Superior Mayor Mila Besich was a featured speaker at the Phoenix Global Forum, held on May 13 at the Phoenix Convention Center. This important annual event, now in its third year, discussed emerging industries (energy, advanced manufacturing, advanced air mobility, autonomous mobility, quantum computing and AI), connected business and community leaders from around the world and examined the Phoenix Metro Area’s role as a vibrant hub for semiconductors, biosciences, aerospace, space economy, sustainability and defense.
Mayor Besich spoke alongside Victoria Peacey, President and General Manager of Resolution Copper; Kray Luxbacher, Executive Director and Head of University of Arizona; and Jordan Rose, Founder and President of Rose Law Group. The session, “Securing Critical Inputs for Global Strategic Resilience,” discussed the critical role copper plays in electrification, power grids, electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing, defense systems and digital infrastructure. Mayor Besich and her fellow panelists addressed how domestic copper production has become central to U.S. economic security and industrial competitiveness, how responsible copper extraction can support environmental integrity and how the mining industry and communities can and should work together to maximize the benefits of this industry while minimizing community and environmental impacts.
Just 40 minutes from the Phoenix Metro Area, Superior is the gateway to Arizona’s Copper Corridor, one of the world’s most significant copper-producing regions.



