Leading innovation and change in the mining and metal sector

Andrea Vaccari has spent the majority of her 23-year career in the mining and metals industry in sustainability and operational roles. She is currently Director Responsible Production Frameworks & Sustainability at Freeport-McMoRan Inc. where she collaborates internally and externally across the copper value chain with operations, suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders to advance responsible production. This includes leading and mentoring a team addressing climate change, human rights, responsible sourcing, product stewardship and sustainability assurance. After only three years with Freeport, she has led eleven large scale copper operations (mines, smelters and refineries) across the globe through the Copper Mark third party assurance process.

Previously, Mrs. Vaccari was Director of the International Copper Association (ICA) Health, Environment and Sustainable Development Program. In this role, she managed a diverse portfolio and global team of scientists addressing various aspects of sustainability as it relates to the life cycle of copper. In addition, while at ICA, she led the development of the copper industry’s first ever responsible production platform, the Copper Mark.

Earlier in her career, Andrea served as Global Quality Manager for Rio Tinto Minerals where she was responsible for the organization’s quality program, including the company’s production and finished product laboratories. In her first two roles at the company, she contributed to and then led the implementation of a sustainability strategy across the minerals business, including efforts to address climate change.

Andrea holds a Joint Honors Degree, B.E.S., in Environment and Resource Studies and Physical Geography from the University of Waterloo, Canada. She is Chair of the ICA Material Stewardship Council, Co-Chair of the Copper Mark Advisory Council, and the Mining & Metals subject editor for the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment