Aurela SHTIZA holds a PhD in Geology from the KU Leuven (Belgium). After working for Arcadis and Glencore in regulatory affairs & sustainability, in 2011 she joined IMA-Europe (Industrial Minerals Association Europe) where she holds the position of Director – Industrial Affairs. In this role she leads the advocacy of IMA-Europe on topics of Innovation, Sustainability and Permitting. She is the general secretary of the European Specialty Minerals (ESMA). On behalf of industrial minerals, she is the Vice-President in the Board of Proces4Planet Public Private Partnership as well as Sherpa in European Innovation Partnership in Raw Materials (EIP-RM).