Overview
Background
Professor Daniel Franks is Director of the Global Centre for Mineral Security at the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute and is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow. Professor Franks is known internationally for his work on the interconnections between minerals, materials and sustainable development, with a particular focus on the role of minerals in poverty reduction. He has introduced a number of key concepts in development studies including ‘mineral poverty’, ‘mineral security,’ and ‘development minerals;’ and has worked with a wide range of public and private sector partners to implement breakthrough sustainability innovations, such as OreSand to drastically reduce mine waste, and ‘social impact management plans,’ a regulatory tool now adopted throughout the world.
He is the author of more than 160 publications, including 37 publications for the United Nations. His research has appeared in journals such as Nature Sustainability and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and is available in 11 languages. He is an Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Minerals Policy & Economics, as well as Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal and has field experience at more than 100 mining and energy sites and 40 countries.
Availability
- Professor Daniel Franks is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research impacts
Professor Franks was Chief Technical Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme; is a member of the scientific board of UNESCO’s International Geosciences Programme; is an advisor to UN Secretary General’s Working Group on Transforming the Extractive Industries for Sustainable Development; supported the United Nations Environment Programme to implement the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) Resolution on Mineral Resource Governance; and was a working group member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network that provided technical advice on the formulation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He was the reciepient of The University of Queensland's Research Impact Award in 2022 with Julia Keenan.
The grandson of an artisanal miner, in 2018 he Chaired the First International Conference on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining and Quarrying, which was opened by the President of Zambia, and he spearheaded the ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya Declaration on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining, Quarrying and Development,’ ensuring it reflected the voices of informal miners. He subsequently supported the establishment of the Delve Exchange knowledge network of artisanal and small-scale miners with the World Bank, which was awarded a Global Good Award for Educational Excellence in 2023. His research was publicly cited by the Chief Operating Officer of the International Council on Mining and Metals as “academic research that has changed the mineral industry.”
Works
Search Professor Daniel Franks’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Other Outputs
Embedded evaluation observation report (2019): BHP Foundation Natural Resource Governance Program
Franks, Daniel and Sturman, Kathryn (2019). Embedded evaluation observation report (2019): BHP Foundation Natural Resource Governance Program. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2019
Other Outputs
Minerals in post-disaster reconstruction
Hailu, Degol, Ngonze, Caroline and Franks, Daniel (2019, 09 11). Minerals in post-disaster reconstruction United Nations Development Programme Blog
2019
Journal Article
Sand governance: include artisanal miners’ voices
Franks, Daniel M. (2019). Sand governance: include artisanal miners’ voices. Nature, 573 (7772), 34-34. doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02625-1
2019
Other Outputs
Annual partners' workshop summary: BHP Foundation Natural Resource Governance Program
Sturman, Kathryn, Franks, Daniel and Miller-Dawkins, May (2019). Annual partners' workshop summary: BHP Foundation Natural Resource Governance Program. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland: BHP Foundation.
2019
Other Outputs
Baseline assessment of development minerals Zambia
Mukofu, Chipilauka, Mwakacheya, Bernadette, Chikambwe, Ezekiel, Maseko, Eneya, Mushota, Prudence, Chishimba, Canisius, Chivumo, Mike, Sikazwe, Osbert, Manza, Lyapa, Hailu, Degol, Franks, Daniel M., Pakoun, Lacina, Ngonze, Caroline and RCS Global (2019). Baseline assessment of development minerals Zambia. Development Minerals in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Lusaka, Zambia: United Nations Development Programme Zambia.
2019
Other Outputs
Mineral Resource Governance in the 21st Century: Gearing extractive industries towards sustainable development
Ayuk, E.T., Pedro, A.M., Ekins, P., Gatune, J., Milligan, B., Oberle, B., Christmann, P., Ali, S., Kumar, S.V., Bringezu, S., Acquatella, J., Bernaudat, L., Bodouroglou, C., Brooks, S., Burgii Bonanomi, E., Clement, J., Collins, N., Davis, K., Davy, A., Dawkins, K., Dom, A., Eslamishoar, F., Franks, D.M., Hamor, T., Jensen, D., Lahiri-Dutt, K., Petersen, I. and Sanders, A.R.D (2019). Mineral Resource Governance in the 21st Century: Gearing extractive industries towards sustainable development. Geneva, Switzerland: International Resources Panel. United Nations Environment Program.
2018
Other Outputs
Baseline Assessment of Development Minerals in Fiji
Smith, Robert, Lee, Gary, Tawake, Akuila, Waqavonovono, Epeli, Chambers, Ken, Bukarau, Tevita, Prasad, Christine, Roqica, Donato, Nagata, Isireli, Nainoca, Timaima, Peltovuori, Ville, Devi, Priya, Caniogo, Josefa, Stojkoska, Mihaela, Pakoun, Lacina, Ngonze, Caroline and Franks, Daniel M. (2018). Baseline Assessment of Development Minerals in Fiji. Development Minerals in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Suva, Fiji: United Nations Development Programme.
2018
Other Outputs
Baseline Assessment of Development Minerals Cameroon
Esteves, Ana Maria, Danielson, Luke, Bisil, Eric , Bissou, Michel, Akaegbobi, Mike, Disney Bruckner, Kristi, Etoga, Rene , Welton Kasgaard, Carole, de Beauchamp, Prisca, Collins, Victoria, Tedaldi, Jacqueline, Varela, Sofia, Dongmo, Bernard, Momo, Ronald, Moussa, Charlot, Pakoun, Lacina, Ngonze, Caroline and Franks, Daniel M. (2018). Baseline Assessment of Development Minerals Cameroon. Development Minerals in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Brussels, Belgium: United Nations Development Programme.
2018
Book Chapter
Yhteiskuntasuhteet globaalin kaivostoiminnan haasteena
Franks, Daniel M. (2018). Yhteiskuntasuhteet globaalin kaivostoiminnan haasteena. Kaivos Koettuna. (pp. 19-26) edited by Mononen, Tuija, Björn, Ismo and Sairnen, Rauno. Rovaniem, Finland: University of Lapland Press.
2018
Book Chapter
Understanding the costs of company–community conflict in life-of-mine planning
Davis, R. and Franks, D. M. (2018). Understanding the costs of company–community conflict in life-of-mine planning. From start to finish: a life of mine perspective. (pp. 55-61) edited by Cherie McCullough, Bruce Harvey, Corinne Unger, Jan Coetzee and Stuart Winchester. Carlton South, VIC, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2018
Other Outputs
Baseline assessment of development minerals in Fiji
Smith, Robert, Lee, Gary, Tawake, Akuila, Waqavonovono, Epeli, Chambers, Ken, Bukarau, Tevita, Prasad, Christine, Roqica, Donato, Nagata, Isireli, Nainoca, Timaima, Peltovuori, Ville, Devi, Priya, Caniogo, Josefa, Stojkoska, Mihaela, Pakoun, Lacina, Ngonze, Caroline and Franks, Daniel M. (2018). Baseline assessment of development minerals in Fiji. Suva, Fiji: United Nations Development Programme.
2018
Other Outputs
Baseline assessment of development minerals in Uganda: volume 1 & 2
Hinton, J, Lyster, O, Katusiime, J, Nanteza, M, Naulo, G, Rolfe, A, Kombo, F, Grundel, H, MacLeod, K, Kyarisiima, H, Pakoun, L, Ngonze, C and Franks, DM. (2018). Baseline assessment of development minerals in Uganda: volume 1 & 2. Kampala, Uganda: United Nations Development Programme.
2017
Other Outputs
Baseline assessment of development minerals in Jamaica
Lewis, D, Gordon, P, Guemás, M, Cole-Baker, J, Cosi, M, Barazzuol, D, Drakapoulos, Y, Geddes, A.J., Bigirimana, G, Clarke, R, Pakoun, L, Ngonze, C and Franks, D.M. (2017). Baseline assessment of development minerals in Jamaica. Development Minerals in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacifc Kingston, Jamaica: United Nations Development Programme.
2017
Book Chapter
Social risk and business risk in mining projects
Graetz, Geordan and Franks, Daniel M. (2017). Social risk and business risk in mining projects. Mining in the Asia-Pacific: risks, challenges and opportunities. (pp. 65-83) edited by Terry O’Callaghan and Geordan Graetz. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-61395-6_5
2016
Journal Article
Sustainability certification schemes: evaluating their effectiveness and adaptability
Mori Junior, Renzo, Franks, Daniel M. and Ali, Saleem H. (2016). Sustainability certification schemes: evaluating their effectiveness and adaptability. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 16 (3), 579-592. doi: 10.1108/CG-03-2016-0066
2015
Other Outputs
Designing Sustainability Certification for Impact: Analysis of the design characteristics of 15 sustainability standards in the mining industry
Mori Junior, R., Franks, D. M. and Ali, S. H. (2015). Designing Sustainability Certification for Impact: Analysis of the design characteristics of 15 sustainability standards in the mining industry. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM).
2015
Other Outputs
DESIGNING SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION FOR GREATER IMPACT - An analysis of the design characteristics of 15 sustainability certification schemes in the mining industry
Junior, Renzo Mori, Franks, Daniel M and Ali, Saleem (2015). DESIGNING SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION FOR GREATER IMPACT - An analysis of the design characteristics of 15 sustainability certification schemes in the mining industry. Brisbane QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland.
2015
Journal Article
Five ‘big’ issues for land access, resettlement and livelihood restoration practice: findings of an international symposium
Smyth, Eddie, Steyn, Michael, Esteves, Ana Maria, Franks, Daniel M. and Vaz, Kemal (2015). Five ‘big’ issues for land access, resettlement and livelihood restoration practice: findings of an international symposium. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 33 (3), 220-225. doi: 10.1080/14615517.2015.1037665
2015
Journal Article
The costs of conflict
Franks, Daniel M. and Davis, Rachel (2015). The costs of conflict. SUSTAIN: Cutting Edge Business Solutions, 2 (February), 58-59.
2015
Journal Article
Conceptualising social risk and business risk associated with private sector development projects
Graetz, Geordan and Franks, Daniel M. (2015). Conceptualising social risk and business risk associated with private sector development projects. Journal of Risk Research, 19 (5), 581-601. doi: 10.1080/13669877.2014.1003323
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Daniel Franks is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Low-carbon cement adoption in the Pacific
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai
-
Doctor Philosophy
Incorporating mineral security into multi-dimensional poverty assessments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lynda Lawson, Dr Paul Rogers
-
Doctor Philosophy
Waste Clays from the Mining Sector as Raw Material for Low Carbon Cements
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Vinh Dao, Dr Paul Rogers
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing the economic dimensions of mineral security for poverty reduction
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Shabbir Ahmad, Dr Paul Rogers
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impacts of mining for renewable energy transition on biodiversity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Laura Sonter
-
Doctor Philosophy
Waste reduction by co-producing ore-sand from energy-critical metals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christian Antonio, Dr Juliana Segura-Salazar
-
Doctor Philosophy
Low-carbon cement adoption in the Pacific
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Vinh Dao, Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai
-
Doctor Philosophy
The making of responsible cobalt
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Lessons from company-community conflicts in mining.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Deanna Kemp
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mitigating the biodiversity impacts of extracting Australia's energy transition minerals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Laura Sonter
-
Doctor Philosophy
The making of responsible cobalt
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Ore-sand: A circular and sustainable solution for a low-carbon future
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Louise Gallagher, Dr Juliana Segura-Salazar
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Utilising Inter-Sectoral Linkages with the Extractive Sector for Economic Transformation in Africa and Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Shabbir Ahmad
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Engaging Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners of Development Minerals in Public Infrastructure Projects: The Case of Uganda
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Adil Khan, Dr Vlado Vivoda
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Uranium Companies and Traditional Owners: Negotiating the Intersection of Risk and Rights
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Steering Social Impact Outcomes in Extractive Resource Regions: A Comparative Case Study of Private Meta-governance in Australia and the United States
Associate Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Coal Seam Gas Development and Community Conflict: A Comparative Study of Community Responses to Coal Seam Gas Development in Chinchilla and Tara, Queensland
Associate Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Transforming Andean Space: Local Experiences of Mining Development in Peru
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Daniel Franks directly for media enquiries about:
- Community engagement - mining
- Community relations - mining
- Mine waste policy
- Mine-community conflict
- Mines and tailings
- Mining
- Mining policy
- Resource conflict - mining
- Resource governance - mining
- Social impact assessment - mining
- Sovereignty and consent - mine resources
- Sustainable development
- Tailings - mines
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