Manuel Cortes – Chair and Director Hispanics in Mining
Manuel Cortes – Chair and Director Hispanics in Mining
Manuel Cortes is an Industrial Engineer and MBA, with over 15 years of experience working with various multi-national companies in mining, oil and gas, and construction. Mr. Cortes’ areas of expertise include economic analysis and valuations, financial modeling, corporate development, mergers and acquisition (M&A), due diligence, project studies, and project management.
Mr. Cortes is Principal, Economic Analysis and Valuations at SLR Consulting, Mining Advisory group. Prior to his work as a consultant, Mr. Cortes was the Manager Corporate Development for Primero Mining Corp., a mid-tier precious metal producer with operations in Canada and Mexico, and was Manager Project Evaluations, Capital Projects for Barrick Gold Corporation, a major gold producer with 13 operating mines.
Manuel Cortes is the co-founder and chair of Hispanics in Mining, a networking group of Spanish-speaking professionals involved in the mining industry in Toronto. He is also a member and past Chairperson of the CIM Toronto Branch Education Committee.
- About Hispanics in Mining (HispanoMine) – Who we are
We are a group of Spanish-speaking professionals involved in the mining industry who meet for professional development and networking.
Our networking group was founded in the year 2012, and currently we have access to more than 700 professionals involved in the mining industry in Toronto, ~75% of the Latin/Hispanic professionals from more than 15 different countries. Our members represent small, medium-sized, and big multinational mining corporations, as well as, different engineering and consulting firms, financial institutions, government bodies, and different businesses servicing the mining industry
- Which is the objective of HispanoMIne?
As a group we want to become the leading association in Canada that connects Hispanic mining professionals and others interested in the mining industry.
Our main objective is seeking to advance Hispanic excellence in the mining industry, and show the value as mining professionals that we can bring to the table.
- What was the motivation to create HispanoMine?
When we found the organization in 2012 we identified there was a need for Latin/Hispanic professionals in the mining industry in Toronto to meet and network with colleagues with the same background and exchange experiences. I still remember for our first social gathering we were just 10 friends getting together, but the next month we were ~20, the next one ~30, and so on. At that point with my friend Rosario Astuvilca (Co-founder and past Co-Chair of the Group) and Andres Recalde (Past President PCCC), we identified there was a need for a group like this for Latin/Hispanics professionals in Toronto, and moved forward in creating the organization. In August 2012 we registered the organization as a Not-For-Profit under Corporations Canada.
We found this niche in the networking groups space in Toronto, and through the group, we want to promote the image of Spanish-speaking professionals in the mining industry in Canada.
- How HispanoMine contribute to the development of the Hispanic mining professional in Canada
Through the different type of events we organize for our members we want to:
- Strengthen bonds among our members
- Increase our members involvement in the Canadian mining industry, and show them the different industry specific networking opportunities (i.e. PDAC, CIM, WIM, and others)
- Create opportunities for professional growth through networking events, seminars, and speaker events
- Share industry knowledge, and work experiences in Canada and Latin America
- What are the most relevant activities that HispanoMine organizes?
As a networking organization we focus on:
- Social networking events, one each Quarter (Winter Pre-PDAC, Spring, Summer usually at Toronto Island, or at a Patio in DT Toronto, Fall)
- Annual Panel Speaker event discussing industry topics of interest, with Senior Executives as guest speakers
- Currently due to the Covid-19 Pandemic we began to organize monthly virtual social networking events with the participation of guest speakers that give a 10min talk about an industry topic, and then we do a virtual networking session.
- What will be your advice to the young mining professionals?
Canada is a mining nation, and the industry is considered an essential business. The industry provides the raw materials for a wide variety of essential products and economic activity. It also provides jobs, infrastructure, and economic opportunities in every region of Canada. Therefore, there will always be opportunities for young mining professionals.
To develop their careers, they must develop first their technical capabilities and gain knowledge in new technologies. Also, they must be willing to gain site experience at mine operations. The experience they will gain at the site is invaluable on the professional and personal sides. Sometimes is tough but it’s also very rewarding. Finally meet people in the industry, developing our professional network is a key asset in our career growth path.
If anyone interested in the mining industry wants to participate in the groups upcoming events, or even more, volunteer helping the organization, they can register at our website: https://www.hispanomine.com/ and follow our LinkedIn page.