Eric Hikade

Eric Hikade is a Principal Engineer - Processing at Rio Tinto, bringing extensive expertise in metallurgical engineering, project management, and continuous improvement. Prior to this role, Eric served as Chief Metallurgist at Neo Solutions, Inc., and held various positions at Cliffs Natural Resources and the U.S. Navy, where they showcased leadership in operations and technical sales. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Mineral Processing from Michigan Technological University. With a foundation in Six Sigma methodologies, they have consistently driven efficiency and quality improvements across multiple disciplines in the mining industry.