---
title: "CIM Connect: Key Takeaways on Human Factor and AI in Mining | BBA"
date: 2025-05-28T00:00:00-04:00
author: Juliette Cote
canonical_url: "https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/publications/cim-connect-key-takeaways"
section: Publications
---
Over the past decade, the mining industry has been undergoing a major transformation, driven by the energy transition, rapid technological advances, including artificial intelligence, and increasing ESG pressures. These challenges took centre stage at CIM CONNECT, held in Montréal a few weeks ago. This annual convention brings together professionals from across the mining sector. Susan Eick, Vice-President, Consulting at BBA, and Melissa Jarry, Department Manager, Mining and Geology at BBA, attended the event.

 

1. While these developments help the industry respond more ethically to the growing demand for critical minerals, they also raise an important question about the central role people play in this transformation.
    
    **”The mining industry is becoming increasingly aware of how essential it is to engage the people who are driving it forward,”** explains Susan Eick. **“Without clear communication, proper training and structured change management, innovations may not reach their full potential.“**
    
    ### For mining companies that want to better support their employees as the industry evolves, here are some key takeaways from the CIM CONNECT convention that focus on change management and the essential role people play.
    
    
    - **A culture of psychological safety is a powerful lever.**  
         When employees feel safe to express themselves fully and trust they’ll be listened to, their engagement rises and safety incidents decline. Leaders need to model this behaviour and set an example to make it credible and lasting.
    - **Innovation is about more than new solutions.**  
         It’s just as much about supporting teams through profound changes to their habits and work methods. The challenge often isn’t the innovation itself, but how it’s introduced and supported.
    - **Frontline leaders are often overlooked, yet they play a critical role in driving change.**  
         Equipping them with the right tools and involving them early helps build a strong workplace culture. Time invested in training early on leads to long-term gains.
    - **AI must be seen as decision-making intelligence and not simply artificial.**  
         It doesn't replace human judgement; it supports it. It’s important to help teams use AI as a concrete decision-making tool, aligned with their operational reality.
    - **Communication must be clear, practical and audience-specific.**
    
    **”It's not just about informing; it's about explaining, providing context, offering the right tools for proper understanding and tailoring our message to each audience,”** adds Melissa Jarry. **“Then we need to make sure the message has been received, understood correctly and integrated properly into the team’s daily work.”**
    
       
    The future of mining depends on its ability to put people at the heart of its transformation. It's up to us to listen better, train more effectively, provide support and give people the tools they need to act and evolve.
2. 
 
This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA

 

    1. ![MM Melissa Jarry 4446](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/203170/MM_Melissa-Jarry_4446.webp)   
    
     Mélissa Jarry, P.Eng.
    
    Department Manager, Mining and Geology
    
         Read bio   [  ](http://linkedin.com/in/melissa-jarry-26b4924a)  **Combining strategy and mining engineering, Mélissa Jarry leverages 15+ years of experience** to lead complex projects, from preliminary to feasibility studies, with rigour and vision.
    
    **Key expertise and certifications**
    
    
    - Open-pit mine design and pit optimization
    - Capital and operating cost estimation
    - Mining equipment selection and project management
    - Member of the *Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ)*
    
    **Major achievements:** Participated in strategic projects to develop and operate mines, integrating technical planning, infrastructure optimization and multidisciplinary coordination across the Americas and Africa.
    
    **Approach and added value:** Mélissa turns complex analyses into concrete solutions, ensuring reliable, compliant projects geared toward sustainable performance.
2. ![Pr employee women susan eick retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/205536/Pr-employee-women-susan-eick-retouch-web-SQ-LR-BBA.webp)   
    
     Susan Eick
    
    Vice-President, Advisory
    
         Read bio   [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/susaneick1/)  **Susan is a senior business strategy and marketing executive with over 35 years of experience.** She helps leaders align teams, build resilient culture and improve performance in complex industrial settings.​
    
    **Key expertise**​
    
    
    - Business strategy and alignment​
    - Executive leadership and team cohesion​
    - Culture and organizational behaviors​
    - Change management and adoption​
    
    **Key achievements**: As CEO of **Refinery Leadership Partners — now a BBA member** — Susan built a recognized advisory practice and guided executive teams through strategy execution and transformation in multi-layered, high-pressure environments.​
    
    **Approach and value added:** Susan understands the realities of operations: tight timelines, difficult decisions, and the need for safe, reliable performance. She helps leaders cut through complexity, align their teams, and embed the behaviors that drive lasting results.​
 
 

       

  

  

 

    - [  27 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals  
    
     
    
     Early tailings decisions shape long-term mine performance 
    
     
    
     
    
    
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- [  02 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals  
    
     
    
     Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing 
    
     
    
     
    
    
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      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/python-a-key-tool-for-data-analysis-in-mineral-processing "Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing")
- [  19 Jun 2026 Mining and Metals  
    
     
    
     Speed is earned early in projects 
    
     
    
     
    
    
    - ![Mm employee men jean lheureux retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/204266/mm_employee_men_jean-lheureux_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp)
    - ![Mm employee men benoit richard retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/203602/mm_employee_men_benoit-richard_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp)
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/speed-is-earned-early-in-projects "Speed is earned early in projects")
- [  17 Jun 2026 
    
     Industrial data platforms: building a solid foundation to optimize your operations 
    
     
    
     
    
    
    - ![Pierre Boucher](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/2671/Pierre-Boucher.webp)   
        
         Pierre Boucher, P.Eng.
        
        Senior Engineer, Operational Technology and Infrastructure
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/industrial-data-platforms-building-a-solid-foundation-to-optimize-your-operations "Industrial data platforms: building a solid foundation to optimize your operations")
 
 

       

 

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  Over the past decade, the mining industry has been undergoing a major transformation, driven by the energy transition, rapid technological advances, including artificial intelligence, and increasing ESG pressures. These challenges took centre stage at CIM CONNECT, held in Montréal a few weeks ago. This annual convention brings together professionals from across the mining sector. Susan Eick, Vice-President, Consulting at BBA, and Melissa Jarry, Department Manager, Mining and Geology at BBA, attended the event.

 

1. While these developments help the industry respond more ethically to the growing demand for critical minerals, they also raise an important question about the central role people play in this transformation.
    
    **”The mining industry is becoming increasingly aware of how essential it is to engage the people who are driving it forward,”** explains Susan Eick. **“Without clear communication, proper training and structured change management, innovations may not reach their full potential.“**
    
    ### For mining companies that want to better support their employees as the industry evolves, here are some key takeaways from the CIM CONNECT convention that focus on change management and the essential role people play.
    
    
    - **A culture of psychological safety is a powerful lever.**  
         When employees feel safe to express themselves fully and trust they’ll be listened to, their engagement rises and safety incidents decline. Leaders need to model this behaviour and set an example to make it credible and lasting.
    - **Innovation is about more than new solutions.**  
         It’s just as much about supporting teams through profound changes to their habits and work methods. The challenge often isn’t the innovation itself, but how it’s introduced and supported.
    - **Frontline leaders are often overlooked, yet they play a critical role in driving change.**  
         Equipping them with the right tools and involving them early helps build a strong workplace culture. Time invested in training early on leads to long-term gains.
    - **AI must be seen as decision-making intelligence and not simply artificial.**  
         It doesn't replace human judgement; it supports it. It’s important to help teams use AI as a concrete decision-making tool, aligned with their operational reality.
    - **Communication must be clear, practical and audience-specific.**
    
    **”It's not just about informing; it's about explaining, providing context, offering the right tools for proper understanding and tailoring our message to each audience,”** adds Melissa Jarry. **“Then we need to make sure the message has been received, understood correctly and integrated properly into the team’s daily work.”**
    
       
    The future of mining depends on its ability to put people at the heart of its transformation. It's up to us to listen better, train more effectively, provide support and give people the tools they need to act and evolve.
2. 
 
This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA