Expert Speakers
Tobias Abt
Manager- Raw Material Procurement and Strategic Market Development - Mercedes-Benz
Tobias Abt is a Manager for Raw Materials Procurement and Strategic Market Development with extensive experience in the global automotive industry. He possesses comprehensive expertise across key areas of the value chain, including cost and supply chain management, as well as the strategic development of international sourcing structures.
Throughout his professional career, Tobias has held a variety of positions within the automotive industry, specializing early on at the intersection of engineering, business economics, and global raw materials markets. In various roles related to cost management and material and component strategy, he plays a key role in reducing procurement risks, enhancing competitiveness, and creating market access for critical industrial raw materials.
Internationally, Tobias has gained significant experience across Europe, the United States, and various regions of Asia. This global perspective forms the foundation of his strategic capabilities in developing international supply networks and understanding regional market dynamics.
Academically, he holds degrees in Industrial Engineering and Strategic Management. Through his experience and his focus on sustainable and resilient raw material strategies, Tobias contributes to guiding Mercedes-Benz successfully through the complex challenges of global procurement and raw materials markets.
Bruce Achneepineskum
Chief - Marten Falls First Nation
Bruce Achneepineskum is the Chief of Marten Falls. He has been Chief of Marten Falls First Nation since 2015. Under his leadership Marten Falls First Nation redefined its economic and social development objectives including what the community wanted to do on the development of the Ring of Fire. He has led the community to become an Indigenous proponent of large projects as the community became the proponent of the Community Access Road and the Northern Road Link Project. As Chief, his portfolio includes the sustainable development of these projects and the Ring of Fire and in this role, he works to ensure that his community’s commitments as stewards of their traditional territory are upheld.
Prior to serving as Chief, Chief Achneepineskum was a councillor in Marten Falls as well as an entrepreneur and ran the community store in Marten Fall. He believes that prosperity and sovereignty for his nation are possible through economic development based on resources available in his traditional territory and he continues to work towards the social, economic, and cultural development.
Jeff Gaulin
Vice President of Corporate Affairs - Vale Base Metals
Jeff Gaulin is the Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Communications for Vale Base Metals (www.valebasemetals.com), the global critical minerals company whose goal is to provide mineral security to a world in transition.
Mr. Gaulin leads the company’s global public policy and government relations – from Toronto to all corners of the world. He is a Board member of the Mining Association of Canada and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Critical Minerals Council.
Vale Base Metals is Canada’s largest producer of nickel, copper and cobalt – essential raw materials for the world’s energy and security transformation. Vale Base Metals operates mines and refineries across Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and Indonesia.
Mr. Gaulin joined Vale Base Metals in June 2023 from Invest Alberta, where he served as the Chief Corporate Development Officer for the provincial investment attraction agency. At Invest Alberta his role was to market globally Alberta’s pro-investment message, to support the investor journey, and to build a high-performing culture where people want to build a career with impact.
Mr. Gaulin has previously been a public affairs executive with Philip Morris International (Canada), the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Tervita Corporation, TransAlta Corporation and the British Columbia government. He was also an award-winning journalist.
In his spare time, Mr. Gaulin is a writer and explorer. He is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society and has kayaked with belugas in the Arctic, been chased by killer whales off the coast of British Columbia, camped in the world’s largest cave in Vietnam and climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mr. Gaulin has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Victoria (2002), a Master of Arts (Journalism) from the University of Western Ontario (1994), and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University (1994).
He is of Métis heritage and lives in Toronto. He is the father of two university-students.