Daniel Franks

Daniel Franks is a Professor at the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute. He is known internationally for his work on the interconnections between minerals, materials and sustainable development, with a particular focus on the role of minerals in poverty reduction and the social and environmental change associated with mining and energy extraction. Professor Franks is currently supporting the United Nations Environment Program on the implementation of the UN Environmental Assembly Resolution on Mineral Resource Governance and was a contributing author of the International Resource Panel’s report ‘Mineral Resource Governance in the 21^st Century’.  He is a member of the scientific board of UNESCO’s International Geosciences Programme, and an advisor to the United Nations Development Programme on mineral sustainability issues.

Originally trained as a geologist, Professor Franks began his career as a field geoscientist, later retraining in political and social sciences. He has previously held positions as Chief Technical Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme, where he ran a programme focussed on the sustainable development of construction materials for the European Union and Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. In 2018, he Chaired the International Conference on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining and Quarrying and oversaw the historic Mosi-oa-Tunya Declaration on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining, Quarrying and Development. He has field experience at more than 75 mining and energy sites internationally and nearly 40 countries. His research was publicly cited by the Chief Operating Officer of the International Council on Mining and Metals as “academic research that has changed the mineral industry.” He is the author of more than 135 publications across 10 languages, including the book ‘Mountain Movers: Mining, sustainability and the agents of change’ (Earthscan, 2015).