Valéry Safarian on Mining, Insurance, and Regulation in Complex Markets

Valéry Safarian, a Board Advisor and Shareholders Advisor at SFA, dedicates much of his work to supporting operational resilience, particularly in regions with rapidly developing regulatory environments that demand strict compliance.

Adapting to these regulatory environments has helped Safarian gain perspective in observing compliance at the board and field levels. This dual perspective has also provided him with valuable insight regarding coordinating with stakeholders with varying degrees of influence, making him a much-needed leader and advisor in his industry.

A Mindset Shaped by Adversity

It is often said that learning comes from doing; such has been the case for Safarian, as much of his experience comes from operating within quickly growing markets like Africa and the Middle East. Regulations in these regions have become stronger over time, necessitating serious reconsideration as to what compliance means and why it matters.

Rather than view compliance as an afterthought, Safarian sees it as an important foundation that supports operational stability and stakeholder confidence. Compliance has also served as a leading motivator for coordination between local and international stakeholders, as both groups value stability but may implement it in different ways.

Helping Theory Meet Practice

Safarian often oversees operations from both groups, noting that international stakeholders examine compliance in a fairly theoretical fashion while local stakeholders approach the issue from a more preventative point of view. He has explained that, while both efforts are important, local groups often do more to ensure prevention is not theoretical, thereby contributing to lasting developments that maintain their impact for longer.

His board-level perspective has shown him that a broader view of compliance still matters, however, particularly when it comes to examining entire markets to identify needs that may not be as apparent at the field level. Notably, the opposite can sometimes be true, making his experience in both spheres all the more valuable.

In some cases, detailed knowledge of local compliance nuances matters more than distant awareness. It’s especially valuable when rules shift quickly, and you need to respond in real time. Safarian has experienced similar circumstances, most notably in Africa and the Middle East. He found that their complexity can be managed, but only with a deep understanding of local regulations and resources.

The Importance of Long-Term Resilience

Safarian ultimately found that structure, clarity, and long-term resilience mattered more than short-term reactivity in building preventative measures that last. Adaptability in the short term worked well enough while he was still determining how best to approach the operational environments. But he soon learned that this approach could not sustain operations in a meaningful way.

The skills he has obtained both as a Board Advisor and as a ground-level observer similarly taught him the distinction between reaction versus preparation. By observing from multiple perspectives and thought processes, Valéry Safarian developed a career built on well-informed coordination and using learned experience to create long-term strategies.