Conor Spollen

Background

About Conor Spollen

Conor Spollen is a senior mining and metallurgical operations and project executive. He has a passion for the deployment of strategic projects with 35 years of experience across multiple jurisdictions, commodities, organizations and teams. Conor is Chief Operating Officer at Li-Cycle. Li-Cycle is a publicly traded company that recovers critical materials from lithium-ion batteries. Conor joined Li-Cycle to lead the detailed design, construction, commissioning and start-up of the hydrometallurgical facility in Rochester NY. This project was paused in October 2023. With the pause, Conor was appointed Chief Operating Officer, leading the battery recycling facilities in the USA and Europe. Prior to his role at Li-Cycle, Conor was employed with US Steel (USS), based in Pittsburgh, leading and completing key strategic projects in the North American Flat Roll area. He successfully completed the deployment of the CGL3 at the Pro-Tec Coating Company (a JV between Kobe and USS) and the 1st EAF in USS’s Tubular Operations. He was with Vale for 11 years serving in many executive roles including Chief Operating Officer for the base metals mines and processing facilities in Canada, UK, China and Japan. Significant improvements in safety, production volumes and operating costs were achieved under Conor's leadership. Conor managed a large portfolio of capital projects from concept to execution, including the completion and start-up of the multi-billion dollar Long Harbour nickel hydrometallurgical processing plant in Newfoundland. in Ontario, Conor lead the completion of the Totten Mine and Clarabelle Mill recovery improvement project. He also developed the Sudbury Smelter Clean AER project through the FEL process into the final stages of completion. He was formerly with Anglo American developing the Pb-Zn Mine in Ireland and supporting the metallurgical process development in the Chilean copper business. An analytical and critical thinker, Conor is a highly-motivated problem-solver who has earned the trust and respect of his teams through his leadership, safety-focus, passion, open door and hands-on involvement. He has demonstrated tremendous resilience and teamwork throughout his career. Conor is a Professional Engineer, a Chartered Engineer, and formerly on the Board of the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI). He is on the panel of experts for Geoscience Ireland.