Associated Event

Mine Closure 2025
23-25 September 2025 | Kulturens Hus, Luleå, Sweden

Geomorphic Landforms in the Frozen North: First Principles to Final Sign Off Workshop

21 September 2025 | Kulturens Hus, Luleå, Sweden

 This event will be held in person only.

Workshop overview

The adoption of a geomorphic approach to mine waste management is gaining traction internationally, with acceptance as a leading practice in major mining regions.
Are you curious to…

  • Develop a clearer understanding of the what, why and how of the approach.
  • Know what questions to ask or what to look for to determine a good design from a bad one.
  • Want to find solutions to your current landform challenges with geomorphic experts.
  • Know what considerations are needed to adapt the approach in cold climates.

Then this workshop is for you.

Through a mix of theory, real-life examples, and hands-on activities, the workshop will equip participants with a strong foundation to start – or continue – their geomorphic journey and understand why landform design leads to better mine closure outcomes without increasing costs. 

Who Should Attend

The target audience for the workshop is anyone working in mine closure and reclamation, as industry personnel, government regulators, consultants, academics, and members or representatives of Indigenous or other local communities. There is no required background, although we highly recommend that participants familiarise themselves with the content of the Landform Design Institute’s guide, Developing a Design Basis Memorandum for Landform Design,
prior to the workshop.

Objectives

In an engaging learning environment – designed to challenge and inspire you throughout the day you will:

  • Gain knowledge in fundamental glacial geomorphology to better understand how the landscape functions. 
  • Develop a clear understanding of the core principles behind a geomorphic approach.
  • Work through specific landform challenges through collaborative problem-solving.
  • Learn about the unique considerations for designing in cold climates. 

Themes

  • Geomorphology fundamentals
  • Principles of geomorphic landform design
  • Geomorphic landform design implementation
  • Real-world examples
  • Problem setting and solving current challenges

Preliminary Program*

*Program is subject to change. Check this web page for updates.

Presenters

Neeltje Slingerland
National Mine Closure Lead (Canada)
WSP, Canada

As a mine closure specialist, geoscientist, and landscape architect, Neeltje has completed geomorphic landform designs for mine waste structures at the prefeasibility, feasibility, and detailed design stages. A proponent of building robust yet flexible landforms, she has previously developed methods for integrating winter conditions to the CAESAR-Lisflood hydro-dynamic landscape evolution model, for improved assessment of landform performance. Neeltje has written and reviewed integrated mine closure and reclamation plans to support permit applications, corporate planning, and economic assessments for projects and mines in Canada and elsewhere.

Matt Baida
Co-Founder, Geomorphic Designer & Landscape Architect
VAST Landscape Architecture, Sweden

Matt is a landscape architect with a passion for recreating sustainable landscapes after mining. This allows him to do his bit to positively impact the world. As a co-founder of VAST, a Swedish boutique consultancy specialising in landform design, he helps companies such as LKAB recreate their landscape and in the process achieving their closure goals.

Frida Holst
COO & Co-Founder
VAST Landscape Architecture, Sweden

Frida is a landscape architect with a degree from Uppsala University in Sweden, where she cultivated a strong foundation in design thinking and communication. As a co-founder of VAST, she brings her expertise to mine closure and landform design, collaborating with Swedish mining industry leaders to transform post-mining sites into thriving, functional landscapes. Frida’s innovative approach combines geomorphic landform design with a human-centered design perspective, ensuring that the spaces she helps to create are not only environmentally resilient but also meaningful and beneficial.