March 13, 2026 - Why do some mining projects succeed while others face delays, cost overruns, or even fail? This is one of the most critical questions facing the global industry and will be the focus of a special block of sessions at the World Mining Congress (WMC) 2026, led by Bent Flyvbjerg, Professor at the University of Oxford and widely regarded as the world’s leading authority on megaprojects. 

The block, titled “Transformation: Project Focus,” will take place on June 24 starting at 11:00 a.m., bringing together leading figures from the mining industry to discuss how to improve the planning, execution, and delivery of projects at a time when the sector faces increasing pressure to accelerate the development of new mines. 

The first session will be the panel “What Makes Projects Succeed or Fail?”, where Flyvbjerg will share the stage with Karina Gistelink, President Potash at BHP, and Lucy Martin, Senior Vice President at Bechtel. The discussion will be moderated by James Marzocca, Vice Chair at Hatch, a global engineering and consulting firm specializing in the mining and energy sectors. 

A fireside chat with industry leaders 

As part of the agenda, the fireside chat “What Makes a Successful Project?” will provide an open and dynamic conversation between experts and industry executives. 

The session will feature Karla Mills, EVP & Chief Project Development Officer at Teck Resources; Juan Luis Kruger, CEO of Minsur; and Joe Lombard, Vice Chair at Hatch. The conversation will be moderated by Sarah Gordon, CEO of Satarla. 

The block will conclude with the panel “Accelerating Project Delivery Responsibly,” where Flyvbjerg will once again join James Marzocca to discuss how companies can shorten project development timelines without compromising sustainability, risk management, or trust with stakeholders. 

A critical challenge for the industry 

Developing mining projects is becoming increasingly complex. Factors such as the pressure to shorten development timelines, the need to optimize large capital investments, and rising environmental and social standards have significantly increased the level of demand placed on mining companies. 

Bent Flyvbjerg’s academic work has analyzed thousands of megaprojects across sectors such as infrastructure, energy, technology, and natural resources, identifying patterns that explain why some meet their objectives while others do not. His research shows that planning biases, underestimated risks, and overly optimistic projections are among the most common causes of project underperformance. 

Key insights for leaders and decision-makers 

During the sessions at the World Mining Congress, Flyvbjerg will aim to translate these lessons into the context of the mining industry, offering practical insights to improve project planning and execution. 

For mining executives, investors, project leaders, and strategy decision-makers, this discussion represents a unique opportunity to access applied knowledge on how to deliver projects faster, more efficiently, and with better results. 

The World Mining Congress 2026, which will take place in Lima from June 24 to 26, will bring together business leaders, experts, and authorities from the global mining industry to discuss the future of the sector under the vision “Mining for the Future,” based on three pillars: technology, trust, and transformation. 

You can explore the preliminary program here: Plenary Program