In the first Industry Insight episode of On Aon, Charles Philpott and Paul Pryor explore why mining and natural resources are becoming more critical than ever before.

From electrification and the energy transition to data center expansion and national security, demand for minerals is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Against this backdrop, Charles and Paul discuss how mining companies are navigating deeper and more complex extraction, evolving geopolitical and supply chain dynamics and rising expectations around ESG and safety — while also unlocking new sources of capital and competitive advantage.

The conversation also examines one of the sector’s most pressing opportunities: building the workforce of the future. As automation, AI and autonomous operations reshape mining, organizations that invest in skills, technology and compelling employee value propositions will be best positioned to attract and retain the next generation of talent.

Key Takeaways:  

1. Natural resources underpin the modern economy, from electrification and decarbonization to data center growth — placing mining at the heart of global growth and resilience.
2. End‑to‑end visibility across the mining value chain — from extraction and processing to transport and infrastructure — is increasingly essential as demand for metals such as copper, gold and critical minerals accelerates.
3. Talent and technology are becoming sources of competitive advantage. Mining companies that embrace automation, AI and differentiated employee value propositions will be better positioned to secure future skills and sustain long‑term performance.

Experts in this episode:  

• Charles Philpott — Global Natural Resources Leader, Enterprise Client Group, Aon
• Paul Pryor — Global Mining Practice Leader, Aon

Key moments:  

(4:10) As the natural resources industry transforms and makes more use of autonomous vehicles and autonomous operations, so too are they exposed to greater technology and cyber risks.

(5:35) Extraction is getting more difficult, the new deposits are deeper and complex geologies and at the same time the demand for minerals will increase about six times through 2040.

(9:30) Data centers depend on mining — from construction materials to battery metals and cooling systems — underscoring how critical minerals underpin every layer of modern data and cloud capacity.

Soundbites:    

Paul Pryor:

“The biggest issue facing natural resources companies today is trying to satisfy the world's incessant demand to improve the quality of life.”

Charles Philpott:
“Few industries are under as much pressure and opportunity as mining right now.”

In the first Human Capital Insight episode of On Aon, Jason Trull and Aon talent and rewards leaders unpack how organizations can turn rapid workforce change into a performance advantage across technology, life sciences and financial services. Drawing on Aon data and current market signals, the group explores what’s shifting fastest: accelerating AI adoption and governance needs, skills evolving beyond traditional role-based models and rising expectations for personalization, flexibility and career pathways.

Key Takeaways:   

1. AI is reshaping skills demand and pushing new governance and reskilling priorities across industries.
2. Skills are evolving faster than traditional talent models. Routine and transactional tasks are declining as higher-value analytical and digital skills rise.
3. Employee expectations continue to evolve, increasing the importance of personalization, flexibility and clear career pathways.

Experts in this episode:   

• Jason Trull — Global Head of Talent Data Solutions, Aon
• Chris Tanana — US HCS Rewards Solutions Partner, North America, Aon
• Tanaz Moazami — US HCS Rewards Solutions Partner, North America, Aon
• Ephraim Edelman — Head of Talent Data Solutions, North America, Aon
• Rahul Chawla — Advisory Best Practices, APAC, Aon

Key moments:   

(1:05) The global labor market is in a state of flux. Employee turnover, shifts in hiring trends, the spread of AI and healthcare costs are all piling the pressure on people leaders, and each industry is moving through really its own version of disruption.

(5:00) We believe that about 96% of life sciences firms plan to invest in reskilling to stay competitive.

(6:00) The tech sector, maybe more than any other, is facing a fundamental shift of the skills that companies need as AI adoption accelerates.

(14:15) Today's employee value proposition requires companies to refocus and consider various elements, including skills, pathways and growth.

Soundbites:     

Jason Trull:

“Demand for professionals with AI skills is only going to increase, making it all the more necessary for leaders to seek out reskilling opportunities for their teams.”

Chris Tanana:
“It's a difficult balance staying cost efficient without undermining the ability to attract and retain critical talent.”

Tanaz Moazami:

“Firms are navigating multi-generational needs, evolving expectations on well-being and ongoing reinvestment in employee value proposition to keep pace.”

Ephraim Edelman:

“Companies are rebuilding a very different kind of talent model. We're seeing a shift towards a more skilled, more specialized and more globally distributed workforce.”

Rahul Chawla:

“Our clients are focused on delivering personalized benefits and communicating that value through non-traditional methods.”

On Aon — Episode 100

Title: Building Climate Resilience: Insights from Aon’s 2025 Climate and Catastrophe Report

In the first Risk Capital Insight episode of On Aon, host Alexandra Lewis is joined by Aon leaders Tracy Hatlestad and Michal Lorinc to discuss the findings of Aon’s 2025 Climate and Catastrophe Insight report. They explore another year of more than $100 billion in insured catastrophe losses, driven largely by secondary perils, and what a changing climate means for people, infrastructure and the global economy.

Key Takeaways:

1. Climate risk is increasingly blurring lines between property and people risk, demanding more integrated decisions.
2. Secondary perils, including severe convective storms and wildfire, are now major drivers of global insured catastrophe losses.
3. Alternative risk transfer and parametric solutions complement traditional reinsurance to manage climate‑driven volatility.

Experts in this episode: 

• Tracy Hatlestad — Executive Managing Director and Global Head of Property, Reinsurance, Aon
• Michal Lörinc — Head of Catastrophe Insight and Impact Forecasting, Aon

Key moments: 

(1:35) In 2025, secondary perils were the primary driver of insured catastrophe activity, totaling around $100 billion.

(5:40) The insurance protection gap was the lowest on record in 2025, but half of the losses still went uninsured globally.

(6:05) Heat waves are one of the primary impacts on human health and we saw the impacts of heat waves around the world in 2025 with 42,000 fatalities from heat-related issues alone.

Soundbites:   

Michal Lorinc:

“One ‘under-average’ year is no reason for complacency. Organizations need to keep strengthening their resilience for the future.”

Tracy Hatlestad:

“We also saw the lowest protection gap on record for the year 2025, and that’s predominantly as a result of the fact that 81% of losses are coming from the United States.”

Find out more:
2026 Climate and Catastrophe Insight