Why Is Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes the Name to Watch in Critical Minerals?

In the high-stakes world of critical minerals—where geopolitics, defense, and green energy collide—Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes is a name you can’t ignore. With a razor-sharp mind, a knack for connecting the dots between policy, capital, and projects, and a LinkedIn feed that reads like a masterclass in industry foresight, she’s carving out a reputation as a U.S. critical minerals leader who doesn’t just follow trends—she sets them. Buckle up, because this is a woman who’s not just playing the game; she’s rewriting the rulebook.

Zumwalt-Forbes isn’t your average energy and mining exec. She’s a strategic dynamo, blending boardroom savvy with a journalist’s nose for what’s next. Take her recent LinkedIn post about the $150 billion defense reconciliation package wending its way through Congress. While the talking heads fixate on shipbuilding and missile defense, she’s zeroing in on the sleeper hit: critical minerals. Tungsten, antimony, rare earths, cobalt, titanium, lithium—these aren’t just elements on a periodic table; they’re the backbone of next-gen defense systems, AI, and weaponry. “Billions are earmarked for munitions, supplier expansion, and critical mineral stockpiling,” she writes, cutting through the noise with precision. Her advice to industry? Don’t sleep on this. Engage now, track appropriations, and flag supply chain gaps before the dollars hit the ground. It’s the kind of actionable insight that separates the players from the spectators.

But Zumwalt-Forbes isn’t just a domestic powerhouse—she’s got her eyes on the global stage. Her take on Australia’s A$1.8 billion (~US$1.2 billion) critical minerals initiative is a case study in her ability to ask the questions that matter. While others might cheer the headline, she’s digging into the details: What materials will Australia stockpile? How will they balance offtakes with strategic reserves? Will concentrates be exported or processed domestically? And, with a nod to the market’s realities, she points out that $1.2 billion is a sledgehammer in rare earths but a mere nudge in bulkier markets like nickel and lithium. “This is exactly the kind of bold, market-making move the world needs more of,” she says, with a warmth that reveals her soft spot for Australia, where she’s done business for years. It’s classic Zumwalt-Forbes: enthusiastic, incisive, and always three steps ahead.

What makes her stand out isn’t just her expertise—it’s her ability to bridge worlds. She’s as comfortable dissecting congressional budgets as she is navigating international supply chains. Her LinkedIn posts aren’t just updates; they’re dispatches from the front lines of an industry at a tipping point. Whether she’s urging U.S. firms to get ahead of defense spending or probing Australia’s strategic moves, she’s got a knack for spotting the undercurrents that will shape tomorrow’s headlines. And she’s not afraid to call it like she sees it: “Waiting until the dollars hit the ground will be too late.”

In an era where critical minerals are the new oil—powering everything from electric vehicles to hypersonic missiles—Zumwalt-Forbes is the kind of leader the world needs. She’s not just connecting policy, capital, and projects; she’s building the future, one sharp insight at a time. Keep an eye on her. If the critical minerals game has a rock star, Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes is it. And she’s just getting started.