Placer’s Willson speaking at CIM

The buzzword “globalization” will figure prominently in the speech of Placer Dome President John Willson when he addresses the Jan. 20 dinner meeting (and Students’ Night) of the Toronto branch of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

Willson will draw on his talk, titled “Accepting mining’s global challenge,” from his position as head of an international gold producer with 17 mining operations in six countries and exploration projects worldwide. Placer Dome anticipates that most of its growth will result from its international effort. In South America, it has gold exploration projects in several countries, including Venezuela, Chile and Argentina. It is undertaking exploration in the West African nation of Ghana and is looking elsewhere in Africa and Eastern Europe.

Willson has headed Placer Dome since the beginning of 1993. He formerly served as president of another gold producer, Pegasus Gold, and has worked for Cominco and Anaconda Mining. He began his mining career in Ghana. The dinner, to begin at 6.30 p.m. at the Ontario Club, will be preceded by a business meeting of Toronto branch members at 5 p.m. and a reception commencing at 6 p.m.