In this third of a series profiling innovators across Teck, we meet Mario Ortiz, Manager, Integrated Operations, QB2.
Mario never imagined his career path would lead him to the mining industry, but once he started, that path led him on a journey marked by new experiences—in Chile, Canada, and at steelmaking coal and copper operations. Together, these experiences helped shape his view of how innovation and technology can help integrate all areas of the business and foster a culture of collaboration, an approach that will be critical as he helps establish a new way of working at Teck’s Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 project.
A Career Path Takes Shape
Growing up in the city of Santiago, Chile, Mario was unsure of what he wanted to study when he started university. It was his sister who pointed out that mining was a big part of Chile’s future, and with that advice in mind, he pursued a degree in Mining Engineering, then an MBA, at the University of Chile.
With his education in hand, in 2010, Mario joined Teck’s Quebrada Blanca Operations (QB) in Chile, first as a Blasting and Drilling Engineer, then as the Head of Mine Management, where he quickly gained a reputation as an expert in blasting.
After a few years at QB, Mario then went to work as a medium-term planning engineer at one of Teck’s Canadian steelmaking coal operations, Fording River, in British Columbia.
Broadening Perspectives
“Working at Fording River was a major turning point in my career, as it helped me understand the business from a different perspective. It was also a key point on my ‘innovation journey’ because Fording River is always striving towards operational excellence and continuous improvement,” says Mario. “That experience helped me better see how we can leverage technologies across our business.”
When Mario returned to Quebrada Blanca, he put his mind to thinking about how approaches he’d seen at Fording River could be applied at QB, such as using real-time haul truck data and analytics to improve the management of the truck fleet.
“At Fording River, they’re really experts at moving materials as efficiently as possible. I knew we could take that same approach at QB and make better use of technology to improve decision making when it comes to moving materials more efficiently,” says Mario. “Ultimately, it helped reduce mine costs and improve overall performance."
“Implementing technologies like this and having real-time data changes the rhythm of decision-making—it allows you to have the right conversations at the right time and establish better routines.”
A New Opportunity
Now, Mario has been appointed the Manager of Integrated Operations at QB2.
“QB2 is going to be the biggest project Teck has ever implemented, and we have a tremendous opportunity to help define a new approach to mining,” says Mario.
With that in mind, Mario is leading a team that is establishing a new way of working, where all areas of the business are integrated and collaboration is the standard practice.
“Innovation, from my perspective, has to do with people. Technology is always available, but the real challenge is how people adopt it.”
Mario is currently participating in Teck’s Emerging Leaders Program.
