ARM continues to broaden our horizons, and 2020 is a good opportunity to rethink and renew. As an organization founded in Colombia, on our road to “globalization” we have aimed at maintaining our identity of the south, rooted in the realities of the territories where we work.
By the end of 2018, we founded ARM Europe to nurture alliances on this continent as well as to coordinate our projects in Africa, keeping our main office – ARM’s brain – in Latin America.
Looking for our own model of balanced growth, we have taken steps to integrate additional knowledge and innovative experiences into the heart of the organization and to optimize leadership in the face of opportunities for our organizational development.
Four people with diverse and unique perspectives and experiences are now added to the Board of Directors
Four people with diverse and unique perspectives and experiences are now added to the Board of Directors to boost the development of our flagship CRAFT and Fairmined initiatives, looking for new openings and additional orientations to face the challenges arising in the sector for the next 10 years. ASM is in our DNA hence the importance of the presence of women and miners who represents new geographic scopes, always focusing on human rights:
Urica Yernesi Primus
Urica started in the philanthropic world at sixteen years old. Ms. Primus was elected President of the Guyana Women Miners Organization at the age of 24; after serving the organization as an Executive Committee member since the organization’s origination. Ms. Primus has been striving for gender equality in the mining sector, as well as increased opportunities for women in mining. She served as Vice Chairman on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission twice within the last three years. During her tenor Ms. Primus has written five approved policies for the Commission to aid in the development of the industry.
Furthermore, Ms. Primus has been actively involved in combating human trafficking in Guyana by planning rescues and implementing measures to improve the organization’s data collection. She currently serves as both the Director and a member of the Board of Directors of Together in Peace, Guyana’s first safe home for victims of Trafficking in Persons. Ms. Primus is a United Nations Alliance Of Civilization alumni and a member of the How Women Lead global network and an international advisor for the Emmanuel Ivorgba Foundation.
Emmanuel Yirenkyi Antwi
Emmanuel is the Managing Director and owner at Key Empire Resources Ltd and Gold Empire Resources Ltd. He has over 9 years of experience with the ASGM sector in Ghana and Africa. He thus has acquired immense experience in mining especially small-scale mining, gold sales and risk management, investments and systems review of private sector organizations including the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners. He also has extensive experience in Business IT solutions and Investment portfolio management and training for organizations especially business associations and NGOs. He is also experienced in Marketing and Media communication design, implementation and reviews for organizations.
Matthew David Chambers
Matthew is an impact investor, social entrepreneur and chair of the Chambers Federation, an award-winning, accredited impact investment firm based in the United States. Recipient the US Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), the Federation specializes in investments into women empowerment, responsible sourcing and value addition in the artisanal cocoa, coffee and gold sectors. Matthew is the lead investor and co-founder of the brand ‘I Am Origins‘, highlighting woman-led value addition and material provenance in conflict-affected and high-risk areas. This brand commercializes premium in-country value-added products to international markets.
Managing the family business for the past 20 years, he has founded a variety of social enterprises in the Philippines, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo including the first chocolate facility and jewelry production line in the DRC, with value chains made up entirely of women, as well as a woman-owned construction company which built Kenya’s first entirely woman built road. Linkedin.
Ana Gabriela Factor
Ana Gabriela is a Social and Environmental Impact specialist and trainer with over 20 years of experience in international environmental and development projects in Latin America, Europe, Greenland, South East Asia and Africa. Her clients include IFU, EKF, IFC, WB, EIB, KfW, Danida, Finida, SIDA, local governments, large retailers, mining and oil & gas companies, private investors and NGOs. Linkedin
To meet all current members of ARM Board of Directors, please visit our website.
Marcin Piersiak assumes the role of ARM Executive Director and Yves Bertran is now the Director of ARM Europe.
We are gradually expanding our geographic horizons, which calls for adapting our organizational, governance and leadership structures. After three years leading ARM, and a major contribution to “globalize” the organization, Yves Bertran decided to concentrate his efforts to develop our growth strategy in Africa under ARM Europe. Thank you, Yves!
“Rapid changes in the sector need to continually rethink our action and impact that we can generate as an organization. In the face of global challenges, ARM needs to grow and increase the diversity of profiles and thoughts to be able to respond according to its vision and mission. I have absolute trust in Marcin to continue steering ARM’s ship. I am very happy to support the ARM team from Europe and Africa. We can count on the support of a growing and committed Board of Directors, very much aware of the evolving ASM world. I am very grateful for all the support the team has given me!”
Considering his extensive experience in the organization, Marcin Piersiak, formerly ARM Deputy Director, will now lead the organization from the Executive Office.
“Having piloted the CRAFT Code and with Fairmined Certification consolidating as the ASM best-practice standard of choice, ARM now offers a comprehensive progressive improvement route for both miners and market stakeholders seeking positive engagement with ASMs. By expanding the Board of Directors, innovating and strengthening our institutional capacity, we want to live up to our name “Alliance” and create an attractive value proposition for all actors who see ASM as an opportunity for sustainable business with positive impact.”
ARM is committed in full representation and participation of key stakeholders, from boardroom to mine site.