Steering Committee
IRMA is currently governed by an active Steering Committee with representatives from all five sectors including mining companies, downstream metal purchasers (like jewelry retailers), environmental groups, affected communities and labor.
The Steering Committee meets monthly with responsibility for guiding the overall development of the IRMA system. The Steering Committee includes representatives from Anglo American, Newmont, Tiffany & Co., Jewelers of America, Earthworks, Canadian Boreal Initiative, Western Shoshone Defense Project, United Steel Workers and IndustriALL. A broader set of participants from each of the sectors regularly attend Steering Committee meetings to listen in and offer perspective.
The Steering Committee has adopted Principles of Engagement and a formal decision-making process.
The Standard
The Steering Committee has thus far articulated and begun development on (via multi-sector working groups) 15 chapters that together will encompass the IRMA Standard. These chapters are built on related initiatives including IFC Performance Standards, the Framework for Responsible Mining, ICMM Sustainable Development Framework, the No Dirty Gold Campaign’s Golden Rules, the findings of the Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development project, and the Mining Certification Evaluation Project.
IRMA aspires to attain compliance with ISEAL Codes of Good Practice, which will provide added assurance of IRMA’s credibility and sustainability at the international level.
IRMA welcomes new Managing Director Matthew Wenban-Smith. Matthew will both guide and support the IRMA Steering Committee's work to begin certifying mines in 2015. Also continuing with IRMA is current Coordinator Aimee Boulanger who will now focus greater time on the content and development process of the 15 chapters comprising the environmental and social terms of the IRMA Standard. IRMA also has a professional facilitator, Meredith Emmett, who facilitates all meetings and assists with organizational development and other initiatives.
