81st CDDA AGM & Convention Featured Speakers: Jillian Lucas and Jonathan Buchanan, Association for Mineral Exploration

The 81st CDDA AGM & Convention May 24-26, 2026 in Victoria, BC is proud to announce Featured Speakers Jillian Lucas and Jonathan Buchanan, Association for Mineral Exploration. They will present Insights from the Leaders Shaping Tomorrow: 2024 Environmental, Health, and Safety Survey Overview.

The Association for Mineral Exploration (AME), Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), and the Canadian Diamond Drilling Association (CDDA) are pleased to present the 20th annual Toward a Safe Day Every Day report based on the findings from the Canadian Mineral Exploration Environment, Health, and Safety survey. Prospectors and drillers have reported valuable insights as we analyze correlations and common trends of injuries and lagging indicators. These lagging indicators measure the efficacy and quality of industry-standard policies and programs derived from reported incidents. Moreover, establish and develop innovative approaches in response to practical field experience and unique environmental and terrain challenges encountered across Canada. This annual study reveals that the evolution of occupational health and safety continues – though at a gradual pace – to mitigate the lost-time injury rate in the mineral exploration sector, which has lowered over time, but recently saw a slight increase. Notably, although many grassroots mineral exploration companies operate with limited capital and smaller teams, health and safety simulation exercises remain a leading priority, and participation is steadily increasing.

As the Coordinator, Exploration Data & Policy Analysis, Jillian reports to the Vice President, Policy and Advocacy. She plays a vital role in conducting research on regulatory, environmental, and regional development issues, leading survey initiatives, and translating complex datasets into accessible summaries. She analyzes data, leveraging her expertise in GIS and preparing visuals to illustrate mineral exploration trends and land use patterns. Jillian engages with members, government representatives, indigenous communities, and contractors to gather information, share insights.

Jillian holds a Geological Resources diploma from Douglas College. During her studies, she gained practical experience through soil sampling and volunteering at AME Roundup in 2022.

As Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan is responsible for general operations at a 6,000-member-strong organization, and advancing policy initiatives that impact mineral exploration and development. These initiatives are wide-ranging and include permitting, reconciliation, land access and use, geoscience, and financial incentives among many other topics. Jonathan joined AME in 2005. Jonathan grew up in the mining town of Elliot Lake, Ontario, and first moved to BC to study at the University of British Columbia, graduating with a B.A. in Geography. In addition to a background in communications for the mineral exploration and mining sector, Jonathan has studied, lived, and worked in Japan, and is the author of Inside the Torii Gate: The Journal of an Exchange Student in Japan.

He served as 2015-2016 Chair of the BC Technical & Research Committee on Reclamation, on which he represents AME and is a member of the Health & Safety Committee of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada.