Grace Barrasso

Grace Barrasso has over 20 years experience as a sustainability practitioner for the mining sector where she has worked in various regions across the world. She is currently the Global Head, ESG and Risk Management ArcelorMittal Mining, based in Canada (since 2019).

Prior to this appointment, Grace worked for several mining companies in Côte D’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania and Arctic Canada. She also served as a Senior Environmental and Social Safeguards Advisor at the African Development Bank.

Fluent in English, French, Italian and working knowledge of Spanish, Grace holds several degrees where she studied at Concordia University in Montreal (1992), The University of Ottawa (1994), and The London School of Economics & Political Science (1994 to 1996). Her focus areas were on Aboriginal Peoples and land rights, environmental economics and international development.  

Grace began her professional career in the aluminium industry as European EHS Manager based in Brussels from 1996 to 2006. Grace was also a part-time lecturer at Concordia University in Montreal, Department of Geography, for a post-graduate course on Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Grace has intervened as a social consultant in international ESIAs, Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) and Environmental and Social Due Diligence against international standards (IFC Performance Standards, World Bank Operational Policies, Equator Principles) in various countries. She has a critical understanding of the social and environmental risks associated with resource and infrastructure development projects.