My Interest in Business Ethics

Region
International

Sector
Academic - Faculty/Staff ; Private Sector - Consultant ; Private Sector - Corporation

Areas of Interest
Accountability ; Accountability - Auditing ; Accountability - Certification ; Accountability - Reporting ; Codes of Conduct ; Corporate Citizenship ; Corporate Governance ; Corporate Social Responsibility ; Corruption ; Development ; Economic ; Economic - Social ; Globalization ; Human Rights ; Poverty ; Public Policy ; Public Policy - Privatization ; Public Policy - Regulation ; Resource Extraction ; SRI/Responsible Investment ; Sustainability


Me in Brief


Simon Handelsman obtained his BSc (Hons) degree in Mining Engineering at the University of Nottingham, with his PhD in Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia. His thesis topic, “Realities and Perceptions of Human Rights and the Mining Industry - A Case Study", demonstrates that significant socio-economic risks to existing and potential mining operations arise when mining companies are believed responsible for, or complicit in, human rights abuses. A categorized database shows the breath of human rights challenges. A method was recommended for industry to engage positively with all stakeholders when exploration and mining companies serious about making commitments to respect human rights. Simon's research work is intimately concerned with ethical considerations and resource extraction.

Dr. Handelsman is an international minerals development engineer and advisor with open pit and underground mining experience. Working for the United Nations Mineral Resources Group a hundred-plus advisory missions took him to over forty developing countries during ten years; he was Natural Resources Controller in Cambodia with the United Nations peacekeeping operation. He co-taught a mining sector training seminar: Risk Analysis Tools for the Export-Import Bank of the US; intensive seminars, and guest lectures at Camborne School of Mines, Columbia University, New York University and UBC. Simon completed an assignment on government transparency and accountability in Afghanistan, where previously he was Financial Advisor to the country's Minister of Mines. Simon was also the Coordinator for the active CBERN Pacific Regional Hub, based out of Vancouver, BC, until it was phased out in 2012.

He has published more than 20 articles, book chapters & peer-reviewed papers (including October 2012 Business Ethics: European Review). Session chair (CSR & Stakeholders) at the 4th World Business Ethics Forum in Hong Kong, 2012. At UBC, he teaches mining and engineering students engineering economics, underground mining & design, and management science methods in engineering; was an invited speaker at UBC’s Summer Institute China Program, Institute of Asian Research BC/China during June2011. Current research into how transparency improves mining industry performance and revenue-raising. Since October 2012, he is working on a government advisory assignment in West Africa.