John Elder

Strategic Technical Advisor

John Elder is a seasoned leader in the global mining and minerals industry with over three decades of experience. He is the Principal of John Elder Consulting, specializing in the Rare Earths and TiO2 value chains.

Before founding his consultancy in 2022, John held pivotal roles at Hatch, a leading global engineering and consulting firm. As the USA Director for Mining and Metals, he led major initiatives in copper, gold, and lithium projects. He also served as Global Director of Rare Earths and Global Director of Diamonds, Borates, and Mineral Sands/TiO2, providing strategic oversight and executive sponsorship for complex, multi-regional projects.

Prior to his time at Hatch, John was President of Outotec’s (now Metso) Physical Separation Division, where he managed a global portfolio of products and projects. Earlier in his career, he served as the Exploration and Development Manager at RGC (now Iluka Resources), leading commercial discoveries and developments across multiple countries.

John has lived in six countries, giving him a deep understanding of diverse cultures, markets, and operational landscapes. He holds an MBA and both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Geology. He is a licensed Professional Geologist (PG) and a Registered Member (RM) of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME).

John’s expertise and leadership continue to shape the future of critical minerals, driving sustainable development and value creation in the global mining industry.