Gavin Hilson

Professor Gavin Hilson is Chair of Sustainability in Business at the Surrey Business School, University of Surrey. He is a globally recognized authority on the environmental and social impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. He has held academic positions at Cardiff University, the University of Manchester, and the University of Reading, where he was promoted to Reader in Environment and Development.

Education:

• Ph.D., Imperial College London (2003)
• Masters of Arts, University of Toronto (1999)
• BSc (Honours), University of Toronto (1998)
• Fellow, The Higher Education Academy, UK (2008)

His research focuses on the social and environmental dimensions of ASM, including formalization policies, rural livelihoods, gender dynamics, child labour, mercury pollution, and the Sustainable Development Goals. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Ghana, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Zambia, Malawi, and Guyana. His work is funded by major institutions such as the ESRC, British Academy, Royal Society, and Nuffield Foundation.

His recent publications analyze the formalization of ASM, the impacts of the Minamata Convention on mercury, entrepreneurship in the informal mining sector, and the coexistence of artisanal and large-scale mining. His articles frequently appear in top journals such as World Development, Resources Policy, and Journal of Cleaner Production, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary focus on sustainability, development, and governance.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Fellow, The Higher Education Academy, UK

Supervision and Grants: He has supervised over 20 PhD students and currently mentors several doctoral researchers. He leads multiple research projects funded by the British Academy, ESRC, and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, focusing on innovation, formalization, and resilience in ASM sectors across Africa.

Leadership and Affiliations: He is Editor-in-Chief of The Extractive Industries and Society (Elsevier) and The Journal of Environment & Development (SAGE). He serves on the editorial boards of several journals and is an Executive Board Member of the NGO IMPACT. He has provided consultancy for the World Bank, UK Department for International Development, WWF Guianas, and mining corporations.