IAEG 2026 Lecture Series

Early Careers Talk

Canada’s Mineral Industry: Camps, Careers, and Pathways for International Geologists

Ron Voordouw, 

Partner and Director of Geoscience with Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd

24th March 2026, 7 PM

We are pleased to announce that Ron Voordouw,  a partner and Director of Geoscience at Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd, a Vancouver-based firm specialising in mineral exploration project management, will be presenting as part of our 2026 Early Careers Talk series.

The talk will take place on Tuesday, 24th March at 7 PM online.

Canada hosts one of the world’s largest and most active mineral exploration industries, underpinned by a long history of discovery, well-established mining camps, and a strong technical and financial ecosystem. This talk provides a brief introduction to the Canadian mineral industry, including an overview of major exploration and mining camps, before focusing on career pathways within Canadian mineral exploration and opportunities for international geologists. Topics will include typical career progression, the skills and experience most valued by Canadian employers, and practical considerations such as work culture, field-based employment, and visa pathways for Irish and other international geoscientists. The talk draws in part on the speaker’s own experience progressing through the Canadian exploration industry, from early field roles to project management.

Ron Voordouw completed his BSc at the University of Calgary before transitioning from oil and gas into hard-rock geology through a PhD at Memorial University of Newfoundland, followed by post-doctoral research on the Bushveld Complex at the University of Johannesburg. After two years with the South African Council for Geoscience, Ron returned to Canada in 2011 to manage exploration projects with Equity. Over the past 15 years, he has been involved in the growth of the firm from managing approximately $10 million in annual exploration expenditure to nearly $100 million in 2026.

Registration is open via the IAEG website. Please register in plenty of time to ensure you receive an invite in time.

This talk is open to all.