2379 Objections to the approach could include lengthening project timelines through early, intensive engagement, such as the Catalyst. Evidence suggests the opposite – achieving trust and shared purpose before a plan is fixed produces more effective results in less time than attempting to build it after positions are entrenched (Development Partner Framework, 2020). The cost of early engagement is finite and predictable. The cost of late-stage opposition, including permitting delays, injunctions, reputational damage, and investor withdrawal, is neither. In terms of limitations for future applications of the methodology, it is acknowledged that dialogue and consultation to establish the Triangle of Trust before project inception is likely to become rarer, as greenfield projects give way to expanding existing mines due to lengthy approval processes. However, the Catalyst methodology can be retrofitted to existing projects, even those where trust does arguably not exist. This simply requires a brave approach to difficult conversations and the investment of time in true dialogue to build trust. 7. CONCLUSION The shift from consultation to co-ownership is not a values argument: it is an operational requirement for responsible, efficient mineral delivery. The Triangle of Trust defines the governance destination. The Catalyst Sprint provides a tested, cross-cultural, scalable process for getting there. The evidence from DPI's applied work across multiple continents demonstrates that the process is transferable and produces measurable convergence, even between parties starting from adversarial positions. While it challenges the thinking and the status quo of traditional engagement, stepping out of the ‘comfort zone’ the mining industry operates in is necessary to build trust, and to build the mines of the future. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors express their appreciation for Lana Eagle’s lived and expert Indigenous perspectives added to the Triangle of Trust articles in the Canadian Mining Journal. We also acknowledge the support of the Development Partner Institute Board, including Mark Cutifani, Jon Samuel, Mark Podlasly and Ana Gabriela Juarez, and the participants in Catalyst processes globally to date. REFERENCES Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216-224. Bryant, P. J. (2023). From Contention to Collaboration: How to strike mining’s sweet spot for ESG and the energy transition. In Proceedings of the 26th World Mining Congress (WMC 2023): Resourcing Tomorrow - Creating Value for Society. World Mining Congress, Brisbane, Qld. Bryant, P. & Eagle, L. (2025a). Establishing the Triangle of Trust: Creating the necessary dialogue. Canadian Mining Journal, August 20. https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/news/establishing-the-triangle-of-trust-creating-thenecessary-dialogue/ Bryant, P. & Eagle, L. (2025b). Establishing the Triangle of Trust: Creating a shared vision of prosperity. Canadian Mining Journal, August 21. https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/featured-article/establishing-the-triangle-of-trust-bycreating-a-shared-vision-of-prosperity/
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2