The University of Queensland’s International Centre of Excellence in Chile ends a year of unprecedented growth in 2025 with important new developments, beginning a stage of independently funded operation, and under a new executive management.
This year, SMI-ICE-Chile concludes its period as a Center of Excellence under ANID, thus beginning operation as an independently funded entity.
Founded a decade ago under the auspices of CORFO, SMI-ICE-Chile has established itself as a leading center in the search for solutions to improve the productivity and environmental and social management of Chilean mining operations.
Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Doug Aitken as executive director, SMI-ICE-Chile has achieved sustained growth, positioning itself as a key player in the mining ecosystem.
During 2025, SMI-ICE-Chile experienced substantial growth in the number, scope and value of its projects supporting the Chilean mining ecosystem. It also has 66 strategic partners from industry, academia, government, and other national and international organizations, demonstrating a sustained capacity for collaboration at both the national and regional levels.
After three years as Executive Director, Dr. Doug Aitken is stepping down from his position in Chile to assume new responsibilities in Australia: as the inaugural director of the Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining (CERM) at The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI). After taking up the role of CERM Director, he will also transition to a role as a member of the SMI-ICE-Chile SpA Board.
Ahead of taking up this new challenge, based in Brisbane, Australia, Dr Aitken expressed his satisfaction and enthusiasm, as well as his intention to continue connecting the Chilean and Australian mining industries through the University, SMI and SMI-ICE-Chile.
Doug Aitken, after three years at the helm of SMI-ICE-Chile, is taking on a new challenge as Head of the University of Queensland’s Centre for Environmental Responsibility.
“I am very pleased with the maturity we have achieved with our Centre in Chile,” he stated. “We are growing in the number and scope of projects in crucial areas such as water management, resilience to climate change, social and environmental management in mining territories, and tailings management, among other challenges.
“We also have a team of 40 highly capable and visionary researchers and professionals to address these tasks in an industry crucial to the global energy transition. From my new position, I hope to continue the work we have been doing on both sides of the Pacific and further strengthen the connections between Australia and Chile, where we share similar challenges: water scarcity, acid mine drainage, conservation of fragile ecosystems, and carbon sequestration, among others.”
Director of SMI, Professor Rick Valenta, said he was looking forward to working with Dr Aitken on establishing SMI’s new Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining (CERM).
“Doug has demonstrated strong leadership throughout his time at SMI-ICE-Chile and has built strong and enduring relationships with partners in industry, government and academia.
“His appointment to CERM will build on those relationships and create a stronger connection of shared expertise and research between Australia and the broader Latin American Region.”
SMI-ICE-Chile is part of the University-owned JKTech group and their CEO, Professor Mark Noppé said this was a time of growth and opportunity for the Centre.
“I commend Doug for the fantastic work he has done as the Executive Director over the past three years and the reputation and position he and the SMI-ICE-Chile team has achieved, and I look forward to working with the team in Santiago as we further develop our partnerships and client-focused research outcomes, products, services and training activities in the region.”
Meanwhile, internal and external recruitment for a new Executive Director of SMI-ICE-Chile is continuing.
During this process, the executive functions will be carried out by Acting Executive Director and current General Manager Francisca Rivero, supported by the executive management team and SMI-ICE-Chile SpA Board.
Francisca Rivero, the current general manager, will assume the executive management on an interim basis.
