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Members of the Ontario Mining Association (OMA) welcomed our new President, Priya Tandon, at the annual Meet the Miners Day in Toronto. Ms. Tandon, who assumed the presidency on October 7, 2024, became the first woman to serve in this role. She succeeds Chris Hodgson, who is retiring after an illustrious 20-year tenure with the association. 

“Priya is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience in the public sector, known for her expertise in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and building strong, collaborative relationships,” said Frank Demers, Director, Ontario Mines at Vale, and Chair of the OMA Board of Directors, who led the talent search. 

“Priya’s innovative approach, strong analytical skills, and dedication to fostering inclusive and effective policies have made her a highly respected figure in the industry. As President of the OMA, she will bring her visionary leadership to further the association’s mission of advancing Ontario’s mining sector in a sustainable and responsible manner.”

Ms. Tandon began her career in public service as a legislative assistant in the Minister's Office of the former Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry in 2009, and soon became Chief of Staff to the Ministers of Natural Resources and Northern Development and Mines. She joined the Ontario Public Service as the Director of the Corporate Policy Secretariat at the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines in 2015 and became Director of the Strategic and Indigenous Policy Branch at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in 2020. With a background in engineering and public policy, she has a deep-rooted passion for innovation, problem-solving, defining issues and implementing strategies that produce measurable and positive results. She is also an advocate for diversity and inclusion, ensuring different perspectives are brought to the table.

‘Amid a changing geopolitical, economic, regulatory and societal landscape, Ontario mining is retooling and mobilising the resources it needs to be a key contributor to sustainable growth and the global energy transition,” said Ms. Tandon. “This is a time of opportunity, innovation and forging strong relationships, and I am excited to be part of shaping the mining industry of tomorrow.”

Her predecessor, Chris Hodgson, agrees: “Ontario mining occupies a unique role among industries – we are paving the way towards a low-carbon future and providing materials that underpin societal progress. From civil infrastructure to transportation, and technology to agriculture, the products that the mining and metals sector produces support and enable virtually every sector – regionally and globally. This is an exciting, purpose-driven industry that is changing and enabling positive change in the world. It needs leadership that can meet rapidly emerging demands and opportunities.”

To OMA members, Chris Hodgson has been such a seasoned leader. Mr. Hodgson joined the OMA following a distinguished career in government. He entered the Legislature following a by-election in 1994 and he won general elections in 1995 and 1999 representing the riding of Haliburton-Victoria-Brock. While in government, Chris served in several positions including Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Minister of Natural Resources, Chairman of Management Board and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. During his 20 years as President of the OMA, he created a culture of respect, professionalism and political neutrality, imparting the association with a strong reputation for constructive engagement with governments and communities of interest. This led to many successes and fruitful collaborations in many areas: from working with health and safety stakeholders to make considerable progress on our collective goal of reaching zero harm – to launching several groundbreaking public outreach campaigns that are redefining the reputation of the industry. Listen to Laurie Scott, MPP, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, recognize Chris Hodgson's contributions — both as the President of the Ontario Mining Association, and as an elected official.