Since 1944, The Copper Club has been a place where leaders gather and the next generation comes to learn.

The Copper Club is a community of copper industry leaders and rising professionals. We work together to advance the future of the entire copper value chain by attracting, developing and promoting a new generation of industry talent while recognizing and honoring recent and past achievement.

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Four men dressed in formal suits, holding glasses of wine, at a social event in a grand ballroom with chandeliers and ornate decor.
Two older adults standing together at a formal event. The woman on the left has short, styled blonde hair and is wearing a white collared shirt, pearl earrings, and a pearl necklace. She is holding a red textured handbag. The man on the right has bal
Group of five people posing in formal attire at The Copper Club Annual Dinner event, with a sign and stage in the background.
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Group of five women smiling at a formal event, holding glasses of champagne, in an ornate banquet hall with chandeliers.
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Our History

1942

A wartime industry mobilizes.

President Roosevelt's War Production Board called copper industry leaders to Washington, making the metal one of the most strategically vital materials of the war effort. The WPB was set up two years prior to help the US government handle the requirements of World War II. Its work included converting industries from peacetime to war needs, allocating scarce materials and prioritizing the distribution of materials and services — and copper was key.

“Silver is needed in the war effort: we have an acute shortage of copper, and since silver conducts electricity as well as copper, we can substitute silver for copper in many cases and use the copper thus saved for vital military applications.”

Harvey Anderson, WPB conservation & substitution branch · November 1942

Dec 1944

A founding dinner.

As they worked together over the months, the various WPB copper delegates formed strong friendships, strengthened over lunches at the Union Terminal, the city's key transportation hub. Calling themselves the Copper Club of World War II, the group — including representatives from mining, smelting, refining and manufacturing — decided to have a dinner to mark the winding down of its work as the end of the war approached. That meal, held in a Washington hotel, was the first for what later became known as the Copper Club. A resounding success, the men decided at the dinner to bring the industry together once a year and look for ways to work together on common causes in the meantime.

1945+

The start of an annual tradition.

Future dinners were held in New York, where a number of major copper companies were headquartered. Although the organization started as a relatively small, USA-focused effort, the dinner grew to attract people from around the world, including clients, and became an ultimate opportunity for the industry to come together. Initially there was an official membership process to join the Copper Club, but it was eventually decided that anyone working in the industry was a member of the club automatically.

1964

The Ankh Award is established.

Two decades after the first dinner, the Copper Club created its highest honor to recognize individuals whose work had shaped the industry.

1994

Scholarship program launched.

On its 50th anniversary, the Club launched a scholarship program to support emerging leaders and invest in the future of the industry.

Today

Where the copper community gathers.

As copper takes its place among the critical minerals shaping the next century, the Copper Club remains what it has always been — the place where the copper community comes together to celebrate progress and shape what's next.

Black and white photo of a group of men in suits and ties gathered around a desk, with one man seated in the center. The setting appears to be an office or formal room, with curtains, a window, and an American flag in the background.

President Roosevelt is shown here in the oval office with Citation winners.

A group of men and women in formal attire gathered around a long table in a room with an American flag, curtains, and floral decorations.

Meeting of War Production Board (WPB) field men, April 14, 1942 at the Hamilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.

A group of men with papers seated around a large conference table, with one man standing and speaking, in a room with artwork on the wall and a window.

Donald M. Nelson, Chairman of the War Production Board, addressing the Conversion Conference of Business Paper editors with War Production Board.

Close-up of a copper coin featuring the symbols and text commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Women's Army Corps, with dates 1944-1994.

Commemorating 50 years of The Copper Club with a special copper coin.

The Copper Club is guided by leaders committed to advancing the future of the copper industry.

Chairman

Stephen T. Higgins* – Freeport-McMoRan

Secretary / Treasurer

Bernie Schilberg* – Prime Materials Recovery, Inc.

Directors

Victoria Anson – 2024 Lord Bagri Scholarship Recipient
Braim Chiple – Codelco
Red Conger
James Cowley
Nigel Dentoom* – Metdist Enterprised LTD
Adam Estelle – Copper Development Association
Nate Foster – Rio Tinto
Inka Guixà – La Farga
Georgina Hallett – London Metal Exchange
Jin Hennig* – CME Group
Andrea Hotter* – Fastmarkets
Masahide Iwataki – Mitsubishi Materials Corp
Andrew Kireta, Sr. – Emeritus
Bon Kwon "BK" Koo – LS MnM
Michael Lockwood* – Commodity Risk Control Inc.
Mark Loveitt*
Devin Malone – Mueller Streamline Co.
Estefania Medina Guzman – 2025 Lord Bagri Scholarship Recipient
Art Miele – Emeritus
Charlie Murrah – Southwire Co.
Amy O'Shaughnessy – Revere Copper
David Rea – Caterpillar Inc.
Stephen Rowland* – Glencore
Nick Sarro-Waite – Macquarie Group
Ian Scarlett – IWCC
Alejandra Wood – Codelco

* Denotes members of the Executive Committee