MineSense Taps Veteran CEO to Drive Sustainable Mineral Recovery

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – February 17, 2026 – In a strategic move signaling a new phase of accelerated growth, digital mining technology firm MineSense has appointed John Slaven as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 2. The appointment places a 35-year industry veteran at the helm of a company aiming to solve one of the mining sector's most pressing challenges: how to extract more critical minerals with a smaller environmental footprint.

Slaven takes leadership at a time when the demand for metals like copper is surging, driven by the global transition to green energy, while the mining industry faces mounting pressure to decarbonize and improve resource efficiency. MineSense, founded in 2008, has positioned itself as a key enabler of this shift with its real-time, sensor-based ore sorting technology.

“The demand for critical minerals has never been greater,” said John Slaven in the official announcement. “MineSense has proven that we can recover more of what is already being mined, while reducing environmental impact. This is a pivotal moment for MineSense and the industry, and I am excited to lead the company as it continues to scale globally.”

A Veteran Leader for a Pivotal Moment

John Slaven brings a formidable track record that spans the entire mining value chain, from exploration to global operations and corporate strategy. His career includes senior leadership roles at some of the industry's largest and most influential companies, providing him with a unique perspective on the operational and strategic hurdles that new technologies must overcome to gain widespread adoption.

Most recently, he served as CEO of Jetti, another technology-focused resources company. His extensive resume also includes time as Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta's Aluminium Business and crucial executive roles at Alcoa Corporation, where he served as both Chief Operations Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. During his tenure at Alcoa, he was responsible for the global operations of its bauxite, alumina, and aluminum assets and oversaw the company’s long-term strategy and global supply chain. Earlier in his career, he spent 13 years as a Partner and Managing Director at The Boston Consulting Group, leading its North American Metals and Mining practice, and held senior commercial roles at BHP Billiton and technical roles at De Beers.

This deep, multi-faceted experience is seen as critical for navigating the complexities of the mining sector. Slaven’s background in both operations and strategy equips him to articulate the value of MineSense’s technology not just to engineers on the ground but also to C-suite executives and investors focused on ESG metrics and long-term profitability.

Unearthing Value at the Source

At the core of MineSense's value proposition is its flagship product, ShovelSense. This technology represents a significant leap forward from traditional ore sorting methods, which typically occur further down the processing line. By mounting high-frequency sensors directly onto the buckets of mining shovels, ShovelSense provides real-time grade analysis at the point of extraction.

This immediate data allows mine operators to make precise decisions on whether a bucket of earth is high-grade ore to be sent to the mill, low-grade material for a stockpile, or waste rock to be discarded. This precision sorting prevents valuable metals from being misclassified and sent to the waste dump—a common and costly problem in large-scale mining.

According to the company, the impact is substantial. As of 2025, ShovelSense has been responsible for identifying and preventing over 19,000 tons of copper from being wasted. This represents significant recovered revenue that would have otherwise been lost.

“Every day, high-value ore is being missed simply because mines lack visibility at the point of extraction,” stated Ian Pearce, MineSense Board Chair. He noted that Slaven's leadership will be key to bringing “this value proposition to many more mining operations around the world, helping them capture millions in revenue that would otherwise be lost.”

The environmental benefits are equally compelling. By ensuring only valuable ore enters the processing stream, mines can drastically reduce the energy and water consumed in crushing and grinding barren rock. This directly lowers a mine’s carbon footprint and reduces the volume of tailings waste, addressing two of the industry’s most significant environmental challenges.

Powering the Green Transition and Global Scale

The appointment and MineSense’s mission are inextricably linked to macro-trends shaping the 21st-century economy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) and other global bodies project a massive increase in demand for critical minerals like copper, lithium, and nickel to build the electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels essential for a low-carbon future. Simultaneously, easily accessible, high-grade ore deposits are becoming scarcer, forcing companies to mine more rock to produce the same amount of metal.

This paradox—the need for more minerals mined more sustainably—is where technologies like ShovelSense become critical. By maximizing recovery from existing mines, MineSense helps increase the supply of essential metals without the need for developing entirely new, and often environmentally disruptive, mining projects. This improves the efficiency and security of the global critical mineral supply chain.

With 32 systems already operating at 16 mines across the globe, MineSense has established a proven foundation. Slaven's primary mandate is to build upon this success and drive the company's next stage of global scaling. His experience in managing international operations and navigating the investment decisions of major mining corporations will be instrumental in accelerating the adoption of MineSense’s technology and cementing its role as an indispensable tool for modern, responsible mining.