Critical Minerals Innovation Forum

13th - 14th October 2026

London, UK

Oliver Richards

Head of Critical Minerals and Mining

UK Department for Business & Trade

Oliver is an international government and business leader with 20+ years’ experience operating at the intersection of government, industry and geopolitics across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Oliver currently leads the UK’s critical minerals strategy internationally, working closely with the public and private sector investment communities, and international partners.

He is a former diplomat, and has led market access negotiations, major infrastructure and investment programmes, and built strategic partnerships across governments and multinational organisations. He has broad experience in sectors including critical minerals, mining, infrastructure, clean energy, defence, higher education and advanced manufacturing.

Oliver's sessionsView full agenda

Day 1

Tuesday 13th October 2026

Time
Session title
Session type
10:00 - 10:30
Security of supply and operational reality: How to manage geopolitics and concentration risk 
UK Department for Business & Trade | Anglo American | Critical Minerals Association
Plenary
10:30 - 11:00
11:00 - 11:45
Visibility has a limit: An honest reckoning with what traceability can and cannot deliver 
Cisco | HSBC | Fairphone | Airbus | International Tin Association
Plenary
11:45 - 12:30
Plenary
12:30 - 13:30
13:30 - 14:15
14:15 - 15:00
15:30 - 16:15
16:15 - 17:00
17:00 - 18:00
Day 2

Wednesday 14th October 2026

Time
Session title
Session type
18:00 - 18:50
From commitment to action: Partnerships and business models closing the circular economy gap 
Vale Base Metals | AT&S | Volvo Construction Equipment | Ellen MacArthur Foundation | Global Electronics Association
Plenary
09:00 - 09:20
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:20
Nature’s social license: Is the human impact of biodiversity loss the business case for action? 
Rio Tinto | Hitachi Energy | Schneider Electric | Kenmare Resources | Shift
Plenary
11:20 - 12:20
12:20 - 13:50