Lisanna Marie Lewis | Owner and Operator | Lisanna Lewis Consulting
Chief Financial Officer | Borealis
Lisanna Marie Lewis has built a career in mining that reflects resilience, adaptability, and unwavering integrity. She is the owner and operator of Lisanna Lewis Consulting, where she works as a Financial and Human Resources consultant focused on the mining sector. In addition to running her own firm, she serves as Chief Financial Officer of Borealis Mining Company Ltd. Her professional journey spans more than two decades, during which she has grown from an office manager to a respected executive leader in a demanding and traditionally male-dominated industry. At EliteX, we are proud to have Lisanna Marie Lewis as Cover Story of the edition: Prominent Women in Mining, 2026.
Her entry into mining was unexpected. Twenty-two years ago, while still in school completing her Accounting Degree, she was headhunted for an Office Manager role at a mining company. At that time, she had already spent 12 years in another job. Accepting the new role meant stepping into an unfamiliar field and leaving behind security. She knew very little about mining, but she decided to take the risk. From the moment she entered the industry, she felt a deep fascination with how it worked. What began as a leap of faith soon became a lifelong passion.
Success in mining starts with respect – for people, for process, and for the planet.
Lisanna did not stop learning after accepting that first position. While working full time, she continued her education and committed herself to understanding every aspect of mining operations. Over the years, her dedication and competence led to steady promotions. She moved from Office Manager to Controller, then Treasurer, Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations, Director of Finance and Human Resources, and ultimately Chief Financial Officer for the Borealis project. Her progression was not accidental. It was the result of discipline, curiosity, and a willingness to take on responsibility.
Borealis went through several ownership changes during her tenure. Each time the company was acquired, the new owners asked her to remain. That continuity reflected the trust she had earned. At one point, under a previous ownership group with a large portfolio of mining companies in Nevada, she served as Director of Finance and Human Resources for as many as fifteen companies simultaneously. Managing financial reporting, compliance, payroll, investor communications, and HR functions across multiple entities required precision and stamina. When that portfolio began to sell off its assets, several of the new buyers requested that she continue supporting their projects. That demand gave her the confidence to establish her own consulting company. Mining, as she often reflects, feels less like a field she chose and more like one that chose her.
Her journey has not been without challenges. Mining remains heavily male-dominated. There have been many meetings where she was the only woman in a room of twenty-five executives. Rather than allowing that reality to intimidate her, she developed her own leadership approach. She stands her ground. She remains firm but kind. She is direct without being disrespectful. She does not cross professional boundaries, yet she does not allow others to dismiss her expertise. She makes it a point to learn about her colleagues as individuals. She remembers their families, their interests, and their personal milestones. By doing so, she builds authentic relationships rather than transactional ones. She also listens carefully. She believes that genuine listening earns respect more effectively than speaking loudly.
Lisanna acknowledges that she has often worked harder and sacrificed more than many of her peers. However, she emphasizes that those sacrifices were her own decisions. She ensured that each step aligned with what was right for her and her family. That sense of ownership over her choices has given her peace of mind even during the most demanding periods of her career.
One of the most defining chapters of her professional life was a period of instability. Over seven years, she reported to fourteen different bosses. The company faced financial distress and stood on the brink of bankruptcy. At one point, she was personally sued by a shareholder simply because her executive title classified her as a company officer. Those years tested her resilience. What carried her through was honesty. She did not mislead vendors when payments were delayed. She did not hide the truth from employees during furloughs or layoffs. She did not create narratives to soften difficult realities. Some people consider her honesty excessive, but she believes transparency builds long-term credibility. In her view, integrity is not optional in leadership. It is the foundation of sustainable success.
Women belong in every room where decisions are made.
Technically, mining requires specialized expertise in engineering, geology, metallurgy, environmental science, and safety. Lisanna respects the technical disciplines that drive operations. However, she believes communication across departments is equally critical. Finance must understand operations. Operations must understand accounting. Human resources must understand site realities. She often uses practical examples to illustrate this philosophy. If an accounts payable employee struggles to code expenses correctly, she takes them to the mine site. She walks them through the plant, explains the processes, and shows them why specific costs are allocated in certain ways. Context improves accuracy.
Earlier in her career at Borealis, she introduced a cross-training initiative that required employees to experience different roles within the company. She worked night shifts in the processing plant. Payroll staff rode in haul trucks. IT personnel joined crusher crews. Operations teams spent time in the administrative office organizing timecards and reviewing payables. This program fostered empathy and operational awareness. Employees began to see the company as an integrated system rather than isolated departments. The initiative strengthened collaboration and improved overall efficiency.
Over the past two decades, she has witnessed substantial changes in the mining industry. Advances in technology have transformed exploration, extraction, and processing methods. Digital tools, automation, and data analytics have improved productivity and safety. Environmental monitoring systems have become more sophisticated. Regulatory standards have tightened. Sustainability is no longer a secondary consideration. It is central to long-term viability. Lisanna has seen the industry ask deeper questions: How can minerals be extracted more safely? How can environmental impact be reduced? How can operations coexist responsibly with surrounding communities? She views this evolution as positive and necessary.
Mentorship has also played an important role in her development. Although she often felt she had to prove herself repeatedly, she has benefited from supportive leaders, particularly in the last thirteen years of her career. Two former supervisors trusted her fully and empowered her with significant responsibility. That trust strengthened her confidence. At Borealis today, she works alongside a leadership team that values collaboration. The current Chief Executive Officer, Kelly Malcolm, actively supports women in the industry and fosters an inclusive environment. Despite being younger than her, her colleagues respect her experience and engage in open dialogue. She finds this culture refreshing and progressive.
Work-life balance remains a challenge for her. She advises her team to maintain healthy boundaries and prioritize personal wellbeing. Yet she openly admits that she is a workaholic. She genuinely enjoys what she does. Mining energizes her. Financial strategy, team development, operational coordination – these responsibilities do not feel like burdens. While she recognizes the importance of balance, her passion for her profession continues to drive her long hours.
Mining did not just give me a career – it gave me purpose.
Within her organization, diversity and inclusion are practical commitments rather than slogans. She notes that candidate pools in mining still skew heavily male, though she has observed a recent increase in women applying for geology roles. Borealis evaluates candidates based on fit, capability, and character. Inclusion is reinforced through company-wide meetings, family-oriented events, and stock incentive programs that extend beyond management. Even janitorial staff participate in equity incentives. The company also operates as a second-chance employer, offering opportunities to individuals who have corrected past mistakes and are ready to rebuild their careers. For Lisanna, equal opportunity means recognizing potential beyond background.
Sustainability and ethical governance are central to her work. She collaborates closely with third-party environmental experts to assess impact and implement best practices. She understands that Environmental, Social, and Governance frameworks require transparency. Investors, regulators, and communities demand accountability. She views ESG not as a trend but as a necessary structure for the future of resource development.
Looking back, she is proud of her long association with the Borealis project. She is proud that she began as a receptionist and office manager and eventually became Chief Financial Officer while also launching her own consulting firm. She is proud that former employees have become close friends. She is proud that when she stepped out on her own, many industry peers sought her expertise. Most of all, she is proud of how she treated people throughout her career. Professional success matters, but character matters more.
Looking toward 2026 and beyond, her immediate focus is supporting Borealis as it returns to commercial production. She aims to strengthen financial stability and operational performance while continuing to advise a small group of mining clients. Beyond that horizon, she remains open to new possibilities. She loves the mining world and intends to continue traveling and exploring opportunities globally.
Integrity will carry you further than any title ever can.
Her message to young women considering mining is clear. The industry offers diverse pathways – geology, engineering, metallurgy, environmental science, skilled trades, investor relations, finance, and human resources. Mining exists in nearly every country and underpins modern life. Women can build meaningful, impactful careers within it. She encourages them to take ownership of their choices, explore their interests, and enter the field with confidence. In her experience, determination combined with integrity can transform opportunity into lasting achievement.
