Swann Skein Podcast

Swann Skein

Exploring the evolving landscape of leadership, strategy, and organisational transformation with global extractive industry experts tackling today’s business challenges.

  1. Episode 5

    Oil Shale: The Strategic Resource Not Only for Energy

    🎧 Podcast Preview: Oil Shale – The Strategic Resource Not Only for Energy Produced by: Swann and Skein Featuring: Hando Sutter & Jonathan Molyneux In this episode, Jonathan Molyneux is joined by Hando Sutter, former CEO of Estonia’s national energy company, Eesti Energia, and a leading figure in European industry, to examine one of the most misunderstood resources in the global energy and materials landscape: oil shale. Hando challenges long‑held assumptions about mining and fossil resources, offering a more nuanced perspective shaped by decades of operational and leadership experience. Drawing on Estonia’s century‑long history with oil shale, the conversation explores how modern mining has evolved into a full‑cycle, highly disciplined activity balancing energy security, innovation, environmental responsibility, and community engagement. Hando also reframes oil shale’s future role, not primarily as a fuel to be burned, but as a strategic input into the chemical value chain and the circular economy. The discussion highlights why resource‑rich nations must rethink how they approach domestic supply, why public perceptions often lag behind technological reality, and why mining’s future depends on cross‑disciplinary thinking, responsible leadership, and honest engagement with society. This episode offers a pragmatic, future‑focused view of how natural resources can support both economic resilience and sustainable development. Join us as we challenge assumptions, provoke thought, and seek fresh perspectives on the future of mining and beyond. Home - Swann

    Oil Shale: The Strategic Resource Not Only for Energy
  2. Episode 6

    Changing the Way We See Mines: Art, Perception and Landscape

    🎧 Podcast Episode: Changing the Way We See Mines: Art, Perception and Landscape Produced by: Swann Skein Featuring: Federico Winer & Jo Forrest In this episode, Jo Forrest is joined by Federico Winer, Argentine visual artist and creator of ULTRADISTANCIA, a globally recognised satellite-art project that transforms views of the Earth into contemporary artworks. Over the past decade, Federico's work has attracted international recognition through exhibitions, collaborations with Google, and a unique body of work that explores the relationship between landscape, technology, human intervention and perception. In an unexpected evolution of the project, his work has also developed a strong connection with the mining industry. Through the lens of art, Federico invites us to see mines not simply as industrial operations, but as landscapes, patterns and visual expressions of human activity. The conversation explores how changing perspective can challenge assumptions, spark curiosity and create new ways of understanding familiar subjects. Together, Jo and Federico discuss the origins of ULTRADISTANCIA, how an internationally recognised artist found himself engaging with the mining sector, and whether art and visual storytelling can influence how industries are perceived by society. The discussion goes beyond traditional mining narratives, examining the role of creativity, technology and observation in shaping public understanding. It also explores how different disciplines can contribute to the industry's future and why innovation sometimes begins not with a new technology, but with a new way of seeing. This episode offers a thoughtful and unconventional perspective on mining, reminding us that some of the most valuable insights can come from outside the industry's traditional boundaries. Join us as we challenge assumptions, provoke thought, and seek fresh perspectives on the future of mining and beyond. Home - Swann

    Changing the Way We See Mines: Art, Perception and Landscape

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Exploring the evolving landscape of leadership, strategy, and organisational transformation with global extractive industry experts tackling today’s business challenges.