MDC to Debate Innovation, ESG and Coins in a Digital World

The Mint Directors Conference (MDC) 2023 is fast approaching and the hosts, the Royal Canadian Mint, have shared the highlights of the programme, comprising two days of thought-provoking sessions designed to spark conversation, open minds and look to the future for the global minting industry.

Both days will be complemented by Technical Committee presentations and breakout sessions where mints and suppliers will touch on technical advancements and collaborative work of benefit to the industry.

This is the first MDC to take place since the pandemic, the last having been held in Seoul, Korea in 2018. It takes place in Ottawa, Canada from 15-18 October.

After a welcome from conference host Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint, the former Governor of the Bank of Canada, Stephen Poloz, will set the stage with a future- and sustainability-focused keynote address on his macro view of the economic and financial landscape in an increasingly complex world —a perfect introduction to the plenary session on ‘The Future of Circulation Coinage in a Digital World’.

On another topic of interest, ‘Innovative Trends in Marketing: How Can Mints Think Outside the Box?’, will dive into opportunities for mints to think of novel ways to promote and market their products.

This discussion will be complemented by ‘Rethinking Numismatics – Appealing to the New Collector’, an interactive session where both mints and dealers will visit the challenges and opportunities facing the business of coin collecting and share ideas about fostering winning conditions for the hobby of coin collecting.

Day 2 will embrace sustainability. After an overview of the methodology behind ensuring the carbon neutrality of MDC 2023, delegates will hear from keynote speaker, Dr Farah Alibay, who will share her insights on the importance of sustainability from her perspective as an accomplished aerospace engineer. Dr Alibay will set the tone for ‘How Can Mints be Leaders in Sustainability’, a plenary session exploring concrete actions in a world that demands increased focus on ESG.

‘Bullion, Sustainability and Appealing to New Investors’ will bring together state and private bullion producers to ponder questions such as the importance of sustainability to bullion customers, the types of information expected from bullion customers, and how ESG performance is being communicated to stakeholders.

Mint leaders will close the program with ‘The Business Imperative of Social Responsibility’, touching on everything from leveraging socially responsible practices to enhancing employee and community engagement to build customer confidence.

More information can be found at canada.mintdirectorsconference.com.