to industry HR challenges.
Our Vision
An inclusive, skilled and sustainable Canadian mining workforce that anticipates and adapts to volatility and innovation.
Our Values
- Inclusiveness – Foster an inclusive environment that respects and values the diversity of perspectives and cultures within the Canadian mining sector.
- Collaboration – Cultivate effective and ongoing communication and relationships with all stakeholders and communities of interest to be aware of their evolving needs and to promote collaborative approaches that consider all input to increase effectiveness of MiHR programs.
- Integrity – Commit to the highest ethical and professional standards, integrating honesty, integrity and trust in all individual and organizational relationships.
Look back at some of MiHR’s many accomplishments over its years of leading collaboration across Canada’s mining sector.
Our Strategic Priorities
Labour Market Information
Objective: To be the leading and trusted knowledge centre of labour market information for the Canadian mining sector.
Career Development
Objective: To increase awareness of and access to Canadian mining careers.
Respectful and Inclusive Workplaces
Objective: To enable respectful and inclusive workplaces in the
Canadian mining industry.
Skills Development and Recognition
Objective: To ensure training and skills are aligned and recognized to the needs of industry.
Collaboration and Partnerships
Objective: To collaborate with partners to respond to Canadian mining labour market challenges.
Governance
MiHR’s governance structure reflects our industry
From our board of directors to our program committees, representatives from Canadian mining employers and contractors form the largest membership of each group. In addition to employers, our board and/or standing committees may also include representatives from organized labour, education, associations and Indigenous groups.
Board of Directors
MiHR is governed by a 12 person board of directors that represent a cross-section of mining industry employers, organized labour, mining associations, equity groups, and educators from across Canada.
Jenine Ellefson (Chair)
Vice President, Human Resources
North America Newmont
Sherry Iskander (Vice-Chair)
Principal Advisor, Talent
Rio Tinto
Dean Winsor (Past Chair)
Executive Vice-President and Chief People Officer
Teck Resources
Shanyn Bzowey
Director, Talent and HR
Suncor Energy
Geoff Smith
Vice President, Government Relations
Mining Association of Canada
Jered Heigh
Talent Acquisition and Development Manager
Cameco
Jan Romo
National Representative
Unifor
Mario Santos
National Representative
Unifor
Brian Vaillancourt
Vice President, Business Development
College Boreal
Kevon Stewart
Director – District 6
United Steelworkers
Michelle Edwards
Senior Global Director, People
Agnico Eagle
Anne Johnson
Assistant Professor, Smith Engineering
Queen’s University
Our Team
Allow us to introduce ourselves.
Ryan Montpellier
Executive Director
Ryan Montpellier Executive Director
Ryan has over 15 years of experience in identifying and addressing human resources and labour market challenges in the Canadian mining industry. Appointed as Executive Director in 2008, he leads all of MiHR’s strategic activities and represents the Council on various industry and government committees and advisory panels. Ryan is a past recipient of the Canadian Institute of Mining – Young Leadership Award and the International Association of Business Communicators Gold Quill award. He is a regular speaker and panelist at industry conferences and events and was a past Distinguished Lecturer for the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). Prior to joining MiHR, Ryan held various leadership positions with high-tech companies in the Ottawa region. Ryan holds a number of degrees including an MBA and a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation.
Dana Imbeault
Senior Director, Operations & Skills Development
Dana Imbeault Senior Director, Operations & Skills Development
Dana is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient operation of MiHR’s programs and activities. She also leads a team in the development of a suite of National Occupational Standards to be used by industry to help develop the required skills and competencies of its workforce, and leads the implementation of MiHR’s Canadian Mining Certification Program – a national program that recognizes the expertise of the industry workforce. Dana also provides oversight and guidance on the implementation of MiHR’s Mining Essentials Program: An Essential Skills and Work Readiness Program for Aboriginal Peoples.
William Meyer
Director, Communications and Career Development
William Meyer Director, Communications and Career Development
William Meyer is responsible for planning and providing strategic direction to effectively promote and build awareness of MiHR and its programs, projects and services. A strategic, results-oriented communications professional, William has nearly 15 years’ experience in the non-profit, association and government sectors – and has served as the head of communications for two industry associations. William also leads the development and implementation of marketing and communications activities that support all aspects of MiHR’s strategic plan.
Pascale Larouche
Director, Skills Development & Diversity
Pascale Larouche Director, Skills Development & Diversity
As Director of Skills Development and Diversity, Pascale is dedicated to developing strategic tools and resources that help build a work-ready, safety-conscious workforce, with a focus on supporting underrepresented groups such as Indigenous peoples, women, youth and newcomers. Pascale is also committed to fostering respectful and inclusive workplace cultures by leading initiatives that break down systemic barriers and position diversity as key to innovation and sustainability in mining.
Jamie Wolcott
Director, Labour Market Information
Jamie Wolcott Director, Labour Market Information
Jamie is responsible for the continuous intellectual development of MiHR’s labour market research and forecasting for Canada’s mining industry. He has collaborated with numerous industry stakeholders across the country and has been a key contributor to several of MiHR’s research projects. His focus is to identify and understand the primary challenges and opportunities facing in the mining labour market in Canada.
Claudia Mueller
Director, Mining Exchange Programs
Claudia Mueller Director, Mining Exchange Programs
Claudia leads MiHR’s Canada–Australia Mining Skills Exchange Program, driving cross-country collaboration to enhance skills development, mobility and knowledge sharing between partners in both countries. She is an innovative leader with 15 years of experience advancing skills and workforce development across the Canadian mining sector. Her expertise in strategic partnerships and engagement has enabled her to collaborate effectively with industry, academia, governments and communities, building impactful alliances that strengthen talent pipelines and support a sustainable, future-ready mining industry.
Taylor-Faith Blenkarn
Director, Skills Development and Recognition
Taylor-Faith Blenkarn Director, Skills Development and Recognition
Taylor leads MiHR’s national training, certification and recognition initiatives under the Canadian Mining Skills Development Framework. She drives the organization’s skills development strategy by advancing industry standards, strengthening training pathways and supporting workforce readiness across Canada. Backed by education in business, human resources and project management, and over a decade of experience in the mining sector, Taylor brings expertise in workforce development, program leadership, and stakeholder engagement to help build a resilient and future-focused mining workforce.
Lindsay Kajiura
Director, Early Talent Initiatives
Lindsay Kajiura Director, Early Talent Initiatives
Lindsay leads programs that connect diverse students and early-career talent with industry through experiential and work-integrated learning. She strengthens partnerships between industry and post-secondary institutions to advance career awareness and build a diverse workforce for the future. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and women’s studies and brings a background in human resources from the retail sector.
Maeva Callier
Senior Manager, Skills Development
Maeva Callier Senior Manager, Skills Development
Maeva is responsible for overseeing MiHR’s career awareness, education and wage subsidy programs to support the mining industry’s efforts to attract, recruit and develop a skilled and diverse workforce. Prior to joining MiHR, she managed corporate projects in the private sector, taught FSL in the public sector and ESL to newcomers to Canada. Maeva holds an honours bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics and a master’s degree in humanitarian action.
Gustavo Jurado
Senior Labour Market Economist
Gustavo Jurado Senior Labour Market Economist
Gustavo collaborates in the planning and development of MiHR’s labour market research and forecasting for the Canadian mining industry. He brings experience in e-commerce and data science, having worked in both public and private sectors. His previous projects have focused on understanding the potential impact of automation on the labour market.
Brandon Belo
Senior Manager, Wage Subsidies and Early Talent
Brandon Belo Senior Manager, Wage Subsidies and Early Talent
Brandon oversees MiHR’s wage subsidy programs and contributes to a range of initiatives focused on career development across the sector. He brings more than 10 years of business management experience, with a strong track record of building programs, supporting stakeholders, and helping organizations create meaningful opportunities for emerging talent.
Irene Cunningham
Manager, Finance
Irene Cunningham Manager, Finance
Irene is responsible for accounting and financial reporting at MiHR, offering accounting support for both staff and projects. Irene has worked in a variety of industries and has previous experience working for not-for-profit organizations.
Bahareh Karimi
Manager, Administration, Accounting and IT
Bahareh Karimi Manager, Administration, Accounting and IT
Bahar is responsible for day-to-day office functions, supports staff and projects and manages accounts payable and expense claims at MiHR. She brings several years of experience in computer and network administration, accounting and customer service.
Maya Mainland-Gratton
Manager, Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
Maya Mainland-Gratton Manager, Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
Maya manages communications initiatives to attract, recruit and retain Canada’s mining workforce. She also supports communications across the organization by developing program-specific communications plans and participating in communications and stakeholder engagement activities to build awareness of the Council and uptake of its programs. Maya holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature and brings over five years of marketing and communications experience.
Alex Parsons
Manager, Communications and Graphic Design
Alex Parsons Manager, Communications and Graphic Design
Alex works with the communications team to write, edit and design market-ready content for the websites, social media pages and other facets of MiHR’s public face.
Vickey Sobhani
Labour Market Economist
Vickey Sobhani Labour Market Economist
Vickey contributes to the research, analysis and interpretation of labour force data to explain economic conditions and forecast labour market trends in Canada’s mining industry, applying econometric models and statistical techniques. She brings experience in private sector market analytics, as well as public sector economic assessment and management consulting across all levels of government.
Amanda Seguin
Manager, Skills Development and Recognition
Amanda Seguin Manager, Skills Development and Recognition
Amanda leads the Canadian Mining Certification Program (CMCP), the Canadian Mining Training Recognition Program (CMTRP) and other workforce development initiatives under the Canadian Mining Skills Development Framework. She advances occupational standards, training and skills recognition, and industry-driven workforce development to support an adaptable and future-ready mining workforce across Canada.
Danielle Delaney
Coordinator, Outreach and Events
Danielle Delaney Coordinator, Outreach and Events
Danielle supports the planning and delivery of events, stakeholder engagement initiatives and outreach activities. With a background in relationship management, communications and community engagement, she enjoys bringing people together and creating opportunities for collaboration.
Giselle Delos Reyes
Office Coordinator
Giselle Delos Reyes Office Coordinator
Giselle supports the day-to-day coordination of office operations and administrative functions across the organization, helping to maintain efficient processes and a positive experience for internal teams and external stakeholders. Bringing years of experience across operations, coordination and client support, she contributes to creating a collaborative, organized and effective workplace environment.
Career Opportunities at MiHR
Thank you for your interest in joining our team!
Please note that MiHR is not an employment agency, and does not offer positions other than those listed on this page. Resumes sent to MiHR related to general mining positions are not accepted. Please refer to job boards and company websites for mining industry job openings.
MiHR is dedicated to striving for inclusion and diversity in its staff. Please refer to our Inclusion & Diversity Policy and Procedures for more information.
MiHR is not currently hiring.
