The Global Tailings Management Institute (GTMI) announced organizational changes that include the appointment of Ed Toms as its inaugural chief executive officer and the creation of a technical committee to oversee technical aspects of its assurance activities.
The GTMI is an independent, multi-stakeholder governed organization that promotes widespread adoption and implementation of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). The GISTM requires mining operators to take responsibility for and prioritize the safety of tailings facilities, and the GTMI manages the assurance framework through which qualified, independent third-party assessors will audit and certify tailings facilities against this Standard.
ICMM, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) co-founded the GTMI. The GTMI’s first priority is to operate the assurance framework for the GISTM while driving awareness, sharing knowledge, and disclosing auditing outcomes. The organization aims to achieve zero harm to people and the environment and maintains zero tolerance for human fatalities.
The GTMI board of directors conducted a review and selection process before making the appointments, supported by the institute’s co-founders. The CEO role establishes full-time executive leadership to drive GTMI’s five-year strategy to scale the organisation and deliver on its mandate to manage an assurance framework for the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).
“It is an honour to lead the Global Tailings Management Institute as its first CEO. The establishment of this Institute serves as a critical turning point for responsible tailings management. The GTMI will help ensure that the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) is widely implemented across facilities globally and supported by a robust assurance framework. As the inaugural CEO, I’m looking forward to ramping up the Institute’s core activities, helping to appoint qualified auditors, and welcoming signatories and supporters,” Ed Toms, CEO of the Global Tailings Management Institute, said.
The technical committee will assume responsibility for all technical matters related to GTMI’s audit and certification processes, including accreditation and training programmes, development of conformance audit protocols, and guidance on interpreting the GISTM. Janis Shandro will support the committee in an acting chief technical officer capacity. The committee’s role formally centralises technical oversight and establishes a mechanism for periodic review of the Standard’s fitness for purpose.
GTMI said the organizational changes aim to fast-track the institute’s operational readiness by aligning governance, technical rigour, and stakeholder engagement. The establishment of a permanent CEO role and a standing technical committee positions GTMI to appoint qualified independent auditors, roll out an assurance framework, and invite mining companies and government-owned enterprises to become signatories, while enabling other stakeholders to join as supporters.
More information is available at www.Thegtmi.org/
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