In episode 17 of Business Diplomacy Today, Matthias Catón is joined by Ludivine Wouters, Managing Partner of Latitude Five, an investment and advisory firm operating in emerging markets. Ludivine shares her expertise in the metals and mining industry, specifically concerning the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRM Act).
Matthias and Ludivine explore the EU’s approach to critical materials and the attempt to stimulate private sector action through strategic partnerships and market-driven initiatives.
Their conversation contextualizes these theories globally, calling at the US approach of incentivizing electric vehicle and battery production, the Chinese transactional approach, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund, and Japan’s value chain investments. Ludivine and Matthias further navigate the complexities of the EU’s CRM Act in relation to the need to increase investment in critical materials, the importance of responsible sourcing, and the recognition that “minerals at any cost” is no longer an acceptable thought.
As we become more and more conscious of our supply chains and responsible sourcing, this episode is a must-listen to gain valuable insights into the critical raw materials landscape and its impact on businesses.
About the guest
Ludivine Wouters is managing partner of Latitude Five, an investment and advisory firm operating in emerging markets.
Ludivine assists natural resources companies and investors in emerging markets as a strategy, governance, and policy adviser specializing in transaction management, regulatory affairs, government relations, and permitting. She also works on technical assistance programs for countries, focusing on mining and minerals policy, governance, and taxation. She also assists donor agencies in defining, assessing, and implementing critical minerals and responsible sourcing priorities, policies, and initiatives.
Ludivine has experience in political risk insurance within Lloyd’s Insurance syndicate and significant legal experience in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets with leading international firms in Paris; she also worked for an emerging markets investment bank in London, focusing on metals and mining clients, particularly African juniors.
Ludivine holds a Master in Business Law from Université Panthéon Assas (Paris II) and a JD in Law from Université Panthéon Sorbonne (Paris I) and is called to the bar in Paris. In 2013, she was nominated by her peers to be one of 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.
Ludivine is a Visiting Fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
Executive Briefing – what you should read now
- State of Play is an independent research group focused on strategy and innovation in the global mining industry. Their biennial Mining Industry Survey has participants from around the globe and explores external drivers, strategic positioning, and organizational architecture.
- Press release on 16 March 2023 for the Critical Raw Materials Act
- European Parliament Legislative Observatory page for the Critical Raw Materials Act
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