Mónica Ospina is a recognized expert in Social Performance and Socio-Economic Development, specializing in stakeholder engagement, including Indigenous communities, at all stages of mineral projects. She is the Principal Advisor of Communities and Social Performance for the Americas at Rio Tinto and founder of O Trade, a socio-economic development firm.

With deep expertise in ESG strategies, social risk mitigation, and FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent), Mónica helps mining companies strategically plan for social license to operate, fostering socio-economic development, long-term value creation, and trust-building.

She authored the Local Community Procurement Program (LCPP), recognized by the IFC-World Bank in 2012 for advancing socio-economic inclusion in local supply chains, and contributed to the IFC-World Bank’s Guide for Early Stakeholder Engagement (2014). Her expertise has been acknowledged as a CIM Distinguished Lecturer (2020) and in the WIM100 – Women in Mining list (2022). She also collaborates with the OECD on best practices in the mineral and energy sectors across the Americas.

Monica developed the ESG module for the University of Toronto’s Mining Industry Management program and lectures on Social Responsibility, Social Risk, and Stakeholder Communication at leading institutions, including the Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University.

She holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Universidad del Rosario, Colombia, and a Master’s in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster, UK. She has also completed post-graduate programs in Sustainability Management at Harvard University, USA, and International Business Strategy at the London School of Economics, UK.