Check out our next upcoming event
Strategic Insights for 2026: Price Trends, Market Balance and Policy Updates
Benchmark Week 2025
Benchmark Week 2025
Tuesday 18th November, 2025
Registration Opens
Lunch & Learn: Lithium Valley – Building a Vertically Integrated Ecosystem
- Bari Bean, Deputy CEO of Natural Resources, County of Imperial
- Jeff Gonzalez, Assemblyman, California State Assembly
- Ryan Kelley, Supervisor, Imperial County
Networking Lunch
Welcome to Benchmark Week 2025
- Andrew Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Video Opening Address
- Senator Alex Padilla, Senator for California, U.S. Senate
Panel Discussion: Inside the Battery Supply Chain: How OEMs Are Redefining Sourcing Strategy
- Tara Berrie, Director of Battery Cell Materials & Rare Earth Sourcing, Rivian
- Nathan Vandekerkhof, Executive Director, Hyundai North America
- Adam Panayi, Chief Research Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Michael Parton, Supply Chain Group Manager of Battery Raw Materials, Lucid Motors
- Celina Mikolajczak, Advisor to the Battery Industry,
Fireside Chat: The Economics of Building Gigafactories
- Outlining the real costs of building and scaling gigafactories, from raw material sourcing to workforce development.
- Understanding how tax credits, subsidies, and state-level support are shaping investment decisions for battery manufacturing.
- Balancing up-front investment with long-term demand growth from EVs, storage, and AI-powered energy systems.
- Caspar Rawles, Chief Operating Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Thomas Fickett, CFO, Panasonic Corporation of North America
Fireside Chat: Charting the Next Phase of Global Lithium Growth
- Caspar Rawles, Chief Operating Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Patrick Howarth, Global Lithium Business Director, ExxonMobil
Keynote Presentation: A New Era of Electricity Demand and the Role of Battery Storage
- Iola Hughes, Head of Research, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Panel Discussion: Energy Storage Demand for Critical Minerals
- Outlining current demand for energy storage and what is driving this
- Optimizing grid infrastructure through ESS technologies
- Understanding raw material needs for storage: how do they differ from EVs, and what does that mean for supply?
- Iola Hughes, Head of Research, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Peter Breuer, Senior Director Strategic Programs, Peak Energy
- Amit Mathrani, Vice President, Senior Energy Transition Research, Rabobank North America
Networking Break
Panel Discussion: The Importance of International Partnerships for Critical Mineral Supply Security
- Understanding how geopolitics and tariffs are reshaping global trade flows
- Building strategic alliances for supply chain security
- Michael Schmidt, Economic Geologist & Senior Analyst, German Raw Materials Agency
- Albert Gore, Executive Director, ZETA
- Mitchell Smith, Director | Partner, Metals & Mining, Battery Metals Association of Canada | Moneta Securities
- Adam Panayi, Chief Research Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Marina Demidova, Head of Communications, Cobalt Institute
Panel Discussion: Understanding Global Lithium Supply Chains
- Sean Gilmartin, Sr. Analyst, US Chelmicals, Bloomberg
- Joe Lowry, President, Global Lithium
- David Park, CEO, Standard Lithium
- Ashish Patki, Director, Business Development and Market Intelligence, Rio Tinto
- Anthony Tse, Founder, NEO Capital
Panel Discussion: Evolving Raw Material Supply Chains
- Identifying the next evolution in raw material sourcing
- Understanding how global producers and OEMs are building resilient supply chains
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Ken Brinsden, Chief Executive Officer, PMET Resources
- Brian Ostroff, President & Director, Arianne Phosphate Inc
- Ryan Hanrahan, CEO, Wave International
- Brian Newmarch, CFO, E3 Lithium
Panel Discussion: Investment Leader's Panel: Closing the Capital Gap
- What projects are investors gravitating to in the current economic climate?
- What are the key pillars to become a bankable project? How are financiers looking at risk within the sector now?
- Addressing public/private relationships, co-investing strategies and bridging funding gaps
- Daniel Fletcher-Manuel, Director - Indexing & Derivatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Stefon Crawford, Partner, GM Ventures
- Roger Mortimer, Independent Director, Investment Committee Member, CVW Sustainable Royalties Inc.
- Rich Kradjel, Managing Director – Head, Equity Private Placements, Société Générale
- Marcus Greer, Equity Investment Analyst, Capital International Investors
Networking Reception
Wednesday 19th November, 2025
Networking Breakfast
Opening Remarks
- Caspar Rawles, Chief Operating Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
ICE Battery Materials Futures
- Caspar Rawles, Chief Operating Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Mike Wittner, Global Head of Oil Market Research, ICE (Intercontinental Exchange)
Benchmark's Lifetime Achievement Award
Fireside chat: Battery Innovation at Scale
- Andrew Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Bob Galyen, Owner, Galyen Energy LLC
California's Role in the Global Battery Race
- Outlining the Lithium Valley Opportunity
- Unlocking domestic supply to compete on a global scale
- The role of California’s policy and infrastructure in shaping the US battery supply chain
- Adam Panayi, Chief Research Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Noemi Gallardo, Commissioner, California Energy Commission
- Trelynd Bradley, Deputy Director Innovation & Emerging Technologies, The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
Keynote Presentation: Building Battery Supply Chains in America from Materials to Manufacturing
- Localizing battery manufacturing in the US: what are the opportunities?
- Outlining the significance of domestic cathode, anode, and electrolyte production on global supply chains
- Understanding the importance of creating a circular battery economy for national security
- Bob Lee, CEO, North America, LG Energy Solutions
- Adam Panayi, Chief Research Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Fireside Chat: Accelerating the Energy Transition: Industry Perspectives from LG Vertech
- Iola Hughes, Head of Research, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Tristan Doherty, Chief Product Officer, LGES Vertech
Keynote Presentation: EVs in a New Era
- Life after 30D and 45X: what’s next for automakers?
- Outlining sourcing strategies under evolving tax credit requirements
- Iola Hughes, Head of Research, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Stephen Kosowski, Manager, Long Range Planning & Strategy, Kia USA
Panel Discussion: Securing the Anode Supply Chain
- Natural vs. Synthetic graphite
- Localizing anode production
- Exploring next-gen materials and solutions
- Andrew Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Viren Hira, Executive General Manager Strategy & Business Development, Syrah Resources
- Michael O'Kronley, CEO, Novonix
- Patrice Boulanger, Vice-President Sales, Marketing & Business Development, Nouveau Monde Graphite
Networking Break
Interactive Breakout Sessions
Join us for a series of in-depth discussions on the most pressing topics for the industry today.
Critical Mineral Symposium: Scaling Direct Lithium Extraction
- Hosted by Daniel Fletcher-Manuel, Director - Indexing & Derivatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Chris Reed, Managing Director & CEO, Neometals
- Andrew Walker, CCO, Evove
- Grant Thornley, VP Engineering Solution Sales, Forward Water Solutions
Admiralty: Copper’s Breaking Point: How Policy and Supply Are Stress-Testing the Market
- Hosted by Mike Finch, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence & Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Chris Robb, Commodities Consultant, Robb Commodities Consulting
Pavilion: LFP vs NCM: Mapping the Next Decade of Cathode Innovation
- Hosted by Adam Panayi, Chief Research Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence & Caspar Rawles, Chief Operating Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Interactive Breakout Sessions
Critical Mineral Symposium: Unlocking Future Supply: Deep Sea Mining
- Hosted by Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Megan Carr, Associate Director for Strategic Resources, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Craig Shesky, CFO, The Metals Company
- Michael Lodge, Barrister, former Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority
Admiralty: Evolving ESS Demand: Powering the AI Revolution Through Datacenters
- Hosted by Iola Hughes, Head of Research, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence & Adam Panayi, Chief Research Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Pavilion: Rare Earths Rewired: Industry, Defense, and the New ex-China Strategy - By invitation only, a Chatham House Rules session
- Hosted by Daniel Fletcher-Manuel, Director - Indexing & Derivatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence & Michael Finch, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Networking Lunch
Full Flowsheet DLE Solutions that Drive Project FID & Fortify US Supply Chains
- Flemming Bjoernslev, Senior Advisor, Aquatech
Panel Discussion: Enabling the Next Generation of Mining & Refining
- Highlighting innovation and new technology; what is the role of AI, DLE and more?
- Outlining what it takes to scale new technologies
- Understanding where investment is going, and where innovation is still needed
- Christian Graf, Director, Dorfner Anzaplan
- Adam Panayi, Chief Research Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- David Anonychuk, Global VP Metallurgy & Consulting, SGS
- Nicholas Lugansky, Head of Mining, SLB
Benchmark Keynote Presentation: Rare Earths
- Michael Finch, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Fireside Chat: Securing the U.S. Rare Earth Future
- Addressing the significance of domestic rare earth production for energy security
- Innovating processing and refining to localize magnet supply
- Michael Finch, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Ryan Corbett, Chief Financial Officer, MP Materials
Keynote Presentation: The New Force in Rare Earths: Kangankunde Project
- Michael Finch, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Zac Komur, Executive Director – Project Delivery of Kangankunde Rare Earths, Lindian Resources
Networking Break
Keynote Presentation: Have Lithium Equities Turned the Corner? Level Setting the 2026 Outlook
- Sean Gilmartin, Sr. Analyst, US Chelmicals, Bloomberg
Keynote Presentation: Industry Track Record in Ramping-up Critical Mineral Projects
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- David Anonychuk, Global VP Metallurgy & Consulting, SGS
Panel Discussion: Accelerating Commercial Scale Project Development - Permitting and Regulatory Frameworks
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Jamie Liang, President and CEO, TerraVolta Resources
- Fiorella Sist, Project Director, Hargrove Engineers and Constructors
Networking Reception
Thursday 20th November, 2025
Networking Breakfast
Battery Demand Dynamics in 2025 and Beyond
- Adam Panayi, Chief Research Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
The Benchmark Picture: from Mine to Grid
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Iola Hughes, Head of Research, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Panel Discussion: Sustainability at Scale in the Battery Supply Chain
- Daniel Fletcher-Manuel, Director - Indexing & Derivatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Stefan Debruyne, Director of External Affairs, SQM Lithium
- Andrew Bogrand, Senior Policy Advisor for Natural Resource Justice, Oxfam
Panel Discussion: Circularity and Recycling's Role in Building a Strong Critical Mineral Supply Chain
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Christian Spano, Director of Circularity, Vale Base Metals
- Tina Jeffress, Group Manager for Energy and Sustainability, Panasonic Corporation of North America
- Matthew Cooper, VP of Business Development USA & China, Green Li-ion
Keynote Presentation: Activating U.S. Anode Capacity Now — Delivering Local Supply Without Compromising Cost or Performance
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Rutger Van Raalten, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Carbon X
Keynote Presentation: Arizaro Project
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Jose de Castro Alem, President South America, Lithium Chile
Panel Discussion: Innovation in Mining Technologies
- Erez Ichilov, Founder, Cedrus Arbor LLC
- Darryl Steane, Chief Development Officer, Ceibo
- Tyler Hall, President, ExploreTech
- Spencer Aertker, VP of Mining, Eden
- Julia Greenwald, Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Rock Zero
Lunch & Close of Conference
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