Isabel Guajardo
Payne Institute Critical Minerals Research Associate

Isabel Guajardo is a Critical Minerals Research Associate at the Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines. With a Master of Science in Mineral and Energy Economics from Mines, and over a decade of experience in the copper mining and logistics sectors, her work focuses on economic and policy analysis of critical mineral supply chains in global markets.

Before joining the Payne Institute, she held key operational and commercial roles at CODELCO Chile, where she led commercial processes across multiple departments within the supply chain—from the mine site to the final client. Her responsibilities spanned logistics, inventory, contract management, and operational functions within the marketing department. She also contributed to projects at Argonne National Laboratory, where she developed risk assessment frameworks for critical mineral supply chains.

Her academic and professional background bridges commercial operations, data analytics, and policy research. At the Payne Institute, she has contributed to projects on electric vehicles, artisanal and small-scale mining, and mineral supply modeling, while also supporting data-driven policy work related to the global energy transition.

She is proud to contribute to the Payne Institute by bringing her industry knowledge, analytical skills, and deep commitment to supporting responsible and sustainable resource development. Through her work, she aims to help shape policies and strategies that drive long-term impact in the global energy and mining sectors.