Subscribe
Members
Women in Rare Earths
Women in Rare Earths (WiRE) is committed to providing a platform for networking and professional development of women in the rare-earth-elements (REE) industry across the value chain by providing opportunities initially to gather as women at REIA events to discuss industry or career opportunities and challenges.
The network is governed by a team of dedicated and committed people with experience across various segments and disciplines within the REE industry.
- Contribute to furthering the careers of women in the REE industry.
- Help promote and grow WiRE by encouraging others to become members.
- Inform WiRE about invitations that you accept to speak at industry events.
- Not act in a manner that would harm the reputation of WiRE or any of its sponsors.
- Help promote the WiRE network by, for example, promoting content posted on social media, promoting the network to your network, and attending WiRE events.
The WiRE Team
Chair
Donna VAREHA-WALSH currently serves as the Head of Physicals Trading at Valent Asset Management. With over 25 years of extensive experience, she has expertise in minor, base, rare, and platinum-group (PGM) metals trading, as well as supply-chain leadership. She is skilled in metal trading, budgeting, sales, procurement, logistics, accounting, trade compliance and business development. Donna currently serves on the board of the American Tin Trade Association; she served as the first woman and first American to lead the Minor Metal Trade Association (MMTA) as Chair. Donna was educated at the University of Pittsburgh – Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business in international business, as well as at Duquesne University, graduating with a BS degree in finance. She earned her CPA during her tenure in public accounting.
Neda BAHREMANDI is a Research Fellow at the Rare Earth Industry Association (REIA), where she leads and manages internal and external projects. She played a key role in developing rare-earth-element (REE) Product Category Rules (PCRs), which act as a standard for conducting life-cycle assessments (LCAs). Her work aligns closely with REIA’s mission to advance sustainable development and accountability in the global REE industry. Neda holds a Ph.D. in materials engineering and has extensive experience in research, sustainability initiatives, and industry collaboration, particularly in the field of REEs.
Debra BENNETHUM is the Director of Critical Minerals & Strategic Supply Chain at Energy Fuels Resources, where she leads efforts to develop a US-based REE supply chain. With over a decade at General Motors, she played a pivotal role in establishing resilient electric-vehicle raw-material supply chains and managing over USD1.5 billion in projects. Debra also serves on the Advisory Board of Westwin Elements, the soon-to-be first US nickel refinery. She is a Michigan State University chemical engineering graduate.
Andrea CORNWELL is a seasoned mining executive with over three decades of global expertise, leading transformative efforts in marketing, sustainability, governance, and risk management within major mining corporates and junior mining ventures. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Andrea founded Women in Mining and Resources (WIMAR) Singapore and has spent nine years mentoring women in business. She earned recognition as a WIM100 Inspirational Woman in Mining in 2016.
Gareth HATCH is Interim Secretary-General of REIA. He is also Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor of Critical Minerals and Materials at the University of Birmingham and Managing Director at Strategic Materials Advisory. Gareth was previously Director of Technology at Dexter Magnetic Technologies, where he began his career focused on REE permanent-magnet engineering. He is a member of the UK ISO/TC 298 Mirror Committee for rare earths. Gareth is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining and is a Chartered Engineer. A two-time graduate of the University of Birmingham, he holds a BEng with Honours in materials science & technology and a PhD in metallurgy & materials, focused on REE alloys.
Lama ITANI is Business Development Manager Rare Earths at Solvay. Lama joined Solvay in 2010 as a research & innovation (R&I) engineer, before evolving into project manager, team manager and R&I laboratory manager positions. Through these roles she has worked on the elaboration of new inorganic and hybrid materials for the automotive, electronic, construction, hydrogen and agro markets. A key area of expertise and interest is REE chemistry, and in January 2023, Lama joined the Rare Earths business unit as Business Development Manager. In this role, she takes care of customer interactions for the development of REE materials for permanent magnets, for electric vehicles and wind turbines. Lama has a PhD in materials science from Haute Alsace University.
Janice ZINCK is Executive Director, Geosciences and Mines with the Government of Nova Scotia government in Canada. Prior to this, she was Director of Critical Minerals and Strategic Resources at Natural Resources Canada. She also led Canada’s Rare Earth Elements R&D program. Janice formerly held roles as President of the Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), President of the Metallurgical and Materials Society, Chair of CIM’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Society, Chair of the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame, and President of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences. She holds separate degrees in geology, chemistry, and metallurgical engineering.