Sustainable Minerals Institute

Dr Diana Arbelaez-Ruiz

Industry Fellow
CSRM
Dr Diana Arbelaez-Ruiz

Diana is a researcher and consultant working on the social aspects of extractive projects, with a particular interest in the dynamics of social and armed conflict in mining regions.  

In 2020, Diana was the recipient of a Rotary Peace Fellowship, competitively allocated to mid-career leaders in the fields of development and peace, for intensive training on conflict analysis and resolution at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Her PhD, awarded in 2019, dealt with indigenous responses to mining in the Colombian post-conflict transition. In 2017, Diana spent a term as visiting Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), thanks to the award of an Australian Government Endeavour Fellowship. During her PhD years, Diana also provided consultancy services to philanthropic foundations and mining companies in the areas of natural resource governance and stakeholder engagement.  

Diana was Research Manager for Latin America, Research Fellow and Research Manager at CSRM. Her doctoral work follows from her collaboration with Colombian indigenous and afro-descendant organizations, Colombian academics and the USAID Human Rights Program, on a project on social inclusion in mining policy-making financed by the Ford Foundation (see Spanish project page / English Summary poster). At UQ, Diana has also led research on the political and institutional dimensions of mining environmental impact study approvals that brought together specialist from eight countries in the Americas. She has been active in research on company-community conflict, the social impacts of mine closure and indigenous employment in mining in various countries including Australia, Colombia, Peru and Papua New Guinea. Diana retains an affiliation with UQ as an Industry Fellow.  

 

Researcher biography

Prior to joining UQ, Diana worked for nine years in progressing the sustainability agenda in the investment sector in Australia in Environmental, Social and Governance analyst roles with both Regnan and Monash University. During six of those years she concentrated solely on analysis of publicly listed mining companies. Diana also worked in environmental economics and community capacity building and development planning in Colombia.

Diana is a dual Colombian-Australian citizen based in Brisbane, Australia. Before her PhD, she completed Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Industrial Engineering, a Masters of Environmental Science, a Post-graduate Diploma in Development Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Anthropology.  

Latest Publications -

Promoviendo la Inclusión Social en la Planeación Minera Nacional: reflexiones y aprendizajes

Análisis del Plan Nacional de Ordenamiento Minero de Colombia: una lectura crítica desde la inclusión social

Jornada de Trabajo: Política Minera, Derechos y Territorio - Memorias

Conversatorio: La Inclusión Social en las Políticas y Planes Públicos para el Sistema Minero de Colombia - Memorias

Dialogue, conflict and regulatory processes in environmental impact studies for mining projects: learning from the Peruvian experience in the Latin American context

Publications

Book (1)
Book Chapters (11)
Journal Articles (3)
Research Reports (16)
Theses (2)

Book

Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). Indigenous responses to mining in post-conflict Colombia: Violence, repression and peaceful resistance. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895

Book Chapters

Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). Alternative Perspectives on Mining. Indigenous Responses to Mining in Post-Conflict Colombia. (pp. 77-107) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895-4
Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). Responses to Mining in the Nasa Indigenous Resguardo of Canoas. Indigenous Responses to Mining in Post-Conflict Colombia. (pp. 127-151) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895-6
Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). Violence, Peace and Mining. Indigenous Responses to Mining in Post-Conflict Colombia. (pp. 152-182) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895-7
Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). Introduction. Indigenous Responses to Mining in Post-Conflict Colombia. (pp. 1-23) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895-1
Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). Perspectives from Outside the Nasa Organisations. Indigenous Responses to Mining in Post-Conflict Colombia. (pp. 183-205) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895-8
Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). An Immoral Economy. Indigenous Responses to Mining in Post-Conflict Colombia. (pp. 50-76) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895-3
Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). Responses to Mining at a Nasa Indigenous Sub-Regional Organisation. Indigenous Responses to Mining in Post-Conflict Colombia. (pp. 108-126) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895-5
Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). Conclusion. Indigenous Responses to Mining in Post-Conflict Colombia. (pp. 206-212) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895-9
Arbeláez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2023). Context. Indigenous Responses to Mining in Post-Conflict Colombia. (pp. 24-49) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003226895-2
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2022). How to be a good immigrant in Australian academia. Global south scholars in the western academy: harnessing unique experiences, knowledges, and positionality in the third space. (pp. 53-64) edited by Staci B. Martin and Deepra Dandekar. New York, NY, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003109808-7
Borsky, Shanit, Arbelaez-Ruiz, Diana, Cocklin, Chris and Holmes, Doug (2006). International trends in socially-responsible investment : implications for corporate managers. The international handbook on environmental technology management. (pp. 340-357) edited by Dora Marinova, David Annandale and John Phillimore. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Journal Articles

Junior, Patrick, Franks, Daniel M. and Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana (2022). Minerals as a refuge from conflict: Evidence from the quarry sector in Africa. Journal of Rural Studies, 92, 206-213. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.03.028
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2021). Indigenous resistance to mining in post-conflict Colombia. Extractive Industries and Society, 9 100953, 100953. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2021.100953
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana and Franks, Daniel M. (2014). Getting to the table: how a new generation of organizations is improving dialogue and reducing conflict over mining in Latin America. Americas Quarterly, 8 (2), 111-113.

Research Reports

Golev, Artem, Gallagher, Louise, Vander Velpen, Arnaud, Lynggaard, Josefine R., Friot, Damien, Stringer, Martin, Chuah, Stephanie, Arbelaez-Ruiz, Diana, Mazzinghy, Douglas, Moura, Luanna, Peduzzi, Pascal and Franks, Daniel, M. (2022). Ore-sand: A potential new solution to the mine tailings and global sand sustainability crises: Final report. Brisbane, Australia; Geneva, Switzerland: The University of Queensland; The University of Geneva. doi: 10.14264/503a3fd
Franks, Daniel, Sturman, Kathryn and Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana (2022). 2021 Annual Monitoring Report. BHP Foundation Natural Resource Governance Program. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana and Franks, Daniel M. (2021). Country Context Note - Peru. Embedded Program Evaluation, BHP Foundation Natural Resource Governance Program. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Arbelaez-Ruiz, Diana, Franks, Daniel M., Sturman, Kathryn and Ezeigbo, Chinwe (2021). Durable Change – sustaining impact in natural resource governance. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana and Franks, Daniel M. (2021). Country Case Study - Colombia. Embedded Program Evaluation, BHP Foundation Natural Resource Governance Program. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana (2015). La inclusión social en las políticas y planes públicos para el sistema minero de colombia reflexiones y aprendizajes. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana (2015). Dialogue, Conflict and Regulatory Processes in Environmental Impact Studies for Mining Projects: Learning from the Peruvian Experience in the Latin American Context. Brisbane, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana and Viana, Andreé (2015). La inclusión social en las políticas y planes públicos para el sistema minero de Colombia Bogotá, 20 de Abril de 2015 memorias. Brisbane: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana and Viana Garcés, Andrée (2015). Jornada de trabajo: política minera, derechos y territorio. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana and Viana Garcés, Andrée (2015). Análisis del plan nacional de ordenamiento minero de colombia: una lectura crítica desde la inclusión social. Brisbane, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
Arbelaez-Ruiz, D., Parmenter, J., Santibanez, B., Barclay, M.-A. and Rifkin, W. (2013). Documenting and Reviewing QGC’s Indigenous Employment, Training and Business Development Initiatives.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, D. and Weldegiorgis, F. (2013). Social aspects of the closure of Century Mine. Supplement B: Survey of employees in GCA roles at Century Mine.. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
Kemp, Deanna, Owen, John, Cervantes, Miguel, Arbelaez-Ruiz, Diana and Benavides Rueda, Jaime (2013). Listening to the city of Cajamarca: a study commissioned by Minera Yanacocha. St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Everingham, Jo-Anne, Brereton, David, Arbelaez-Ruiz, Diana, Barnes, Rodger, Collins, Nina, Weldegiorgis, Fitsum, Rogers, Paul and Oñate Santibáñez, Barbara (2013). Social aspects of the closure of Century Mine: combined report. Social aspects of the closure of Century Mine St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana, Mauricio Benavides, Juan, Oñate Santibanez, Barbara and Ramsay, Rebekah (2013). Institutional and political frameworks of environmental licensing processes. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: International Mining for Development Centre.
Arbeláez-Ruiz, Diana and Weldegiorgis, Fitsum (2013). Social aspects of the closure of Century Mine: survey of employees in GCA roles at Century Mine. Supplement B. Social aspects of the closure of Century Mine St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland.

Theses

Arbelaez Ruiz, Diana Carolina (2019). Nasa responses to mining in post-conflict Colombia. PhD Thesis, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2019.737
Arbelaez-Ruiz, Diana Mining supervisors' experiences in working with indigenous employees: perspectives on leadership, training, development and promotion. Other, School of Philosophy, Anthropology and Social Inquiry, Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland.