Environmental Geochemistry International (EGi) has worked on more than 500 mine sites in over 30 countries. We are pleased to welcome our first team member based in Canada.

Dr Kelly Whaley-Martin has joined EGi as a Principal Consultant, based in Ontario. She will work on EGi projects around the world, with an increasing focus on those in both North and South America.

Kelly is a mining waste and water specialist who holds a PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences from McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. She spent the first part of her career in research, starting out as a Senior Research Associate in the University of Toronto's Mine Wastewater Solutions Research Program, and has more than 18 publications in scientific journals. Her later research focused on designing, with mining partners, genomic tools that identify the microbes living in mine waste and water management facilities, and showing how they catalyse a significant portion of the iron and sulphur reactions behind the development of acid rock drainage (ARD). Kelly describes genomic analysis of this "mining microbiome" as a powerful new tool that complements conventional geochemical testing.

In 2021, Kelly moved into industry, driven by a desire to see her research tools applied at operating mines and in closure projects. Over five years at ERM she built and led its Canadian ARD geochemistry team and was ERM's Global Geosciences Technical Community Lead. Her programmes covered water quality, ARD management, waste segregation, seepage characterisation and closure planning. She has contributed to projects at more than 40 mine sites, with experience in Canada, the United States, Guyana, Colombia, Argentina, Suriname, Spain and Serbia.

What impressed Kelly most about EGi was its in-house laboratory. "I worked as an analytical chemist for a long time, so I understand how integral the methods and instruments we rely on are to robust quantitative characterisation," she said. "Having a direct connection with a geochemistry laboratory again, rather than relying on commercial labs, is a huge advantage to the work we do."

Outside work, Kelly is a professional figure-skating coach and a former competitive skater. She has coached for 15 years and is on the ice about four evenings a week, now often with her daughter.

"I feel like EGi is a team of kindred spirits," Kelly said. "I'm a lifelong learner and I wanted to keep honing my craft and to be at the forefront of what is being applied around the world. Working with so many passionate and specialised geochemists, many of whom pioneered numerous methods in the ARD space, is a great opportunity."

Welcome to the team, Kelly.