Three smiling people sitting at a round table in a formal event or conference, with a busy ballroom background and other attendees standing and mingling.

Your seat at the table with copper industry leaders.

The Future Leaders Forum is the annual lunch that connects rising talent with the people, ideas, and opportunities shaping the future of the industry.

Space is limited. Complimentary with registration.

reserve your seat

DATE

June 11th, 2026

LOCATION

The Yale Club

ATTIRE

Business

TIME

12:30-3:30pm

2026 Speakers

  • A smiling middle-aged man with a bald head and gray beard, wearing a pinstripe suit, in front of a blurred background.

    Bernard “Bernie” C. Schilberg

    Keynote Speaker

    CEO, Prime Materials Recovery Inc.

    Bernard Schilberg has led Prime Materials Recovery for 47 years, growing the company into one of the largest non-ferrous metal merchants in the United States, with $3.5 billion in annual revenue and 650 employees across six states. Under his leadership, PMR has expanded into copper smelting, international sourcing, and domestic manufacturing. He is a recognized voice on U.S. copper export policy and domestic supply chain investment. He received the Copper Club's Ankh Award in 2025.

  • Heather Wilson

    Keynote Speaker

    President, University of Texas at El Paso

    Dr. Heather Wilson has held senior leadership roles across higher education, government, and the military. She served as Secretary of the U.S. Air Force from 2017 to 2019, overseeing 685,000 personnel and a $160 billion annual budget. She previously represented New Mexico in the U.S. Congress for ten years and served as president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. She currently sits on the boards of Lockheed Martin, Google Public Sector and Texas Space Commission.

  • Jin Henning

    Moderator

    Managing Director & Global, Head of Metals, CME Group

    Jin oversees the strategic development and profitability of the CME Group's global metals business across precious, base, and industrial metals. She began her career as a ferro alloy trader and joined CME Group in 2011, holding roles of increasing responsibility. Under her leadership, international participation has grown to represent 45 percent of CME's total metals trading volume. She was named to the World Federation of Exchanges' Women Leaders List in 2025.

This event is for emerging leaders who have:

  • High potential and a drive to contribute to a more sustainable, innovative, and connected copper industry

  • Experience across the copper value chain, from mining and engineering to finance

  • A desire for direct access to industry leaders to help shape their careers

reserve a seat

Interested in becoming a sponsor?

connect with our team

Meet the Leaders in the Room.

  • Professional headshot of a man in a suit smiling against a gray background.

    Steve Higgins

    Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Freeport-McMoran

  • A woman with light brown hair in a ponytail, wearing a black top and turquoise earrings, smiling against a plain white background.

    Georgina Hallett

    Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Physical Markets, London Metal Exchange

  • A middle-aged man with red hair, a mustache, and light-colored eyes, wearing a black blazer and white shirt, posing against a gray background.

    Michael Lockwood

    Partner, The Metals Risk Team

  • A middle-aged man with short, light brown hair and a slight smile, wearing a black jacket and a gold chain, stands outdoors with trees and overcast sky in the background.

    Nigel Dentoom

    CEO, Metdist Enterprises Ltd

  • Close-up of a woman with long dark hair, wearing red lipstick, smiling, with a blurred outdoor background.

    Andrea Hotter

    Special Correspondent, Fastmarkets

Two people, a woman and a man, standing together at a formal event in an elegant banquet hall. They are wearing name tags and smiling at the camera. The hall has decorated walls, high ceilings, and tables arranged in the background.
Two men dressed in suits smiling at an event, with name tags that read Jim Calhoun and Stephen Higgins.
Two men in formal attire sitting at a banquet table during a professional event. The man on the left has brown hair, a suit, and a name tag, smiling at the camera. The man on the right has light brown hair, a checked shirt, and a suit jacket, also sm
Three people, two men and one woman, standing together at a formal event in a decorated room with large mirror and wall sconce lights. The man on the left has a beard and is wearing a black suit with a blue shirt. The man in the middle has short hair
Three smiling people, two women and one man, posing at a formal event; they are seated at a table with name tags, drinks, and food, with others in the background in a decorated room.
A group of five smiling people sitting at a round banquet table during a formal event in a large, elegant room with chandeliers and decorative lighting. Three men and two women are visible in the foreground, with food and drinks on the table.
Three smiling people stand around a round table at a formal event, with a man on each side of a woman. The room has ornate decor and bright lighting.
Five people sitting on wooden chairs on a stage, participating in a panel discussion. All hold microphones, and they are dressed in business casual attire. The background features light-colored walls with curtains.
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