Konstantin Born

Circular economy and eco-innovation in the mining sector

Konstantin is a doctoral student at the University of Oxford's Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. His research explores the role that nature-based and nature-inspired solutions can play in extracting resources in more sustainable ways and advancing the circular economy of metals and minerals. In particular, he is developing a techno-economic modelling tool to ascertain the potential economic and environmental costs and benefits of deploying nature-based and nature-inspired solutions at mine sites.

Alongside his doctoral studies, he works as an independent consultant for both private and public sector entities with a focus on mining governance, responsible sourcing and sustainability innovation in mining. Prior to joining Oxford University, Konstantin worked for a multinational mining company, where he was first the business strategy and government relations lead for the world's first technology-based responsible sourcing programme for diamonds produced by artisan miners. He then led several other high impact sustainability innovation projects at the company. Before his engagement in the private sector, Konstantin was based in Sierra Leone where he advised the Government of Sierra Leone on regulatory, fiscal and legislative reform of the mining sector and conducted economic feasibility analyses of large-scale mine developments in the country. Konstantin holds an MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in Economics and Political Science from McGill University, Canada.

• Born, K. and Stocklin-Weinberg, R. (2020) Gemfair Pilots Forward Purchase Agreements To Provide Access To Finance To Artisanal Miners, 2020 State of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Sector, p. 63-67, Washington, D.C: World Bank.