Meet the team
Our multidisciplinary team combines experience and expertise gained from working in the DRC mining sector, transforming ASM practices across East Africa and South America and setting up and facilitating programmes for local community development.
The Team
Assheton Stewart Carter PhD
Executive Director
“When you trust people to do the right thing, and you give them the means to do it, the results can be astonishing. We are beginning now, even in these early days of the FCA, to see those results and there is nothing more uplifting to know that we played a small part in these successes.”
David Sturmes
Corporate Engagement and Strategic Partnerships
“Cobalt is key to enabling a speedy transition to a green, post-carbon economy. The DRC’s unparalleled cobalt endowments should serve as a catalyst for local development. By investing in the professionalisation of artisanal mining and creating dignified employment opportunities throughout local mining communities, we can help turn this mineral wealth into lasting prosperity. To make this happen, we need to dare to be part of the solution.”
Freddy Mwamba
Lead for Health and Safety
“I joined the FCA team to bring my know-how and experience acquired in the industrial sector to help clean up the artisanal mining environment. In collaboration with our partners and artisanal miners, we are improving working conditions, identifying hazards and managing risks with the goal of reaching zero accidents within our cooperatives.”
Yves Kasongo
Lead for ASM Engagement
“Working with artisanal miners is my passion. At roughly 20% of production, artisanal mining is a key economic resource of DR Congo, however, without proper risk management disaster the consequences could be dire. As experts in the sector, we are happy to provide technical guidance on how to avoid mining accidents such as landslides, rockfall and subsidence. With the Fair Cobalt Alliance, the formalisation of artisanal mining is guaranteed.”
Alexandra A Lukamba
Government, Public Relations and Communications Officer
“The ASM sector is often seen in a negative light, but at the FCA we are looking at improving the working conditions of the women washers and creuseurs who make their living from the cobalt sector. But it is also important to work with the government and all stakeholders to have a common vision. With a background in conflict management, public relations and communication, I contribute to the FCA’s public relations in the DRC.”
Guillaume Monga
Community Relations and Development Programmes Manager
“I joined the FCA to bring my expertise in boosting human social and economic development. To economically empower local communities living near mining operations in general and artisanal miners in particular, with a focus on children, for effective socio-economic reintegration through the creation of sustainable socio-economic livelihoods and to see social conflicts and social frustrations within local communities and artisanal miners in mining areas significantly reduced by making other income generating activities as an alternative to mining activities.”
Valentijn Eschauzier
Programme support officer & communication coordinator
“We at the FCA believe that cobalt, when properly managed, can bring development and prosperity to local communities. In addition to cobalt, I believe that developing agricultural and forestry related activities can contribute to improving livelihoods of the mining communities. With a background in sustainable agriculture and forestry, I contribute to the FCA with daily programme support.”
Andrina Beaumond
Senior Stakeholder Engagement & Programmes Manager
She brings expertise, experience and a fresh perspective to the team at The Impact Facility where she joins us as the senior stakeholder engagement and programme manager.
Previously, she worked with the UN Environment Programme on a public policy campaign for bold policy action on single-use plastic products.
Andrina has a Masters in Environmental Policy Regulation from LSE.
Guest Authors
We’re very happy to invite guest authors to write on the Fair Cobalt Alliance website.
Assheton Stewart Carter PhD
Executive Director
“When you trust people to do the right thing, and you give them the means to do it, the results can be astonishing. We are beginning now, even in these early days of the FCA, to see those results and there is nothing more uplifting to know that we played a small part in these successes.”
David Sturmes
Corporate Engagement and Strategic Partnerships
“Cobalt is key to enabling a speedy transition to a green, post-carbon economy. The DRC’s unparalleled cobalt endowments should serve as a catalyst for local development. By investing in the professionalisation of artisanal mining and creating dignified employment opportunities throughout local mining communities, we can help turn this mineral wealth into lasting prosperity. To make this happen, we need to dare to be part of the solution.”
Freddy Mwamba
Lead for Health and Safety
“I joined the FCA team to bring my know-how and experience acquired in the industrial sector to help clean up the artisanal mining environment. In collaboration with our partners and artisanal miners, we are improving working conditions, identifying hazards and managing risks with the goal of reaching zero accidents within our cooperatives.”
Yves Kasongo
Lead for ASM Engagement
“Working with artisanal miners is my passion. At roughly 20% of production, artisanal mining is a key economic resource of DR Congo, however, without proper risk management disaster the consequences could be dire. As experts in the sector, we are happy to provide technical guidance on how to avoid mining accidents such as landslides, rockfall and subsidence. With the Fair Cobalt Alliance, the formalisation of artisanal mining is guaranteed.”
Alexandra A Lukamba
Government, Public Relations and Communications Officer
“The ASM sector is often seen in a negative light, but at the FCA we are looking at improving the working conditions of the women washers and creuseurs who make their living from the cobalt sector. But it is also important to work with the government and all stakeholders to have a common vision. With a background in conflict management, public relations and communication, I contribute to the FCA’s public relations in the DRC.”
Guillaume Monga
Community Relations and Development Programmes Manager
“I joined the FCA to bring my expertise in boosting human social and economic development. To economically empower local communities living near mining operations in general and artisanal miners in particular, with a focus on children, for effective socio-economic reintegration through the creation of sustainable socio-economic livelihoods and to see social conflicts and social frustrations within local communities and artisanal miners in mining areas significantly reduced by making other income generating activities as an alternative to mining activities.”
Valentijn Eschauzier
Programme support officer & communication coordinator
“We at the FCA believe that cobalt, when properly managed, can bring development and prosperity to local communities. In addition to cobalt, I believe that developing agricultural and forestry related activities can contribute to improving livelihoods of the mining communities. With a background in sustainable agriculture and forestry, I contribute to the FCA with daily programme support.”
Andrina Beaumond
Senior Stakeholder Engagement & Programmes Manager
She brings expertise, experience and a fresh perspective to the team at The Impact Facility where she joins us as the senior stakeholder engagement and programme manager. Previously, she worked with the UN Environment Programme on a public policy campaign for bold policy action on single-use plastic products. Andrina has a Masters in Environmental Policy Regulation from LSE.
Guest Authors
We’re very happy to invite guest authors to write on the Fair Cobalt Alliance website.
To achieve lasting impact and avoid a duplication of effort on the ground, we are working with a network of organizations and individuals that share our belief that change is possible and that collaboration is needed to get there.
At Glencore, we recognise that artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a vital source of employment and income generation in countries like the DRC. We believe ASM can co-exist alongside large-scale mining when carried out responsibly and transparently.
Through our membership of the FCA, we are investing to address the poverty that is the underlying cause of so many of the challenges associated with ASM. What’s more, we will support legitimate ASM cooperatives in their endeavours to transform their practices and align with international human rights practices, especially in the prevention of child labour.
Head Cobalt Trader, Glencore and Chairman of the Cobalt Institute