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 more than 40 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
2014
Conference Publication
The Extractive Sector and the Post-2015 Development Agenda: cross sector cooperation to address environmental challenges
Franks, Daniel M. (2014). The Extractive Sector and the Post-2015 Development Agenda: cross sector cooperation to address environmental challenges. Extractive Sector and Sustainable Development − Enhancing Public-Private-Community Cooperation in the context of the Post-2015 Agenda, Brasilia, Brazil, 3-5 December 2014. Brasilia, Brazil: UNDP.
2013
Newspaper Article
Galilee mega projects must avoid mistakes of last boom
Franks, Daniel (2013, 12 16). Galilee mega projects must avoid mistakes of last boom The Courier Mail 24.
2013
Journal Article
Cultivating collaboration: lessons from initiatives to understand and manage cumulative impacts in Australian resource regions
Porter, Madeleine, Franks, Daniel M. and Everingham, Jo-Anne (2013). Cultivating collaboration: lessons from initiatives to understand and manage cumulative impacts in Australian resource regions. Resources Policy, 38 (4), 657-669. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2013.03.005
2013
Journal Article
Social dimensions of energy supply alternatives in steelmaking: comparison of biomass and coal production scenarios in Australia
Weldegiorgis, Fitsum S. and Franks, Daniel M. (2013). Social dimensions of energy supply alternatives in steelmaking: comparison of biomass and coal production scenarios in Australia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 84 (1), 281-288. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.09.056
2013
Other Outputs
Approaches to understanding development outcomes from mining
Franks, Daniel M., Parra, Cristian and Schleger, Ashlee (2013). Approaches to understanding development outcomes from mining. London, United Kingdom: International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).
2013
Journal Article
Using the multiple capitals framework to connect indicators of regional cumulative impacts of mining and pastoralism in the Murray Darling Basin, Australia
Moran, C. J., Franks, D. M. and Sonter, L. J. (2013). Using the multiple capitals framework to connect indicators of regional cumulative impacts of mining and pastoralism in the Murray Darling Basin, Australia. Resources Policy, 38 (4), 733-744. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2013.01.002
2013
Journal Article
An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?
Measham, Thomas G., Haslam McKenzie, Fiona, Moffat, Kieren and Franks, Daniel (2013). An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?. Rural Society, 22 (2), 184-194. doi: 10.5172/rsj.2013.22.2.184
2013
Other Outputs
Exploring the social dimensions of autonomous and remote operation mining: applying Social Licence in Design. Final cluster research report
McNab, Karen, Onate, Barbara, Brereton, David, Horberry, Tim, Lynas, Danellie and Franks, Daniel M. (2013). Exploring the social dimensions of autonomous and remote operation mining: applying Social Licence in Design. Final cluster research report. St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland; CSIRO.
2013
Book
Extractive resource development in a changing climate: learning the lessons from extreme weather events in Queensland, Australia
Sharma, Vigya, van de Graaff, Shashi, Loechel, Barton and Franks, Daniel M. (2013). Extractive resource development in a changing climate: learning the lessons from extreme weather events in Queensland, Australia. South Port, QLD, Australia: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.
2013
Other Outputs
Designing mining technology for social outcomes: final report of the Technology Futures Project
Franks, D. M., McNab, K., McNab, K., Weldegiorgis, F., Horberry, T., Garcia-Vasquez, M., Oñate Santibáñez, B., Barnes, R. and McLellan, B. C. (2013). Designing mining technology for social outcomes: final report of the Technology Futures Project. St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining & the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
2012
Journal Article
An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?
Measham, Thomas G, McKenzie, Fiona Haslam, Moffat, Kieren and Franks, Daniel (2012). An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?. Rural Society, 3345-3367. doi: 10.5172/rsj.2013.22.2.184
2012
Journal Article
Social Licence in Design: constructive technology assessment within a mineral research and development institution
Franks, Daniel M. and Cohen, Tamar (2012). Social Licence in Design: constructive technology assessment within a mineral research and development institution. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 79 (7), 1229-1240. doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2012.03.001
2012
Other Outputs
Governance strategies to manage and monitor cumulative impacts at the regional level
Franks, Daniel M., Everingham, Jo-Anne and Brereton, David (2012). Governance strategies to manage and monitor cumulative impacts at the regional level. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, University of Queensland.
2012
Other Outputs
The social dimensions of charcoal use in steelmaking: Analysing technology alternatives
Weldegiorgis, Fitsum and Franks, Daniel M. (2012). The social dimensions of charcoal use in steelmaking: Analysing technology alternatives. Cluster research report 2.7 Brisbane Australia: The University of Queensland.
2012
Newspaper Article
Robots, red dust, and the future of mining towns
McNab, Karen and Franks, Daniel M. (2012, 03 14). Robots, red dust, and the future of mining towns
2012
Other Outputs
Social impact assessment of resource projects
Franks, Daniel M. (2012). Social impact assessment of resource projects. Mining for Development: Guide to Australian Practice, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, International Mining for Development Centre.
2012
Other Outputs
Mine site rehabilitation in Sierra Leone – A rapid appraisal of selected sites
Franks, Daniel and Erskine, Peter (2012). Mine site rehabilitation in Sierra Leone – A rapid appraisal of selected sites. Brisbane Australia: Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation.
2012
Conference Publication
Mineral and energy futures: implications for technology and policy in producing and consuming countries
Giurco, Damien, Franks, Daniel, McLellan, Benjamin and Prior, Timothy (2012). Mineral and energy futures: implications for technology and policy in producing and consuming countries. 10th International Conference on EcoBalance (EcoBalance 2012), Yokohama, Japan, 20-23 November 2012. Yokohama, Japan: Institute of Life Cycle Assessment.
2012
Book Chapter
Reopening and developing mines in post-conflict settings: the challenge of company-community relations
Boege, Volker and Franks, Daniel M. (2012). Reopening and developing mines in post-conflict settings: the challenge of company-community relations. High-value natural resources and post-conflict peacebuilding. (pp. 104-137) edited by Päivi Lujala and Siri Aas Rustad. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781849775786
2012
Book Chapter
Reopening and developing mines in post-conflict settings : The challenge of company-community relations
Boege, Volker and Franks, Daniel M. (2012). Reopening and developing mines in post-conflict settings : The challenge of company-community relations. High-value natural resources and post-conflict peacebuilding. (pp. 87-120) edited by Päivi Lujala and Siri Aas Rustad. London, U.K.: Earthscan.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Daniel Franks is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Incorporating mineral security into multi-dimensional poverty assessments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski, Dr Lynda Lawson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impacts of mining for renewable energy transition on biodiversity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Laura Sonter
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mapping supply chains for mineral security and poverty reduction
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lynda Lawson, Dr Fitsum Semere Weldegiorgis
-
Doctor Philosophy
Low-carbon cement adoption in the Pacific
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Vinh Dao, Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai
-
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
Assessing the economic dimensions of mineral security for poverty reduction
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fitsum Semere Weldegiorgis
-
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 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
-
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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