Class is in session! Our Chief Operating Officer (COO), Bruno Lemelin and Operations Manager, Essakane Mine, Francis Letarte-Lavoie, recently hosted a guest seminar in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso for students from the School of Engineering (ESI) at the Université Yembila Abdoulaye Toguyeni (UYAT) in Fada N'Gourma.

With approximately 50 engineering students in attendance, the event was an opportunity for students to learn from industry leaders and for us to showcase the opportunities that our Essakane Mine and our industry offer.

Bruno Lemelin opened with a session on mineral economics and gold markets, outlining the economic dynamics influencing the gold sector and highlighting the factors that determine the price of gold in international markets. He also discussed the importance of investments in mineral exploration and different mining strategies.

Francis Letarte-Lavoie then led a session focused on emerging mining technology and automation. His talk provided insight into how technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and remote mining, are revolutionizing extraction methods and improving worker safety while maximizing productivity.

“It was a pleasure connecting and sharing insights with students,” Bruno remarked after the event.  “As a major employer in Burkina Faso, we are committed to supporting our host communities, and this includes supporting students in the countries where we operate through opportunities like this.”

More on our speakers

About Bruno Lemelin - An engineer by trade and a well-respected leader in our industry, Bruno Lemelin has served as IAMGOLD’s Chief Operating Officer since September 2023. He joined IAMGOLD in 2014 as Mine Manager at Essakane and quickly rose through the ranks of our company, serving as General Manager at Essakane from 2016 to 2018 and as Regional Vice President – Americas in 2019. Bruno was subsequently named Senior Vice President – Operations and Projects in 2020 and has since been an invaluable member of the Executive Leadership Team, playing an instrumental role in shaping the future of our company.  

About Francis Letarte-Lavoie - A metallurgical engineering and materials science graduate, Francis has spent over 15 years in projects, metallurgy, and mining operations. At IAMGOLD, which he joined in 2020, Francis has played an instrumental role in the development, commissioning, and ramp-up of our Côté Gold Mine in Ontario before joining our Essakane Mine in December 2024.