Responsible mining in Nova Scotia through leadership, collaboration and sustainability

Callie Andrews and Glen Merkley, both leaders at GHD, have recently stepped into prominent industry roles, Callie as President of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia (MANS) and Glen as President of the Mining Society of Nova Scotia. 

While the two organizations serve distinct purposes within the province’s mining sector, their work is deeply complementary. Together, they support a shared vision: advancing responsible mineral development, strengthening collaboration across the industry and enabling mining to contribute meaningfully to Nova Scotia’s economic and community future.

With extensive experience in impact assessment, consulting and industry collaboration, Callie and Glen bring a practical, sustainability-focused lens to their presidencies, one that reflects the evolving expectations of the mining sector and its growing importance in a shifting global economy.

Although their names are similar, the Mining Association of Nova Scotia and the Mining Society of Nova Scotia play different but equally important roles in the industry. 

The Mining Association of Nova Scotia unites mining and aggregate companies to align on shared priorities, promote responsible development and helps the sector remains visible in broader conversations about economic growth and sustainability. 

The Mining Society of Nova Scotia serves as a forum for professionals, students and regulators to connect, exchange knowledge and advance technical understanding through conferences and industry events. 

Together, these organizations create a more connected and informed sector that is better equipped to respond to change and deliver strong outcomes for communities across the province.

For Callie and Glen, the timing of their presidencies is significant. Mining is playing an increasingly central role in the transition to a lower-carbon future, particularly as demand for critical minerals continues to grow. “The demand we’re seeing right now for minerals like lithium is unprecedented,” says Glen. “Mining is a key part of enabling the technologies needed for the energy transition, especially when looking at electric vehicles and greener EV battery production.” 

Nova Scotia’s mining sector continues to deliver meaningful benefits and represents a significant opportunity for long-term economic growth, particularly in rural regions. “Nova Scotia’s opportunities haven’t been fully realized yet,” Callie explains. “We’re seeing renewed momentum, and there’s strong potential to responsibly develop resources that can support both local communities and the broader economy.”  

“For me, success would be seeing new mines move into construction. Hopefully within the next year we’ll see two mine sites get developed.” Callie adds. “That’s where you really see the benefits come to life, through job creation, local investment and long-term economic contribution to the province.”  

“Mining creates well-paying jobs,” she says. “It provides for families and help support long-term community growth. It’s a real driver of community development that can bring people back to the province.”  This combination of environmental relevance, economic opportunity and untapped potential underscores why strong leadership and collaboration in mining has never been more important.

Callie and Glen are focused on building momentum and delivering tangible outcomes. “For me, success would be seeing projects move forward in a way that benefits communities while maintaining a high standard of environmental responsibility,” Callie says. 

Glen’s priorities focus on strengthening industry collaboration and engagement while expanding the diversity of voices involved, staying relevant and continuously improving. “We want to bring more perspectives into the conversation, particularly Indigenous voices and younger professionals, to make sure their perspectives are reflected within project planning and delivery” Glen adds. 

Across both roles, there is a shared emphasis on sustaining positive change and building a progressive industry that is inclusive, sustainable, forward-looking, supportive of local communities and grounded in long-term value.

Both leaders bring a unique perspective shaped by careers in impact assessment and consulting, rather than traditional mining operations. “That background really influences how we think about projects,” says Glen. “It’s about understanding impacts, engaging with communities and adapting to deliver better outcomes.” 

“We’ve had the opportunity to work with a range of companies and stakeholders,” Callie says. “That gives us a well-rounded perspective on how to balance environmental responsibility, community needs, and project success.” 

Mining in Nova Scotia means navigating both complexity and opportunity. One of the most pressing challenges facing Nova Scotia’s mining sector is workforce capacity. However, due to lengthy federal and provincial permitting processes projects have been stalled.  “We’ve had a strong pipeline of projects in Nova Scotia for years, but many have been held up in permitting for close to a decade,” says Glen. “What we’re seeing now is those projects starting to move forward, bringing renewed momentum and opportunity to the sector. This shows that with an engaged regulatory process, environmentally responsible and sustainable advancement is possible.”  

As activity increases, so too does the urgency to address workforce gaps.  

“We’re also facing a PR problem – for one reason or another, mining hasn't been seen as an attractive or a viable career path. There is a need to rethink how we attract and develop talent,” Glen adds. “There’s an opportunity to build a more diverse workforce, including stronger partnerships, particularly with Indigenous communities and more involvement from local talent including students and early-career professionals.” 

“There’s a strong focus on ongoing monitoring, environmental performance and engagement,” Callie explains. “That’s critical to ensuring projects are successful and that communities see lasting value.” 

“There’s a real chance to do things differently,” Glen says. “Through collaboration, innovation and more inclusive approaches, the sector can continue to evolve.”

Balance between economic development and environmental stewardship remains a critical priority. 

“Mining will always have some level of impact,” Callie acknowledges. “The goals are to make sure impacts are managed responsibly and that communities see real benefits from development.” 

“Mining today has to be done differently than it was decades ago,” Callie explains. “We need to continuously validate the science, stay on top of monitoring and make sure projects are compliant and protective of the environment and the communities around them. That’s where impact assessment plays such an important role, we have the opportunity to make projects better, not just by reducing environmental impacts, but by creating long-term benefits for communities. At the end of the day, we’re designing projects that leave things in a better place.” 

These improvements are essential to building and maintaining trust with communities and avoiding the legacy issues associated with historical mining practices. It is also important to think beyond the life of a project.  

“There’s opportunity to look at how sites can be repurposed in the future through asset transition and circular development, whether that’s for renewable energy or other uses,” Callie says. “That kind of thinking helps maximize long-term value.” 

“There’s been real progress in how projects are assessed,” Glen says. “It shows that responsible development is achievable while maintaining strong environmental standards”. 

These approaches help mining contribute to economic prosperity and environmental responsibility.

As they step into their presidencies, both Callie and Glen are optimistic about the role mining can play in supporting a resilient and sustainable future for Nova Scotia. 

“Mining offers the chance to work on large, complex challenges while contributing to something bigger,” Glen says. “It’s an exciting place to be, especially for those interested in engineering, science and sustainability.” “This sector is central to the energy transition and to building the infrastructure we rely on every day,” he adds. “There’s a real opportunity to be part of that.” 

“There’s a real opportunity to improve how projects are delivered, for communities and for the environment,” Callie says. “That’s what makes this work so rewarding.” Together, their leadership highlights how GHD is helping support the mining sector across Nova Scotia through technical skills, collaboration and a commitment to responsible development that benefits all by creating jobs, strengthening communities, contributing to economic prosperity across the province while being mindful about sustainability.