Ola Zawalna is the Managing Director of the Cornwall Mining and Geo-Resources Alliance (CMGA), where she has led the organisation for over a year, championing the growth of Cornwall’s critical minerals and wider mining ecosystem. Holding a PhD in Geology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, Ola brings extensive experience across academia, industry and strategic programme delivery. Her career has included roles within the University of Exeter, alongside industry experience as a basin modeller and geochemist in the oil and gas sector. She has a strong track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives and fostering collaboration between industry, government and research organisations to support the sustainable development of mining and mineral resources.
Cornwall mining sector and its opportunities
Cornwall is one of the world’s most historic mining regions and is re-establishing itself as a strategic centre for the production of critical minerals essential to the energy transition. Rich in tin, lithium, tungsten and other mineral resources, the region is attracting significant investment while building on centuries of mining knowledge, engineering excellence and innovation. The sector benefits from a unique concentration of expertise that has evolved from Cornwall’s mining heritage, including mineral exploration, mining engineering, geoscience, environmental management, mine water treatment, mineral processing and specialist consultancy services. This established knowledge base is supported by internationally recognised institutions such as Camborne School of Mines and a network of research, training and innovation organisations. Cornwall is also home to a strong supply chain, with companies providing drilling, exploration, laboratory analysis, engineering, environmental services, mining technologies and project development support. Together, these capabilities create a well-connected mining cluster able to support projects from exploration through to production, while contributing to secure, responsible and resilient critical mineral supply chains for the UK and Europe.
