Frank Abbott joined the Harmony board as non-executive director in 1994, and was appointed financial director in 1997. In 2004 he was appointed financial director of African Rainbow Minerals Limited, and resigned as such during 2009. He was reappointed financial director of Harmony in February 2012. Frank joined the Rand Mines Group in 1981, where he obtained broad financial management experience at an operational level. He was a director of various listed mining companies and currently serves as a non-executive director on the board of African Rainbow Minerals Limited.

Ntsiki Adonisi-Kgame is an executive in ENSafrica’s natural resources and environment department. She specialises in all aspects of natural resources and environmental law. She is an admitted attorney, notary public and conveyancer of the High Court of South Africa. She has a holistic perspective on mining matters due to her former position as general counsel for a leading mining group, where she was responsible for the group’s entire legal function. She acts for a wide range of mining companies in all mineral commodity sectors, including the base and precious metals, coal, rare earths, sand and diamonds sectors. Ntsiki’s experience covers a broad range of areas, including mergers and acquisitions; conducting mining due diligences; execution and registration of mining titles; advising on the integrity, security of tenure and variation of mining titles; and structuring, drafting, negotiating and reviewing various types of agreements, from project inception to execution. She has experience in disputes in the mining sector, including judicial review of administrative decisions. She also advises on aspects of mineral royalties, environmental aspects of mining law and stakeholders in the mining sector. Ntsiki’s experience further includes all aspects of regulatory work in the mining industry, for listed and unlisted senior, mid-tier and junior companies. Ntsiki has authored and co-authored a number of topical mining law articles in various publications.

Jon Andrews obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from the Witwatersrand in 1983. After working at Baragwanath and One Military hospitals, he joined the mining industry as a bursar medical officer with the Gencor Group in 1985. Jon has over 30 years’ experience in clinical practice and management in the industry. He has represented the industry in numerous committees and associations and is a director of Zimplats Private Mines Ltd and the Rand Mutual Assurance and Rand Mutual Life companies.

Stephen is the Head of Equities at ABSA Asset Management and has been with ABAM for seven years. He has twenty-four years of industry experience. Previously he was with LIBAM, FTNIB and ABSA Capital.

Sacha Backes is a Senior Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, mandated to provide financing and support to companies investing in frontier and emerging markets. In the mining sector, IFC can provide financing for activities across the project cycle, from equity for advanced exploration and studies, all the way to debt for project developments and expansions, as well as hybrid instruments for intermediate stages. Sacha has been with IFC for 9 years - three years in London focusing on business development for mining, and oil and gas, four years at IFC’s headquarter office in Washington DC focusing on mining and infrastructure transactions, and now two years in IFC’s office in Johannesburg office focusing on mining investments across Africa. Prior to joining IFC, Sacha worked in Laos for seven years where he launched and managed several rural infrastructure development projects. Sacha has a PhD in Physics from Cambridge University and an MBA from INSEAD.

Praveen Baijnath is a Chemical Engineer and MBA graduate with more than 30 years’ experience in minerals beneficiation, refining and smelter operations, and the chemical process industry. Praveen was appointed as Chief Executive of Rand Refinery on 1 June 2015. He is also an Executive Director on the Rand Refinery Board. His other board directorships include Prestige Bullion and Chairman of the Ekurhuleni Jewellery Project (SMME Development) and he remained until December 2020 as a non-independent, non-executive director on the Delta EMD Limited Board. He was (2009-2015) Group CEO of previously JSE-listed Delta EMD which refined and beneficiated South Africa’s manganese to electrolytic manganese di-oxide.  He also served as CEO of Gold Reef Speciality Chemicals. His previous roles spanning a period of 20 years were with Huntsman Corporation Titanium(di-oxide business) in process and chemical engineering, plant management and executive management roles in operations, EHS, technical and strategic development.

Stewart Bailey oversees the investor relations programme for AngloGold Ashanti, the world’s largest emerging market gold producer, covering debt and equity investors in the US, South Africa, the UK, Europe and Asia. He is also a key member of AngloGold Ashanti’s capital markets team, which has successfully completed debt issues of more than $3bn since 2010. Stewart also has oversight of AngloGold Ashanti’s communications programme, which includes engagement with financial news media in South Africa, the US and the UK. He is a former financial journalist with Bloomberg LP in New York and Johannesburg.

Eunomix™ is led by Claude Baissac. Claude is a specialist in sustainable development, growth and strategy with over 20 years of practice advising government, industry, and international organisations. His combination of expertise, at the nexus of policy, strategy and research, provides him with a unique perspective on the conditions for sustainable growth in complex societies. His clients have included most international donors, many governments, and blue chip companies. It has been his ambition to serve as a bridge between these sectors of society. One of the key thrusts of his career has been the problem of diversification and industrialisation in Africa, and its impact on the crucial need for employment creation, poverty alleviation and social capital enhancement. Claude is a recognised expert on special economic zones, and was President of the World Economic Zones Association between 2011 and 2014. Claude has a strong track record on the relationship between natural resources and sustainable growth, given the central role these play on the continent. Another key thrust has been his work with corporates as a specialist in country risk management, engaging in scenario planning, strategy and proactive risk management. For several years Claude was involved in corporate integrity management. In 2001 Claude was acting Deputy CEO for Air Afrique, an experience that motivated his subsequent involvement in risk management. Claude has solid expertise in political economy: the interface between institutions of political power and economic growth. In this field, Claude has extensively worked on the issues of state capacity, fragility and their implication for the economy and business.
Finally, Claude has been committed to solid political, economic and strategy research throughout his career, publishing extensively either in my personal capacity or through Eunomix. He started his career in teaching, first as a substitute teacher in Reunion Island, then as a lecturer at Northern Arizona University.

Mr Frans Baleni is the past General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, South Africa’s largest trade Union, a role he has held since 2006. He started his career in the mining industry in 1979 and a year later was elected a Shop Steward. In 1988, he became Branch Chairman at the Western Holdings Mine in Welkom. Frans then joined the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM’s) arm and held a variety of posts until his election in 2006 as General Secretary. He was a member of the JB Marks Bursary Trust and established its mandate – the provision of sustainable funding to support the education of NUM members and their dependents. As Chairman of the Mineworkers Investment Trust, he oversaw assets in excess of R5b. During the 1980’s joined the UDF (United Democratic Front) in its battle against apartheid. In the early 1990’s, he served on the negotiating team at CODESA (the Convention for a Democratic South Africa) seeking to level the political ‘playing field’. As a board member, Mr Baleni brings sound commercial, risk, governance and compliance skills together with his expertise in health and safety, government relations, education and training, energy sector, stakeholder management and collective bargaining processes.

Vukosi Danisa Baloyi (21) is currently a student at the University of Pretoria; where she is doing her fourth year in mining engineering. Her journey of academic excellence started at a very young age. And since then, she has not stopped accelerating. She has earned herself a title of being the top second year student, and was recognised by golden key international society that honours university academic excelling students. One of her latest awards was being honoured as the best student in geology in her third year of studies.  Danisa believes in leadership; both in her mining career and in motivation for personal development. Danisa is on her way to publish her first book titled Powered to Empower.

Rachael Bartels is the Managing Director of Accenture’s global Chemicals, Minerals and Sustainable Materials Practice.  She spends most of her time working with senior executives on transformational and disruptive change and has more than 30 years of experience in consulting, working primarily in chemicals, mining and energy. Passionate about harnessing new technologies and processes to drive innovation and create growth for clients, Rachael has been instrumental in developing new approaches to worker safety, and has created several new business areas for Accenture. These include how chemical companies can use startups to change how they interact with their clients, speeding up capital programmes and delivering new customer experiences in B2B. Rachael is increasingly focused on how these industries leveraging new technologies can enable the circular economy. She has authored a number of papers on digital transformation and on the circular economy. Rachael has a degree in Politics and Economics from Smith College, MA and joined Accenture in 1988, becoming  partner in 2000. She is also committed to women’s education  and is trustee emerita of Smith College. 

Rachael Bartels is a client account lead, responsible for helping the world’s leading companies (with a focus on chemicals and natural resources) embrace change to create value for people, communities and shareholders. Rachael has over 30 years of experience in consulting, having led projects addressing sustainability, supply chain, business and operations strategy and customer relationship management. A dedicated advocate for inclusion and diversity, Rachael sponsors Accenture’s Women’s Executive Leadership programme in Europe and has been a sponsor of the company’s pride initiatives. Rachael is passionate about harnessing new technologies and process innovations to drive sustainability and business growth. She has been instrumental in developing new business areas for Accenture, including new approaches to worker safety. She is a frequent speaker at chemicals and mining industry conferences and events. She has also published numerous articles on disruptions reshaping the chemicals and mining sectors, particularly the emerging opportunities for sustainable revenue streams in the circular economy. Rachael has held numerous leadership roles at Accenture, including Industry Managing Director for Chemicals and Natural Resources. She has also served on Accenture’s global and European management committees with responsibility for developing the talent and offerings of Accenture’s function networks and programmes. Rachael joined Accenture in 1988 and became a Managing Director in 2009. She holds a degree in politics and economics from Smith College in the Northeast United States. She is based in London.

Phillip Barton was appointed Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM) in September 2010. He began his career with De Beers in 1988 as Internal Auditor at the Cullinan Diamond Mine and became Senior Audit Manager, Global Operations, in 1997. He has since served as Financial Manager, Group Exploration, Group Manager, Internal Audit, and Finance Director for DBCM. He holds a degree in accounting is a registered Associate General Accountant and completed his MBA in 2000. He serves on several boards and is a trustee of the De Beers Fund and the Ponahalo De Beers Fund and chairs the Key Employee Trusts.

Born and raised in Africa, he left South Africa in 1985 and gained his professional experience in the United States, Canada and the emerging markets of Latin America, Central Asia, and Africa. He holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Cape Town, a M.Sc. from the University of London, Imperial College (D.I.C.), and an MBA from INSEAD, France. Following his MBA, John spent 10 years with the International Finance Corporation of Washington, D.C., where he was appointed Principal Investment Officer. While at IFC he was seconded to the Development Bank of Southern Africa in 1998 to head up the Private Sector Investment Unit of the bank, after which he spent 6 years as Vice President in the private equity team of AIG Investments. Since 2007 he has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Jonah Capital Group, headed by Sam Jonah KBE, OSG.

Mr Baxter was appointed CEO of the Minerals Council in 2015. He has 29 years of high-level advocacy and strategy experience in the business and mining sectors. He was involved in the first mineral policy discussions with the ANC in 1992 and in most of the significant minerals policy discussions since then.  He has participated in, and often led, the business negotiation teams on a range of issues such as the 2002 Mining Charter, the 1998 Energy Policy White Paper, the 1997 Skills Development Act, the 2009 Royalty Act, the 2010 revised Mining Charter, etc. He has participated in all the Presidential Job Summit and Investment Conferences, and he has played a leadership role in encouraging government to focus on the issues that drive South Africa’s investment competitiveness. He previously chaired the Business Unity South Africa’s (BUSA) Economic Policy Committee and Economic Growth Task Team. He is the Founding Chairman of the World Platinum Investment Council. He recently participated in President Ramaphosa’s 7-a-side NEDLAC leadership team looking at how to revive the economy post COVID-19. He has played a key leadership role in rejuvenating the brand of the Minerals Council and brings material leadership, governance, strategy, investment, and transformation skills to the table.

He is a member of the Minerals Council Board, the BUSA Board, the TEBA Fund Trust Board of Trustees and he chairs the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC). He is Chairman of the Associations Coordination Group of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and is the current Chairman of the Mining Industry Association of Southern Africa (MIASA). In 2020, Mr Baxter was the winner of the Mining Review Africa, 2020 Mining Thought Leader of the Year award. The article states “Fully committed to the mining industry and a person who pulls no punches when it comes to addressing pertinent matters. These words aptly describe Minerals Council South Africa CEO Roger Baxter.” In 2018, Mr Baxter was awarded the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s (SAIMM) Brigadier Stokes Platinum medal for his contribution to the South African mining sector. Since the launch of the MiningMX “Rainmaker and Pot-stirrers” publication, Mr Baxter has been listed as one of Africa’s top 100 most influential people in the mining industry.

Vuslat Bayoglu is the founder and executive chairman of Canyon Coal, a mid-tier coal mining company. He is the managing director of Menar Holding which has controlling stakes in Canyon Coal, Minerano Resources, Zululand Anthracite Colliery and Sitatunga Resources. He has an honours degree in mechanical engineering and 15 years’ experience in the mining industry. He is a hands-on investor and his investment company focuses on developing mines through exploring greenfield/brownfield projects and acquiring operational assets excluding opportunities in deep level gold mining and diamonds.

Brett joined RCF in 2009 and has spent the last 12 years working in various investment offices of RCF across three continents. He has more than 18 years of technical and commercial experience in the development of mining assets across the globe and is currently responsible for managing a diverse mix of assets within the private equity group. Brett is also a Non-Executive Director of Global Advanced Metals.

François Beaudry is an equity investment analyst at Capital Group with research responsibility for European utilities and global mining. He has been at Capital Group for three years. Prior to joining Capital, Frank worked as a policy advisor to the Minister of Finance of Canada, where he was responsible for financial sector policy, and as a litigation associate at Sidley Austin LLP in New York. He holds an MBA from London Business School, as well as a bachelor of civil law and common law from McGill University. Frank is based in London.

Warren Beech is head of the mining sector at Hogan Lovells in Johannesburg. He provides multi-disciplinary legal and related services, primarily to the mining, construction and engineering industries. This includes health and safety, environmental, commercial, litigation, criminal and employment law, as well as related services such as training, auditing and consulting. He consults locally and internationally, and has represented mining and non-mining companies in more than 1800 fatal inquiries and inquests arising out of incidents and accidents. He has conducted inquiries in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act for a number of clients. Warren represented Goldfields SA at the Leon Commission of Inquiry on Health and Safety in the SA Mining Industry. He represented the mining industry at Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on the Mine Health and Safety Act and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. Warren is recognised for his contribution to mining industry by several industry bodies, including associations affiliated to the Chamber of Mines. He has participated in various industry-specific bodies on developments, including legislative amendments, at the request of the regulators (for example the chief inspector at the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of Labour). Warren is a frequent speaker at local and international seminars and conferences, such as the Mining Indaba in South Africa, the Prospectors and Diggers Association of Canada (PDAC) and the SA/Canada Chamber of Business.

Ann Bernstein heads the Centre for Development and Enterprise, South Africa. CDE is regarded by many including the London Financial Times as the country’s leading policy centre for social and economic development. In addition, CDE has a special focus on the role of business and its contribution to development. Ann was a member of the Transition Team and then the Board of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (1994 – 2001). In 2005 she was a Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, Washington DC. In 2007 she joined the Board of the Brenthurst Foundation. In 2008 and 2009 she was an invited faculty member at the World Economic Forum in Davos and participates in their Global Agenda Council’s Initiative. Her book, The Case for Business in Developing Economies was published by Penguin in 2010. She is a regular public speaker and has been published by newspapers around the country, often appearing on radio and TV. Her many other publications and books include Migration and Refugee Policies (with M. Weiner, London, 1999), Business and Democracy: Cohabitation or Contradiction? (with P.L. Berger, London, 1998), and Policy Making in A New Democracy: South Africa’s Challenges for the 21st century (CDE,1999).

Professor Nick Binedell is a professor in the area of strategy and leadership at the Gordon Institute of Business Science of the University of Pretoria. He was the founding Dean of GIBS (2000-2015). After a career in business, including a period as a general manager, he began an academic path. He completed his PhD at the University of Washington in Seattle. He was invited to establish a new business school for the University of Pretoria to be based in Johannesburg, South Africa. His mandate was to establish a world class business school that would meet the needs of the 21st century for South African business and business leaders. Professor Binedell’s key area of interest is in the area of strategic leadership with particular focus on strategy in complex environments. He is a frequent public speaker in South Africa and abroad, is a visiting lecturer at the Rotterdam School of Management (for the past 18 years) and has been a consultant to companies in South Africa and internationally. He was recently a Visiting Professor at London Business School. In June 2015 the Academy of International Business elected him as global Business Educator of the year.

Dr Tobias Bischof-Niemz is the Centre Manager: Energy at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, where he leads the establishment of an integrated energy research centre and a growing team of scientists and engineers. Before joining the CSIR, he was with South Africa's electric utility Eskom in the Energy Planning Unit, where he was part of the team that developed the long-term power-capacity expansion plan (Integrated Resource Plan - IRP) for South Africa.
Dr. Bischof-Niemz is member of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Energy (MACE) that advises Minister Joemat-Pettersson on long-term, strategic energy topics.

Chris Bishop is the managing editor of Forbes Africa, which launched in October 2011. He has spent 33 years in journalism. He has tackled print, radio and TV and spent 20 years reporting on the African story. In 2011, Bishop had won South Africa’s ‘Sanlam Award for Excellence in Financial Journalism’ and in 1988 he had won the ‘Sir David Beattie Award’ for exposing a cover-up of an assassination attempt on the Queen. Bishop has reported for the BBC in London; CNBC Africa; SKY News; TVNZ and the SABC where he was also national news editor and senior executive producer of TV News. In 2013, Chris Bishop took the prestigious “Special Editor of the Year Award” at the annual PICA Awards event.

Hein joined Price Waterhouse’s Pretoria office in 1984 and, following his articles, spent two years with the firm in the United States before returning to the Pretoria office in 1989, specialising in serving multi-national clients. He was admitted to the partnership in 1992. He transferred to the Sunninghill office as Mining Group Leader in 2001 and assumed the Audit Leader role for Gauteng in 2005. Hein has a proud track record of growing the PwC business at large and the mining industry group in particular. He spent some time as the firm’s Africa Mining Industry Leader, and at the same time served as the Southern Africa firm’s Chief Executive Officer. Hein was voted onto the Global Board of PwC in 2013 (all 10,000 partners of PwC have a vote in electing an 18 person Board to govern PwC globally), a role that he filled until July 2015. On 1 July 2015 Hein assumed the role of PwC’s Africa Territory Senior Partner.

Robin has been in the environmental, social and sustainability field since 2000 as a consultant with a focus on the mining, oil and gas and infrastructure sectors as well as with financial institutes. He has worked across Africa and parts of the Middle East.

His key experience is in integrated management systems, Environmental Social and Governance analysis, carbon footprint calculations, environmental and social risks, water efficiency mechanisms, environmental authorizations, environmental monitoring, auditing and feasibility studies, international lending requirements, mine closure, and the environmental and social license to operate.

He has taken on the role of a sustainability specialist within IsoMetrix with the designation of Sustainability Executive.

Wickus is the Africa Mining & Metals Sector Leader for EY and an experienced partner with 20 years’ experience serving clients in the sector. Wickus is a Chartered Accountant and accredited to audit JSE listed, TSX listed and US SEC registered companies. He has worked closely with several mining & metals companies, ranging from some of the largest multinationals to the mid tiers, juniors, explorers and mining service providers operating across the African continent. He spends much of his time with clients evaluating prospective investments across Africa. He has a passion for working closely with clients to finding practical solutions to complex challenges. As sector leader, Wickus ensures that the various teams of professionals, located in the various mining hubs across Africa, consistently offer high quality in-country expertise and services to their clients.

Having joined Harmony as new business manager in 1995, Graham’s previous positions include that of chief executive of Harmony Australia. A geologist by training, Graham has more than 37 years’ experience in the field and in an operational capacity at a number of South African gold mines. Graham serves as a director on Harmony’s subsidiary companies.

Mark was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Barrick effective January 1, 2019, following completion of the merger with Randgold Resources. Previously, since its incorporation in 1995, Mark was the Chief Executive Officer of Randgold following his pioneering exploration work in West Africa. He subsequently led Randgold's growth through the discovery and development of high quality assets into a major international gold mining business. Mark played a pivotal role in promoting the emergence of a sustainable mining industry in Africa, and has a proven track record of delivering significant shareholder value. During his career, Mark has held board positions at a number of global gold mining companies. He holds a Doctorate in Geology from Natal University in South Africa.

Stuart Brown is currently the President and CEO of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc, a Canadian-listed diamond mining and development company that owns 49% of the Gahcho Kue mine situated in the Northwest Territories. Stuart has nearly 30 years of experience in the diamond industry, where he has gained a wealth of experience across all aspects throughout the diamond pipeline from exploration, mine development and operations to the selling and marketing of diamonds. This experience has been gained through working for De Beers in many roles for 20 years.  Prior to leaving De Beers in 2011 Stuart was the CFO as well as the joint acting CEO for the De Beers Group.  Stuart was also the CEO of publicly-listed Firestone Diamonds Plc, a diamond producer in Lesotho, where he was responsible for securing the US$225 million funding and building the team that delivered the successful construction and transition to production of Firestone’s Liqhobong diamond mine.  Stuart has an enviable track record of leading business transformation to develop lean, agile and high-performing organisations. Stuart holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science from the University of South Africa.

Sandra Burmeister is a founder member of Landelahni in 1996, the first black and women-owned executive search firm in South Africa and the Amrop partner from 1997 - 2017. Sandra has 22 years’ experience in executive search, working with blue chip companies in SA and multinationals across sectors. She led the Africa expansion, opening offices in Nairobi and Lagos and the change to N2Growth Africa in 2018. Sandra led the Global Board Practice for Amrop for five years, expanding the board services offered by partners around the globe, whilst developing a substantial board practice in South Africa, placing over 300 board directors in sectors spanning mining, electricity, water, roads, construction, property and asset management, including companies with listings across multiple jurisdictions (JSE, FTSE, NASDAQ and ASX). Sandra also led the Global Mining, Energy and Industrials Practice Group for 10 years, which offers multi-sector executive search experience placing executives across mining, large industrials, SOCs, development finance institutions and private equity firms in agriculture and alternative energy. More recently she has working to build the Africa Fintech practice. Sandra is a founder of Africa Board Ready Women and The All Africa Employee Engagement Awards/Inspiring Workplaces. N2Growth is a global leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 40 locations worldwide and serving more than 70% of the Fortune 500. N2Growth has been named in the Forbes Top Search Firms list for the fifth year in a row.

John Capel’s background is firmly rooted in the world of work, formally as Secretary of the South African Catholics Bishops Conference- Church and Work Commission, that supported the early trade unions, now largely Cosatu and acted as policy advice and advocacy officer. Before this he worked in National Union of Metal Workers of SA, as organiser, educator, negotiator and quasi legal work in the 80s and early 90s. John’s education and critical thinking was developed in the YCW (Young Christian Workers) movement 1979 to 1986. Nelson Mandela honoured the YCW recognising the role it played in the struggle at it World Council meeting in SA in 1995. John is qualified in labour and human resource development and have written widely on CSR, labour, economic justice and a number of critical development issue. He has been published in over 100 publications and quoted in thousands of others. John is viewed as an expert in CSR and corporate accountability.

Ms Carolus is the Executive Chairperson of Peotona Group Holdings, a women owned and managed company, that puts back 2/3 of all their profit into communities where they operate and draw their workforce from. This money is used for education and enterprise development in those communities.  She is a director on the boards of a number of listed and unlisted companies including De Beers and Investec. She is currently Chairperson of Gold Fields, an international mining company. She also served as Chairperson of the Board of South African Airways. Ms Carolus has also previously held senior leadership positions in the liberation movement in South Africa. She worked closely with Nelson Mandela, and helped to negotiate the new South African constitution. She served as South Africa’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1998 to 2001 and was the CEO of SA Tourism from 2001 to 2004. She was Chairperson of South African National Parks Board for six years. She also works with NGOs focused on young people at risk, conflict prevention and conservation & biodiversity, including Soul City, WWF and International Crisis Group. She was appointed as a trustee of the British Museum by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. In 2014, she was awarded The French National Order of Merit by the Government of France.

Wray Carvelas is the DRA Group CEO, based in Toronto. Wray has over 25 years’ experience in gold, copper, diamonds, iron ore, nickel and platinum. Before moving to North America, Wray was DRA’s Director of Projects for Africa, managing a project portfolio of five billion dollars. Wray has significant experience in operations management and project delivery and is particularly skilled in fast-tracking large scale projects. From 2011 until his appointment as group CEO in 2016, Wray focused on growing DRA’s business in the Americas, both organically as well as through acquisition. Wray is a metallurgist and has an MBA degree, adding formal management training to his significant practical leadership experience.

Fred is Director of the Wits Mining Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, and the former Head of the School of Mining Engineering at Wits.  He has qualifications in Mine Surveying, Mining Engineering and Law.  He is Fellow and Past President of the Institute for Mine Surveyors and a member of the South African Institute for Mining and Metallurgy, where he served as Chairman of the Samrec Samval Committee developing and maintaining the Southern Africa’s Codes on the reporting of mineral resources, reserves and asset values until the end of 2015. He serves on the Davis Mining Tax Sub-Committee for Mining, making recommendations on how the SA mining tax framework could be improved for inclusive growth and development.  Fred has published internationally on mineral economics, mine surveying and mining law and policy matters and serves on the Editorial Boards of the South African Journal of Geomatics, Resources Policy, SAIMM Journal, Mining Mirror and African Mining.  He is also a co-author of the World Bank Mining Royalties book, which is a comprehensive guide on the collection and management of mining royalties. Fred established the Digital Mining Laboratory at Wits University, which hosts a research group working on 21st century mining technologies and practices. Current research projects within the Digital Mine include technology development for underground positioning, mapping, navigation, detection of abnormalities, remote inspections, and visual environmental and rock monitoring for real-time risk management.  These are meant as a contribution to zero harm to mine workers and maximum benefit for mines.

Emma Chapman has been the Head of Investor Relations for Anglo American Platinum for six years, having moved from the Anglo American plc Investor Relations team. She previously worked for Citigroup in mergers & acquisitions and latterly in mining corporate broking in London. She has worked on a number of transactions including the Glencore and Xstrata merger, as well as the sale of Lehman Brothers IBD and equities divisions to Nomura. She is a qualified chartered accountant, has a BsC(Hons) in Economics and has recently completed a fast track executive MBA programme at Harvard Business School.

George is a portfolio manager and metals and mining specialist in the Thematic Equity team within Multi-Asset. He joined the firm in 2007. George is a portfolio manager for the Global Gold Fund and co-portfolio manager for the diversified Natural Resources strategies. He covers all aspects of metals and mining supply and demand including, most recently, the impact of renewable energy and electric vehicles on metals demand. Prior to this, he was a market analyst for three years at BHP Billiton, working in The Hague and Singapore. He was recruited to BHP Billiton in 2004 from CRU (Commodities Research Unit), an independent metals/chemicals related research company based in London. At CRU, he spent three years in the Carbon Steel team and five years as a Research Manager – Copper, providing in-depth research and forecasts to the industry, banks and hedge funds.
George began his career in 1990 in operations at British Steel Strip Products, working for three years in the Tinplate division. George graduated from the University of Oxford in 1989 with an Honours degree in Classics and in 1995 was awarded an MBA from Warwick University.

Tanya was appointed to Lonmin’s Executive Committee in January 2018 as Executive Vice President: Corporate Strategy, Investor Relations and Corporate Communication. Tanya joined Lonmin as Global Head of Investor Relations in April 2010 from Smith's Corporate Advisory in London where she was Executive Director responsible for Corporate Finance. Prior to that Tanya was Vice President - Corporate Finance at JPMorgan Cazenove, based in London and responsible for South African Corporate clients and London listed mining companies. She has extensive experience in finance and strategy having held senior management positions in a number of companies during her 30-year career in industry, corporate finance and auditing. Tanya, is a Chartered Accountant, having trained with Coopers and Lybrand.

Paul Chimbodza is an Executive Director of Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, the developers of Africa’s second largest drill proven hard rock Arcadia Lithium project in Zimbabwe. He is also the Executive Chairman of Geo Associates (Pvt) Ltd, a junior resources company that holds an oil and gas exploration licence over the Cabora Bassa Basin that has been historically explored by Mobil Oil. Paul is holder of a BSc Geology Honours degree, and is an Associate Member of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM). Paul has held executive positions of increasing responsibility including General Manager Exploration at Metallon Gold, non-Executive Director of the Hwange Colliery Company, Executive Director at Falcon Gold, Executive Director for Wickbury Investments, the owners of Dinhidza vermiculite mine.  He is a former member of the Zimbabwe Mining Affairs Board, a member of the Chamber of Mines Executive Committee and sits on the boards of a number of public and private companies in Zimbabwe and abroad.

Lloyd Christie is a director at ENSafrica in the natural resource law department. He specialises in mining and environmental law, with a focus on providing mineral resource regulatory advice, including advising on resource finance projects, disposals and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, black economic empowerment transactions, strategic planning in relation to green field operations, resource disputes and lobbying regulators. He also advises on environmental regulation to the waste, water, nuclear, mining, banking and other industries affected by environmental legislation.
Lloyd’s experience includes lobbying government regarding environmental fiscal reform and developing new fossil fuel-based, nuclear and renewable energy facilities and maximising carbon opportunities under international treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol. Lloyd has extensive experience in advising on environmental impact assessments, matters involving industrial decommissioning and land contamination, mine closure and rehabilitation, environmental law related dispute resolution, mine health and safety and community engagement. Lloyd has also acquired a particular expertise in nuclear regulation in South Africa advising the developer of third generation nuclear technology and has developed one of the leading carbon practices in South Africa, having advised on numerous Clean Development Mechanism projects.
Lloyd is a member of the Environmental Lawyers Association and the South African Clean Development Mechanism Association. He has also acted in the Labour Court, High Court and Magistrate’s Court. He co-authored the South African Country Chapter in the PLC Cross-border Environment Handbook 2010.
Lloyd is recognised as a leading lawyer by the following reputable rating agencies and their publication/s: Chambers and Partners Global Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers 2014, 2015, 2016 - Energy & Natural Resources: Mining (South Africa); Chambers and Partners Global Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers 2015 and 2016 - Environment (South Africa); The International Who’s Who of Mining Lawyers 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 (South Africa); The International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers 2015 & 2016 (South Africa); The Legal 500 Guide to Outstanding Lawyers 2015, 2016 – Mining

Zandile started her career as a mining operations specialist, advancing to a technical and management consultant with a distinguished proficiency in strategy and optimization. Her professional and people skills were honed over a 16-year period, expanding her seamless ability to formulate strategy at various levels, namely, corporate, business and functional. Zandile’s analytical frameworks range from critical questioning, gap studies, industry analysis, product-market matrix, product life cycles and SWOT analysis. She, naturally, journeys the strategy development process with executives and management, assisting in informing, shaping and supporting strategic decisions. Her commodity experience includes mineral sand, gold, iron ore, platinum, coal, copper, cobalt and manganese.

Ian has over 40 years’ experience in the mining industry, having previously been responsible for business development in AngloGold, CEO of both Gold Fields Ltd and AngloCoal between 1999 and 2009, and a former Executive Chairman of Petmin Ltd, a JSE mining company concentrating on bulk commodities 2010 - 2017.  Ian is Chairman of Black Rock World Mining Trust, a Non-Executive Director of Orica Ltd in Australia, a Senior lead Independent Director of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd, a Non-Executive Director at Endeavour Mining Corporation and an advisor to several other companies associated with the natural resources sector. In addition, Ian is Chairman of Conservation 360, a Botswana conservation NGO dealing with anti-poaching initiatives. He is a former Chairman of Leadership for Conservation in Africa 2007 – 2017, a not-for-profit organisation promoting sustainable employment opportunities linked to conservation projects across the African continent.

In the early 1980s, Colin was involved in South Africa’s change process and later in its constitutional transition. From 1989 until South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, he was an executive director for the Consultative Business Movement. Colin served in working groups of the multi-party talks, facilitated the International Mediation Forum and helped to negotiate the agreement to facilitate all parties’ participation in South Africa’s 1994 elections. In 1994, Colin became a senior consultant for public affairs at Standard Bank Investment Corporation (SBIC), where he was an advisor to the SBIC chairman. He was subsequently appointed director of public finance for SBIC’s Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank. In 1997, Colin relocated to London, where he became a vice president of energy, power and oil for J.P. Morgan’s Investment Banking Advisory Department.In 1996, Colin was nominated as one of the World Economic Forum’s Global Leaders for Tomorrow. He was also a recipient of Harvard Business School’s “Business Statesman Award” in 1994 and was named one of Euromoney's World Top Ten “Financing leaders for the 21st Century." Colin earned a BA in Architecture from the University of Witwatersrand in 1988. He is based in Johannesburg.

Fay Cranmer has more than 30 years of industry knowledge, language, relationships and deep understanding of where the value lies and how to deliver transformational change in complex organisations.  Having lived in the UK, South Africa, Canada and now Australia, Fay has both extensive industry and consulting experience, including Global CIO of Rio Tinto, CIO of Suncor Energy and Senior Executive at Sasol. In 2021, Fay returned to Accenture as Senior Managing Director, Industry X Lead and Natural Resources Industry Lead for Growth Markets.  She leads a group of over 3000 professionals across 20+ countries with a passion for improving the sustainability, productivity and safety of our clients through the effective development and application of data, intelligence and digital technologies in the operating and manufacturing core of our client businesses = making practical the concepts of digital transformation where it matters most, reinventing the way we produce and transport goods as well as the products we make and the impact they have on the planet.

A chemical engineer, registered as a Professional Engineer in South Africa and a Chartered Engineer in the UK, he spent 25 years in the mining industry with Anglo American, Samancor, Gencor, Billiton and BHP Billiton in various production management, technology development, project management and business development roles. He has experience in the gold, uranium, manganese, chrome, industrial minerals and base minerals industries. He has previously held the positions of Senior Consulting Metallurgist for Gengold, General Manager- Minerals Technology for Billiton and Vice President- Technology for BHP Billiton. He has served on the Boards of the Rand Refinery, Intergold, Nuclear Fuels Corporation of South Africa, Billiton Jersey and Alliance Copper.

Eric is a Managing Director at Accenture and looks after their Industry X.0 offerings across Africa.  He has over 13 years of mining production and planning experience and spent the last 4 years developing and implementing Industry X.0 solutions for large mining and energy organisations.  Eric has vast IoT experience and offers the ability to merge technology and practicability to the benefit of the client.Eric holds a bachelor’s in mining engineering from the University of Pretoria, an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch’s Business School and has a Manager’s Certificate of Competency for Coal Mines.  Eric is a member of SACMA and is an ECSA registered Engineer. Prior to joining Accenture, Eric worked for a large diversified resources company, where he held multiple production-related positions.  After managing the operations for one of their coal mining complexes, he transitioned into a group function, where he was responsible for the development and execution of the coal business’ optimisation department and digital strategy.

Frans Cronje is CEO of the IRR. He was educated at St Johns College in Houghton and the University of the Witwatersrand and holds a PHD in scenario planning from North West University. He served with the South African police, worked as a horse-riding instructor and later logger in the United States, and completed a year-long expedition that crossed the African continent from Cape Town to Cairo. He joined the IRR in 2004 and established its Centre For Risk Analysis which specialises in using scenarios to help business and government leaders make decisions about investment and policy in South Africa. He has presented scenarios to over 100 South African corporations and foreign investors. He is the author of A Time Traveller’s Guide To Our Next Ten Years (Tafelberg 2014) and A Time Traveller’s Guide To South Africa 2030 (Tafelberg April 2017). Over the past two years his scenarios have been presented to an estimated 20 000 people across three continents and have been influential in shaping investor perception towards South Africa. His work has been widely cited in the media from the Volksblad to the Wall Street Journal. He writes a column for Rapport newspaper.

Mark is an experienced executive with more than 45 years leading high performance teams across all aspects of technical, commercial and social business functions.  He is a proven business leader with almost 30 years in "C Suite” roles in globally diversified businesses, and served for 18 years in 3 different Chief Executive roles.  He is a qualified mining engineer and has a practical working knowledge of most of the commodities produced and sold across the globe.  Most recently he was the Chief Executive of Anglo American, a UK FTSE 30 globally diversified mining company, working with 100,000 employees. In his 9+ years at the helm of Anglo American, Mark led a significant transformation in the performance of the company.  In addition to delivering industry-leading improvements in safety, health and environment, he also guided the organisation in doubling productivity across the business, driving an average annualised Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of 22% for those 9+ years.  This performance was the best of the major diversified miners over the same timeframe.  The business was also recognised for its leadership in new technology programmes through its “FutureSmart” programme, which also underpinned its leading working in sustainable business practices.

Prior to joining Anglo American, he held the position of Chief Executive Officer at AngloGold Ashanti based in South Africa, and before that he was the Chief Operating Officer for Inco and then Vale’s global Nickel business, based in Canada. Mark is currently employed as a non-executive director with 2 major industrial companies and is actively involved in private equity projects, while dedicating time to both charitable and industry professional representative organisations.

Kieran Daly joined UBS as Co-Head EMEA Metals & Mining research in September 2015 and has been covering the SA mining sector as a top-rated analyst since 2007. Kieran, a mining engineer, previously spent 15 years working for Anglo American plc in its Coal Division where he had a number of roles in operations, commercial, business development and strategy.

Brian Dames is currently the Chief Executive of African Rainbow Energy & Power Pty Ltd (“AREP”), and the Former Chief Executive of Eskom Holdings SOC Limited, the national electricity utility in South Africa. AREP is a recently formed entity, established by its Founder and Chairman, Mr. Patrice Motsepe. AREP’s vision is to become a leading energy and power enterprise on the African continent. Brian started his career with Eskom in 1987 as the first black Graduate-in-Training at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant. The complexity and diversity of Eskom’s overall activities provided the opportunity for Brian to gain experience in the operations and management of a large national company. During his tenure at Eskom, Brian has held various positions in power stations and in the Eskom head office, including nuclear physicist at Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant, Divisional Information Manager, Engineering Manager and later Power Station Manager at coal-fired power plants, General Manager of the Nuclear Division, Managing Director of the Enterprises Division, Chief Executive Officer of one of Eskom’s subsidiaries, Eskom Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, and Chief Officer of Eskom’s Generation Business. Brian was appointed Chief Executive of Eskom on 1 July 2010 and held this position until March 2014. Brian plays a leading role in international and local business, is a member of the UN Secretary General’s and President of the World Bank’s High Level EXCO on Sustainable Energy For All initiative, as well as Non-Executive Director of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Nedbank Group. Brian is a committed family man. He is married to Stephney and the couple has two children, Christian and Nicole. Brian and Stephney love camping and the outdoors and are both keen golfers. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) [BSc (Hons)] from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa and a Master of Business Administration [MBA] from of Samford University in the USA. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Programme of the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and holds a Graduate Diploma in Utility Management from Samford University in the USA.

He was previously a resource analyst at various investment banks in the United Kingdom and he also has extensive production experience in the South African gold and platinum mining industry.

Tracey Davies is executive director of Just Share, a South African non-profit shareholder activist organisation using engagement, advocacy and activism to drive urgent action to combat climate change and reduce inequality. Tracey holds a BA LLB from the University of Cape Town and an LLM from New York University. She is admitted as an attorney in South Africa and as a solicitor in England & Wales. Just Share works collaboratively with local and international social justice partners and responsible investors to advance sustainable finance and a just transition to a low carbon economy. Just Share has supported and filed South Africa’s first shareholder resolutions on climate risk. Tracey sits on the Steering Committee of the Academy of Sciences South Africa’s Just Transition Forum and is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Business Initiative’s Just Transition Pathways Initiative. She is a recognised expert on corporate governance, responsible investment and shareholder activism.

He has also conducted a large amount of advisory work on behalf of the public sector having advised a number of governments in numerous regions. Prior to joining Deloitte, Martyn was a successful entrepreneur, having founded Frontier Advisory, a strategy and corporate finance advisory firm that was subsequently acquired by Deloitte. Destiny Man magazine has previously named Martyn in its “Power 40” of leading South African businessmen under the age of 40. Martyn has previously been ranked the # 1 analyst in South Africa in the “African Economies & Markets” category as awarded by the Financial Mail in its prestigious Annual Analysts of the Year awards. Martyn has been selected as a Young Global Leader, an honour bestowed by the World Economic Forum each year to recognise the most distinguished young leaders below the age of 40 from around the world and has served as a Global Agenda Council member of the WEF. He has also chaired a session at the WEF’s Annual Meeting in Davos focusing on Africa.  He is also a member of the prestigious Young President’s Organisation (YPO), a global network of young chief executives across 130 countries. He is a Senior Fellow at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth – a group comprising leading international economists which works on subjects relating to macro-economics and inclusive growth. Martyn has previously been a faculty member at Stellenbosch University and the University of Pretoria, as well as at the business schools of both universities. He has published 28 articles in accredited academic journals. He is a Visiting Professor at IE Business School, Madrid, Spain and is a Non-Executive Director of the NEPAD Business Foundation.

Previously, Mick was an Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Billiton plc and Chairman of Billiton Coal. Prior to joining Billiton, Mick was an Executive Director of Eskom. Mick has extensive capital markets and corporate transactions experience. During his career, he has raised almost US$40 billion from global capital markets and successfully completed over US$120 billion of corporate transactions. Some of his successes are the creation of the Ingwe Coal Corporation in South Africa; the listing of Billiton on the London Stock Exchange; the merger of BHP and Billiton into the largest diversified mining company in the world; the initial public offering of Xstrata plc on the London Stock Exchange in 2002 and Xstrata’s subsequent acquisitions of MIM Holdings and Falconbridge Ltd., amongst others, and most recently the successful merger of Xstrata and Glencore. Mick was also the Treasurer of the Conservative Party of the UK from February 2016 to July 2019 and its Chief Executive from July 2017 to July 2019. Mick is the immediate past President of the Council of Members and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Leadership Council of the United Kingdom and is Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Holocaust Commission of the United Kingdom. Mick is also a member of the Brookings International Advisory Council and a trustee of the Institute of National Security Studies, Israel. Mick is a Chartered Accountant by profession and an alumnus of Theodor Herzl School in Port Elizabeth. He holds an Honours degree in Commerce from Rhodes University and an Honorary Doctorate from Bar Ilan University. In the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, Mick was made a Knight’s Bachelor.

Will Dawes has over 20 years’ experience in the mining sector, encompassing mineral exploration, investment banking and equity research.  Having trained as a geologist in South Africa, he worked as a mining analyst based in London and then for Rio Tinto's exploration division. Subsequently, he gained significant global mining transaction experience in the metals and mining team of Robert Fleming & Co, Chase Manhattan Bank and JPMorgan. He has been Chief Executive of Mkango Resources for the last 5 years, advancing a rare earth project in Malawi from an early stage through to completion of a pre-feasibility study. He is a graduate of Bristol University (BSc Geology) and the Royal School of Mines (MSc Mineral Exploration with distinction), and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. 

As Managing Director of OIM Operations Solutions, Arjen de Bruin has more than 28 years' business consulting experience within mining, manufacturing, retail and financial services. In this capacity, Arjen is deeply engaged in creating long-term client partnerships through ensuring that OIM engagements deliver significant benefits. Arjen is a thought leader on how performance coaching of supervisors can significantly improve productivity and show a sustainable ROI. A white paper called “The state of Supervisory Competencies: A frank look at supervisory capabilities in South African mining and manufacturing” was produced in October 2018 by his team. Some of the clients Arjen is currently working with include Anglo American, PPC and Gold Fields. Prior to joining OIM, Arjen worked for a major financial service corporate, an international consulting firm and a South African business consultancy. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Arjen was at the forefront of the digitisation of financial services in South Africa and was the Chairman of the Business Process Workforce, a sub-committee of the Computer Society of South Africa. Arjen believes relationships are fundamental to delivering successful projects, and enjoys working with clients who are passionate about their business, have a clear and objective realisation of the challenges and issues that they face as well as the courage and conviction to take action that cuts to the core of the critical factors, even when unconventional and unpopular. 

Henk de Hoop holds an MSc in Mining Engineering from the University of Delft, Netherlands, and he is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He started his career as a Graduate Mining Engineer at Goldfields of South Africa, followed by 2 years at Sasol as an Explosives Engineer. He spent the next 12 years as a Mining Analyst working for several broking firms, covering gold, diamond, coal, diversified, platinum and junior mining stocks. He was rated the top platinum analyst by the Financial Mail from 2005-2007. He joined Rand Merchant Bank in 2008, and is responsible for business development for the bank’s Resources industry clients, covering equity, debt, debt capital markets, M&A, global markets and corporate banking. 

Prof Cheryl de la Rey has been the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria since November 2009. She has published books and several journal articles in her discipline, Psychology. Professor De la Rey is registered as a Psychologist by the Health Professions Council of South Africa, is a fellow of the Psychological Association of South Africa, a fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and of the Academy of Science of South Africa. She is the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), Vice Chairperson of the Talloires Network and the African co-Chairperson of the Australia-Africa Universities Network (AAUN) as well as a member of a number of national and international boards and committees such as the Executive Board of the International Council for Science (ICSU), the national Human Resource Development Council and the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

André de Ruyter is currently the Eskom Holdings Group Chief Executive (GCE), overseeing a 100% state-owned company of over 40,000 employees, responsible for providing over 95% of South Africa’s electricity needs and approximately 45% of the electricity used across Africa. Under André’s leadership, Eskom operates 30 power stations, including base-load coal and nuclear power stations, hydro, pumped storage and gas-fired peaking power stations as well as a self-dispatching wind farm. Eskom has a total nominal capacity of over 44,000MW, supported by a network consisting of almost 400,000km of high, medium and low-voltage lines and underground cables serving over 6,000,000 direct customers.

A seasoned executive, with a career spanning over 30 years, André has amassed a wealth of experience both locally and internationally in various portfolios in the energy space, including the management of coal, oil, chemical and gas businesses, the marketing of export coal to international utilities and managing operations of mega coal and gas conversion plants, including electricity generation. His experience and expertise traverses a range of disciplines, including: strategic leadership, sales, manufacturing, production, finance, legal & regulation, people management and socio-economic development. André holds a Master’s of Business Administration from the Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands, a Bachelor of Law(LLB) obtained from the University of South Africa (UNISA) as well as a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pretoria.

He was a member of the Sasol group executive committee from 2009 to 2014, and spent some time in China as President of China Ventures, also leading business turnaround and transformation in Germany. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Nampak in 2014, a position he left  when he accepted the Group Chief Executive role at Eskom, beginning in January 2020 When often asked why he accepted the leading role at the beleaguered energy utility, André has consistently maintained that he believes the importance of Eskom in driving economic growth and development should never be underestimated, and is humbled to take up the challenge of restoring Eskom’s value-add, credibility and reputation. Deeply passionate about employee  engagement, André has made a concerted effort to consistently connect with people across the business and share the vision of the Eskom “city on the hill” - re-invigorating, rejuvenating and redefining Eskom’s destiny to lead the energy transition into the future in a sustainable manner, as well as the importance of high performance culture amongst employees, to make this a reality.

André de Ruyter is currently the Eskom Holdings Group Chief Executive (GCE), overseeing a 100% state-owned company of over 40,000 employees, responsible for providing over 95% of South Africa’s electricity needs and  approximately 45% of the electricity used across Africa. Under André’s leadership, Eskom operates 30 power stations, including base-load coal and nuclear power stations, hydro, pumped storage and gas-fired peaking power stations as well as a self-dispatching wind farm. Eskom has a total nominal capacity of over 44,000MW, supported by a network consisting of almost 400,000km of high, medium and low-voltage lines and underground cables serving over 6,000,000 direct customers.

A seasoned executive, with a career spanning over 30 years, André has amassed a wealth of experience both locally and internationally in various portfolios in the energy space, including the management of coal, oil, chemical and gas businesses, the marketing of export coal to international utilities and managing operations of mega coal and gas conversion plants, including electricity generation. His experience and expertise traverses a range of disciplines, including: strategic leadership, sales, manufacturing, production, finance, legal & regulation, people management and socio-economic development. André holds a Master’s of Business Administration from the Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands, a Bachelor of Law(LLB) obtained from the University of South Africa (UNISA) as well as a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pretoria.

He was a member of the Sasol group executive committee from 2009 to 2014, and spent some time in China as President of China Ventures, also leading business turnaround and transformation in Germany. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Nampak in 2014, a position he left  when he accepted the Group Chief Executive role at Eskom, beginning in January 2020 When often asked why he accepted the leading role at the beleaguered energy utility, André has consistently maintained that he believes the importance of Eskom in driving economic growth and development should never be underestimated, and is humbled to take up the challenge of restoring Eskom’s value-add, credibility and reputation. Deeply passionate about employee  engagement, André has made a concerted effort to consistently connect with people across the business and share the vision of the Eskom “city on the hill” - re-invigorating, rejuvenating and redefining Eskom’s destiny to lead the energy transition into the future in a sustainable manner, as well as the importance of high performance culture amongst employees, to make this a reality.

Portia Derby is the current Group Chief Executive of Transnet SOC Ltd, appointed February 2020. She has occupied senior positions in the South African government during a period of major economic reform. Portia is the former Director-General of Public Enterprises (2005 - 2009) responsible for the corporate strategy and structure of the investment portfolio (2004 - 2005) and former Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Trade and Industry (2002). Portia’s career in government started at the National Institute for Economic Policy (NIEP), as a financial researcher where she played an integral role working on the quantification of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). Portia previously served as a Non-Executive Director of Metair Investments and Safcol. She has also worked in the private sector as an Executive Director: Clients Africa at Aurecon, an international engineering and infrastructure advisory company. Portia holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree (majoring in Economics and Geology), an Honour’s degree in Economics from the University of Natal, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Johan Dippenaar has 25 years’ experience in the leadership and management of diamond mining companies. Prior to his appointment as CEO of Petra, he was CEO of ASX-quoted Crown Diamonds, which merged with Petra in 2005. Since the merger, Mr. Dippenaar has led Petra through a period of significant growth, taking the Company’s annual production from circa 175,000 carats in FY 2006 to 3.2 million carats in FY 2015, and establishing the Company as a leading independent producer. Mr. Dippenaar is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a member of the Chartered Accountants of South Africa.

Gideon du Plessis is the General Secretary of trade union Solidarity and the head of the Solidarity Strategy Institute. Prior to joining Solidarity, Gideon was employed by Compass Group PLC, as Group Employee Relations Manager: Africa. Gideon started his professional career in 1994 at the Department of Constitutional Development as a Senior Constitutional Planner and was mainly involved in conducting global constitutional research in support of the drafting of the South African Constitution. He obtained a Master of Arts degree in Labour Policy and Globalisation from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2019. Gideon is a Board Member of the State Diamond Trader and Sentinel Retirement Fund. He frequently writes opinion pieces for newspapers and business magazines. 

Sandra started her career as an academic, lecturing company and tax law at the University of the Free State, before joining Johannesburg Law Firm Brink Cohen le Roux & Roodt. It was here that she became involved in the South African mining industry, working first on the labour side of the business, before moving on to the corporate and commercial end of practice. Sandra has been with Standard Bank for just over ten years and focuses exclusively on African corporate finance transactions in mining and metals.

Sandra started her career as an academic, lecturing company and tax law at the University of the Free State, before joining Johannesburg Law Firm Brink Cohen le Roux & Roodt. It was here that she became involved in the South African mining industry, working first on the labour side of the business, before moving on to the corporate and commercial end of practice. Sandra has been with Standard Bank for just over ten years and focuses exclusively on African corporate finance transactions in mining and metals.

Alugumi Dzebu is the Senior Investment Manager for Anglo American’s enterprise development arm, Zimele’s Partnership Funds, and his responsibilities include managing the Anglo American sefa Mining Fund, which focusses on promoting mining-related investments in the junior mining space. A qualified geologist by profession, Alugumi has an Honours Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Engineering, obtained in 2001 and 2010 respectively, from the University of the Witwatersrand. He has extensive and diverse knowledge of the mining industry spanning from exploration, operational experience and funding. He has worked on a number of mining finance transactions both locally and internationally across multiple commodities. Alugumi also sits as a non-executive director on a number of mining companies.

Since joining Shell in 1984, Jan Willem held technical, commercial and managerial positions in Shell’s Exploration & Production operating units in Oman, Myanmar, United Kingdom, China, The Netherlands and Libya. He has a long experience with successful negotiations with host governments, National Oil Companies and other international companies, and secured for Shell upstream country entries in Libya, Ukraine and Iraq. He is now based in Cape Town.

Jacques is a Partner in the Energy and Natural Resources Division of KPMG South Africa. A seasoned and accomplished professional with senior executive experience and strong international exposure, Jacques Erasmus is known and respected in the mining industry as a front-footed, highly-skilled professional, and offers a portfolio of career highlights reflecting extraordinary business and financial acumen. Jacques has enjoyed significant career promotion in his extensive service to KPMG Inc., and currently leads as Head of Mining for KPMG Southern Africa, where he functions as key subject matter expert for the gold, platinum and coal industry in Africa. With strong technical acumen and business financial intelligence, Jacques manages a portfolio of major clients, including international gold, platinum and coal companies (Sibanye Gold, BHP Billiton – BECSA, Lonmin Plc, Royal Bafokeng, Atlatsa Corporation, South 32 and Petmin), as well as exploration juniors specialising in all commodities.

Anton holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) (Pretoria) and Master of Science (Mineral Exploration), with distinction (Rhodes).  He received the Dreyer Award by the Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration Inc. (USA) for outstanding achievements in applied economic geology and was the first recipient of the Des Pretorius Memorial Award for outstanding work in economic geology by the Geological Society of South Africa. Anton has had a successful exploration career spanning more than 40 years in industrial minerals, coal, diamonds, base and precious metals, highlighted by discoveries of several world class deposits. In 1973 he commenced his career with Gold Fields of South Africa and in 1987 was a founder member of Pangea Exploration.  While with Pangea he was instrumental in the discoveries of the high grade Rhovan vanadium deposit, the Taaiboschspruit colliery, the Hillendale-Fairbreeze mineral sand deposits and the re-evaluation of the 16 million-ounce Burnstone gold deposit, all in South Africa.  In Tanzania he was responsible for the discovery of several gold deposits such as Tulawaka, Buzwagi and Golden Ridge, with his activities attracting major players into that country.  He was also responsible for the discovery of five titanium-zircon mineral sand deposits along the East African coast including the Corridor Sands ilmenite and Kwale rutile and zircon deposits. Now a director of PanEx Resources, he has generated a number of diamond and base metal projects throughout Africa and has worked on the development of rare earth, niobium and tin deposits. 

Nolitha was appointed Group Director – South Africa on 1 September 2019. From April 2017 to August 2019, she served as a non-executive director on the Board of Anglo American plc.

Until 2016, Nolitha served as an executive director at Sasol Limited and Executive Vice President of Strategy and Sustainability. Prior to that she held senior management positions in corporate affairs, strategy and operations in the retail and financial sectors.

Nolitha is a non-executive director of JSE Limited, and a Patron of Guild Cottage home for girls. In her non-executive career, she has previously served as deputy chair and lead independent director of Datacentrix Holdings Limited, and as a non-executive director of Harmony Gold and Woolworths Holdings.

Nolitha Fakude serves as the Chairman of Anglo American’s Management Board: South Africa as well as a Group Director of Anglo American plc and President of the Minerals Council South Africa. Nolitha served as a non-executive director of the Board of Anglo American plc from April 2017 to August 2019. Fakude has worked in and held senior positions in various industries and sectors including Retail, Management Consulting, Financial Services, Mining and Oil and Gas. Until 2016, Nolitha served as an Executive Director at Sasol Limited as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Sustainability. Nolitha was elected as the first woman President of the Black Management Forum (2003-2006) and its Managing Director and she now serves as the Chairperson of the Council of Elders. Nolitha is Non-Executive Director of JSE Limited, Discovery Bank Holdings and International Woman’s Forum South Africa (IWFSA). She is a Patron of Guild Cottage home for girls. Her previous board roles include serving as Deputy Chair and Lead Independent Director of Datacentrix Holdings Limited, and as a non-executive director of Harmony Gold and Woolworths Holdings among others. Nolitha’s honorary accolated include the 2004 Most Influential Businesswoman by Financial Mail, Impala Platinum Young Entrepreneur Award and the National Honor by the Golden Key Society and University of Johannesburg. Nolitha is an author of a book titled, “Boardroom Dancing”, published in 2019.She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Psychology from the University of Fort Hare and completed the Senior Executive Programme at Harvard Business School in the United States.

Alex is a professionally registered mechanical engineer and has been involved in transport and machinery, as well as new technology and innovation in mining for the majority of his career. He currently heads Sibanye-Stillwater’s technology and innovation department which is responsible for group technology and innovation strategy, as well as conceptualizing, developing and implementing innovative safety and productivity improvement solutions across the mining production and beneficiation value chain for Sibanye-Stillwater’s full portfolio of assets. 

Alex is a professionally registered mechanical engineer and has been involved in transport and machinery, as well as new technology and innovation in mining for the majority of his career. He currently heads Sibanye-Stillwater’s technology and innovation department which is responsible for group technology and innovation strategy, as well as conceptualizing, developing and implementing innovative safety and productivity improvement solutions across the mining production and beneficiation value chain for Sibanye-Stillwater’s full portfolio of assets. 

Executive Head of Safety and Sustainable Development for Anglo American Kumba Iron ore, Philip has 25 years’ experience in senior leadership roles within global multinational mining organisations. He has successfully worked and implemented programmes in more than 18 countries worldwide and provided safety leadership and mentoring to senior management teams across several geographies.  He has developed risk-based safety management systems to an ISO and ICMM standard; integrated processes into business management ensuring ‘line management’ accountability and commitment and facilitated a cultural change across internationally recognized organisations to move safety from a ‘priority’ to a true core value.  He has also effectively implemented fatal prevention strategies.   He began his career on the gold mines as a learner official in 1981 and was appointed Safety Professional in 1984.  He completed an MBA from Queensland University as well as a BTech degree in Safety Management and various short courses in the SHE world.  He is a member of the Anglo American International Safety Board and is a full member of the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa. He serves as an Executive Director of the Sishen Iron Ore company. He was President of the Institute of Safety Management (IOSM) from 2010 to 2011 and is a registered Safety Professional through IOSM. He is also registered as a Charted Safety professional through the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH). 

Frik Fourie is currently the Head of New Mining Technology at Anglo American. Prior to this he served as the Head of Business Improvement in 2016. From 2007 to 2010 he was the Head of Strategic Projects and Planning at Anglo Platinum and was appointed Head of Mining in 2010.  His first role in mining was as a learner official in 1985 – RMTS, at Harmony Gold Mine. He began his career with Anglo American in 1986 at the Free State’s Saaiplaas mine. From 1987 to 1991 he completed a Dipl / NHD,  MOC, MMC and was the top student of the intake. From 1992 he worked through the ranks of Shift Boss to Technical Assistant. In 1997, he transferred to Tshepong Mine as Section Manager to bring the shaft into production and was later appointed as Production Manager. He also completed a B-Tech degree during this year. In 2001 Frik transferred to Kopanang Mine as Production Manager and later became General Manager of Kopanang and Tau Lekoa Mines. 

On 30 April 2018, Mike Fraser, in his role of Chief Operating Officer, assumed responsibility for the Group’s alumina operations in Australia, and Cerro Matoso in Colombia. He retains the Group’s aluminium operations in South Africa in his portfolio and he is responsible for South Africa Energy Coal. On 30 April 2018, Mike Fraser, in his role of Chief Operating Officer, assumed responsibility for the Group’s alumina operations in Australia, and Cerro Matoso in Colombia. He retains the Group’s aluminium operations in South Africa in his portfolio and he is responsible for South Africa Energy Coal. Prior to this, Mike held the role of President and Chief Operating Officer for the Africa region from January 2015. Before joining South32, Mike was President, Human Resources with BHP. Prior to this he was Asset President of Mozal Aluminium Smelter in Mozambique from 2009 to 2012, having also worked in various roles in BHP’s coal, manganese and aluminium businesses. During his career, Mike held a variety of leadership roles in a large internationally diversified industrial business and has worked in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Mozambique and Australia. Mike holds a Master of Business Leadership and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of South Africa.

Brett Freeman is the Global GM and Product line leader for GE's Mine Electrification business. 18 years' experience in general management, sales, marketing, product management and finance functions. Brett's expertise has been developed working for some of the world's largest companies across multiple industries including, energy infrastructure, enterprise software, mining, FMCG and renewable energy technologies.

Brett hold's bachelor degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer science and a Masters of Business majoring in Applied finance and marketing. He has an entrepreneurial personality with a passion for renewable energy, digital transformation, smart grid technologies, start-ups and business governance. Founder of HeliusGen, Brevafire property development, and board member of marketing start-ups.

Mr. Friedland is Chairman of Ivanhoe Capital Corporation, his family’s private company founded in 1987 and now with operations based in Singapore, Beijing and London. Ivanhoe Capital specializes in the provision of venture capital and project financing for international business enterprises, predominantly in the fields of minerals, energy and advanced technology. With his leadership, Ivanhoe executives and more than 15 benefiting, public and private companies that have been affiliated with Ivanhoe Capital have raised a total of more than US$10 billion on world capital markets since 1993. This capital has been invested in more than 30 nations, directed primarily at the discovery and production of mineral and energy resources and the development and application of innovative exploration, processing and communications technologies.Mr. Friedland also is Executive Chairman, and currently the largest shareholder, of Canada-based Ivanhoe Mines, which he founded in 1994. Mr. Friedland previously served variously as Ivanhoe Mines’ Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer during the ensuing 18 years between 1994 and 2012 as the company established itself as a significant miner and explorer in Asia and Asia Pacific and built a large shareholder base through listings on the Toronto, New York and NASDAQ stock exchanges.Under Mr. Friedland’s leadership, Ivanhoe Mines in 2000 began exploration in Mongolia that led to a decade of discoveries revealing a 12.4-kilometre-long (7.7-mile) chain of mineral deposits. Ivanhoe Mines initiated construction of the Oyu Tolgoi mining complex, which began production in January 2013 and is projected to become one of the world’s top three copper-gold-silver producers. The company’s Australian subsidiary began production of copper and gold in early 2012 at its Osborne operation in northwestern Queensland.

Neal Froneman was appointed executive director and CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater on 1 January 2013. Over the past five years he has led the transformation of Sibanye-Stillwater from a 1.5Moz South African-based gold producer into a leading precious metals miner with an international operating footprint ranking among the world’s top three PGM producers. His career spans more than 30 years during which time he worked at Gold Fields of South Africa Limited, Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) and JCI Limited. In April 2003, Neal was appointed CEO of Aflease Gold Limited (Aflease Gold), which, through a series of reverse take-overs, became Gold One International Limited (Gold One) in May 2009. He was primarily responsible for the creation of Uranium One Incorporated (Uranium One) from the Aflease Gold uranium assets. During this period, he was CEO of Aflease Gold and Uranium One until his resignation from Uranium One in February 2008. He held the CEO position at Gold One until his appointment at Sibanye-Stillwater. In May 2016, he was elected to serve as a Vice President of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa (now the Minerals Council South Africa).

Siyabonga Gama is the Group Chief Executive of Transnet SOC Ltd, South Africa’s state-owned freight transport and logistics company. He is responsible for driving the company’s record-breaking infrastructure investment programme of close to R400 billion – the Market Demand Strategy. In light of the 4th industrial revolution, he is also currently driving various initiatives on how to reshape the core of the Transnet business. This includes expanding the Transnet business beyond the borders of South Africa, thereby positioning the company as a leading provider of logistics services in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, he is responsible for galvanising and mobilising his 65 000 colleagues across the company’s ports, rail and pipelines operations towards creating a world-class logistics group.

Before assuming the role of Group Chief Executive, he led Transnet Freight Rail, Transnet’s biggest division in terms of people, profit, investments and assets. He radically transformed the division from yearly losses averaging R21 million in 2005 to a R16.2 billion giant in profit in March 2015, whilst at the same time, placing a heavy emphasis on safety. Mr Gama also served as the first CE of the National Ports Authority, after its unbundling from Portnet, amongst other roles at Transnet.

In addition to various operational and management programmes from the University of Singapore and the City University of New York, he holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He completed the Trium Global MBA under the auspices of the London School of Economics, Stern Business School in New York and HEC Paris. In recognition of his leadership, Mr Gama has received several industry awards. These include honorary lifetime President of the Union of African Railways; and honorary member of the International Association of Ports and Harbours. He was the young business leader of the year in 2004 and received the award of National business leader in 2008.

Thembelani Gantsho is the Chief Executive Officer of South African based Kudumane Manganese Resources. Prior to Kudumane, he was VP of Mining and Metals at Absa Capital, responsible for several mining and metals clients across various commodities.  

Thembelani has managed, structured, and executed numerous corporate finance transactions within South Africa and Sub-Sahara Africa as part of the various executive and senior roles he has held at Absa Capital, Xstrata (now Glencore) and Ernst & Young. He holds a Business Science Honours Degree in Finance from the University of Cape Town.”

Thomas holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pretoria (1992) and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Stellenbosch Business School (2003). Thomas has vast experience in the mining industry and was employed by Iscor Mining, Kumba Resources and Exxaro Resources.  He has been appointed as CEO of Cennergi during March 2012. Thomas is a founder member of the South African Independent Power Producers Association.  He is married to Faye and has two children, Victoria and Matthew.

Brian Gilbertson has extensive experience in the global natural resources industry. In his early career, he was managing director of Rustenburg Platinum Mines Limited, which gained recognition as the world’s foremost producer of platinum in the 1980s. Later, as executive chairman of Gencor Limited, Mr Gilbertson led the restructuring of the South African mining industry into the post-Apartheid era, transforming Gencor Limited into a focussed minerals and mining group. During this period he held ultimate responsibility for Impala Platinum Holdings and for Samancor Limited, the world’s largest producer of manganese and chrome ore and alloys. Important initiatives included the Hillside and Mozal aluminium projects and the purchase of the international mining assets (Billiton plc) of the Royal Dutch Shell Group.

In 1997, Gencor Limited restructured its non-precious metals interests as Billiton plc and, with Mr Gilbertson as executive chairman, Billiton plc raised US$1.5 billion in an Initial Public Offering on the LSE, taking the company into the FTSE100. In 2001, Billiton plc merged with BHP Limited to create what is widely regarded as the world’s premier resources company, BHP Billiton plc. In late 2003, Mr Gilbertson led the mining group Vedanta Resources plc to the first primary listing of an Indian company on the LSE in the second largest Initial Public Offering of the year. He was chairman of Vedanta Resources plc until July 2004. In 2004 he founded Incwala Resources (Pty) Limited, a pioneering Black Economic Empowerment corporation in South Africa, and was its first chairman until March 2006.

In 2004, Mr Gilbertson joined Sibirsko-Uralskaya Aluminum Company (SUAL), an aluminium producer in Russia and led the company into the US$30 billion merger with RUSAL and the alumina assets of Glencore International A.G., creating the largest aluminium company in the world.

Mr Gilbertson established Pallinghurst Advisors LLP and the Investment Manager during 2006 and 2007 respectively, and is the chairman of and a partner in both entities. Mr Gilbertson is also the chairman of both Jupiter and Sedibelo and is a director of Tshipi. Mr Gilbertson is a British and South African citizen.

Bobby Godsell worked for 34 years as an executive in the Anglo American group of companies.  For 12 of these, he was CEO of Anglo’s gold mining interests, in the form of AngloGold Ashanti.  He has also worked in government bodies, spending 5 years as a member of the National Planning Commission and a turbulent 15 months chairing the board of ESKOM.  He is currently a Director at the Industrial Development Corporation, Chairman of Foskor (Pty) Ltd and co-chairs the Millennium Labour Council, a social dialogue body involving business and labour leaders, with Godfrey Selematsela, President of FEDUSA.   With James Motlatsi, founding President of the National Union of Mineworkers, Bobby co-chairs the active citizens NGO, Citizens ZA.

Bobby Godsell worked for 34 years as an executive in the Anglo American group of companies.  For 12 of these, he was CEO of Anglo’s gold mining interests, in the form of AngloGold Ashanti.  He has also worked in government bodies, spending 5 years as a member of the National Planning Commission and a turbulent 15 months chairing the board of ESKOM.  He is currently a Director at the Industrial Development Corporation, Chairman of Foskor (Pty) Ltd and co-chairs the Millennium Labour Council, a social dialogue body involving business and labour leaders, with Godfrey Selematsela, President of FEDUSA.   With James Motlatsi, founding President of the National Union of Mineworkers, Bobby co-chairs the active citizens NGO, Citizens ZA.

Terence Goodlace’s mining career commenced in 1977 and has spanned more than 40 years. He spent the majority of this time at Gengold which merged with Gold Fields of South Africa to form Gold Fields Limited in 1998. Terence began as a miner and advanced through the ranks to become Chief Operating Officer in 2008. He gained experience in leading underground and open pit operations in South Africa, Australia, Ghana, Venezuela and Peru. For five years during this time he was responsible for creating, implementing and facilitating the strategic and operational planning processes and associated outcomes for all Group operations. This included executive responsibility for Group Mineral Resource Management, Environmental Management and Sustainable Development. He also spent two years in Corporate Finance.

Terence subsequently spent three years as the Chief Executive Officer of Metorex Limited, which was a debt-challenged, mid-tier, multi-commodity (fluorspar, antimony, gold, copper, cobalt) mining company with operations in South Africa, Zambia and the DRC. He transformed the company to become a focused copper cobalt company that was acquired and de-listed by Jinchuan, a major Chinese nickel mining company.

Terence served on the Impala Platinum Holdings Limited board for six and a half years with two years as an independent non-executive director and four and a half years as the Chief Executive Officer. He is currently an independent non-executive director at Gold Fields Limited, Kumba Iron Ore Limited and AfriTin Mining Limited. In 2017, he was appointed onto the South African Mining Extraction Research, Development and Innovation steering committee which has been set up to advance new mining technologies under the auspices of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Chris Griffith was appointed CEO of Gold Fields on 1 April 2021. Before this appointment, he was the CEO of Anglo American Platinum between September 2012 and April 2020 and CEO of Kumba Iron Ore from 2008 to 2012. Prior to that, he served as Anglo American’s Head of Operations for joint ventures. He joined Anglo American Platinum in 1990 and held various management positions at two of its mines before being moved into the wider leadership team at Anglo American. He holds a Mining Engineering Honours degree from the University of Pretoria.

Henk joined Coronation as an equity analyst in 2005. Prior to this he spent two years as a trainee equity analyst with Allan Gray and three years as an electrical engineer at Sasol. Henk co-manages institutional portfolios within the absolute return strategy as well as the Coronation Balanced Defensive, Capital Plus and Resources unit trust funds.

He is an academic, an activist, an administrator, and a renowned political media commentator and columnist.A Professor of Political Science, Habib has more than 30 years of academic, research, institutional and administration expertise. His experience spans five universities and multiple local and international institutions, boards and task teams. His professional involvement in institutions has always been defined by three distinct engagements: the contest of ideas; their translation into actionable initiatives; and the building of institutions.Professor Habib served as the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, Library and Faculty Coordination at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). He has also served as the Executive Director at the Human Sciences Research Council and as a Research Director on Governance and Democracy. Prior to that, he served as a Professor in the School of Development Studies at the University of Natal and as the Research Director of the Centre for Civil Society.He was instrumental in transforming the University of Johannesburg following the nationwide mergers of tertiary institutions in 2005 and played a key role in increasing research output at UJ.Professor Habib holds qualifications in Political Science from three universities including the University of Natal and Wits. He earned his masters and doctoral qualifications from the Graduate School of the City University of New York.Transformation, democracy and development are fundamental themes of Habib’s research. He is well-published and renowned as a key leader in higher education and political studies in South Africa and around the world.

Evy Hambro, Managing Director, is the Global Head of Thematic and Sector Based Investing for BlackRock Active Equities and head of the London-based Natural Resources equity team. He co-manages the BGF World Gold, BlackRock Gold & General and BGF World Mining funds. He is also co-manager of the BlackRock World Mining Trust, BlackRock Natural Resources Hedge Fund and manager of a number of segregated portfolios.  Mr Hambro's service with the firm dates back to 1994 including his years with Mercury Asset Management and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) which merged with BlackRock in 2006. He has worked for the firm in London, Sydney and Toronto.  Mr Hambro earned a BSc degree, with honors, in Agricultural Food Marketing, from Newcastle University in 1994.

A commentator on market and economic issues, Chris shares his views on South African and international events. He writes regularly for InvestSA, an intermediary publication, and is a sought-after speaker at conferences across industries and business sectors for his views on economic and market issues.

Dr. Antony Harwood (Tony) is an economic geologist with over 30 years of experience in the mining industry. He graduated from the University of Wales, Cardiff, in the UK with a BSc (Hons) cum laude and a PhD degree in Economic Geology. Tony is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Montero Mining and Exploration (TSX-V) a rare earth element focused company with itsflagship property, the Wigu Hill Rare Earth Project in Tanzania. Prior to joining Montero, Tony was President and CEO of Africo Resources, which he took to the TSX, raising $124 million during his tenure from 2006 to 2009. Prior to this Tony was Vice President Global Generative Exploration for Placer Dome Inc. from 1998 to 2006. Currently, Tony serves as a Director for East Africa Metals Inc. and Tesoro Minerals Corp. and was formerly Executive Chairman of Universal Coal PLC, Director of Adamus Resources, Endeavour Mining Corp, AuRo Resource Corp., Auryx Gold Corp, and Lappland Goldminers AG. Tony was founder of Harwood International, a geological consulting company, which he operated for 10 years and prior to this he held the position of lecturer at Cardiff University, UK and Natal University, Durban, South Africa.

May Hermanus was most recently the Executive Director: CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment. Prior to joining the CSIR, Hermanus was the Director and Adjunct-Professor at the Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry (CSMI) at Wits University. She was formerly the Chief Inspector of Mines for South Africa, and in that capacity, served as Chairperson of both the Mine Health and Safety Council and the Board of the Mining Qualifications Authority. She is currently on a self-funded sabbatical, working on her PhD and continuing with some Board work and part-time consulting. She is still a Visiting Professor at Wits University.

May Hermanus was appointed Executive Director: CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment in June 2013. Prior to joining the CSIR, Hermanus was the Director and Adjunct-Professor at the Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry (CSMI) at Wits University. She was formerly the Chief Inspector of Mines for South Africa, and in that capacity, served as Chairperson of both the Mine Health and Safety Council and the Board of the Mining Qualifications Authority.

Mark Heywood is the Executive Director of SECTION27 (which incorporated the AIDS Law Project in 2010). He joined the AIDS Law Project (ALP) in 1994 and in 1998 he was one of the founders of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). He has continued to participate on the TAC Secretariat, National Council and Board of Directors. Mark was elected and served as the deputy chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) in 2007 until 2012. In 2009, he was also appointed as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on National Health Insurance. Mark has written extensively on HIV, human rights and the law and has been part of the legal teams of the ALP, TAC and SECTION27 that have been involved in major litigation around HIV and other human rights issues in South Africa.

SECTION27 is a public interest law centre that seeks to achieve substantive equality and social justice in South Africa. Guided by the principles and values in the Constitution, SECTION27 uses law, advocacy, legal literacy, research and community mobilisation to achieve access to healthcare services, basic education and sufficient food. Underpinning all of our work is the promotion of the rights to equality and dignity as well as the principles of good governance and accountability. Across our areas of work we are concerned with the duties of both public and private power. SECTION27 was established in 2010, when it incorporated the AIDS Law Project, which for over 15 years had been at the forefront of the civil society response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa. SECTION27 has recently been involved in litigation in the Supreme Court of Appeal challenging the Department of Education’s appeal on the provision of textbooks in Limpopo. For more information: http://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/textbook-provision-for-learners-in-south-africa-supreme-court-of-appeal-judgment-in-the-befa-case/

Born in 1957, and schooled in Austria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Namibia, René matriculated at King Edward VII School in Johannesburg in 1974, obtained a BSc Hons degree in Geology (Engineering Faculty) from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1979. He worked on the Potgietersrust Platinum feasibility study for Rustenburg Plats in 1980/81 as geologist. He returned to Wits and gained his BSc degree in Mining Engineering in two years in 1982. In 1983 he worked in production at Rustenburg Platinum Mines until 1986.
Achieving 10 years in a row No. 1 Platinum analyst and 4 years in a row No.1 Small and Mid-Cap mining analyst with stockbrokers Anderson Wilson and Partners in 1987, BJM in 1997 and Nedcor Securities in 2002, he became an Investment Banker with Nedbank and Allan Hochreiter (Pty) Ltd., advising various resource companies on mining corporate finance transactions and doing industry reports and valuations of various mining projects in the SADEC region. In 2007, he started Sable Platinum together with James Allan, which was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2013. In 2014 he established Sieberana Research, providing broker research to Noah Capital Markets, a member of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, on mining and resources shares.
He remains a member of the South African Institute of Stockbrokers and is a Fellow of the Geological Society, London and of South Africa and a member of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He is the author of all five editions of Mining and Geology for Idiots, the chapter on Platinum in South Africa of the SAIMM monograph publication (1985) and recently completed his MSc through Wits on the Geology of Mt. Everest.

He currently operates in the Equity Capital market, investing private equity in early stage mining projects and assisting developing the project through to implementation. He is based in Sandton South Africa. Some of his successes in investment financing and mine development include the long term successful development of the Letseng Diamond Mine in Lesotho, the Chibiluma South Copper Mine in Zambia, The Ruashi Copper mine in the DRC, and the Metorex Group and Merafe Ferrochrome in South Africa. In addition he has extensive experience in due diligences, financing and developing projects in the following sectors, Ferrochrome, PGMs, Nickel, Mineral Sands, Bauxite, Rare Earths, Manganese, Coal, Spodumene, Iron Ore, Kimberlite and alluvial diamonds, Magnesite, Andalusite, Tailings retreatment plants, Lead/Zinc, gold, Uranuim, and Phosphate. He has extensive experience in structuring of finance for mining ventures from vanilla debt capital, to sculpted debt, preference shares, quasi equity and Mezzanine finance, large project finance transactions and equity capital. He has worked extensively in South Africa the DRC, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Uganda. He also has experience of working in, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya. He has held directorships in 4 mining companies as well as the Geoscience council of South Africa. 

Alistair Hodgkinson is the Executive Vice President for the EMEA Region. Alistair joined DRA in 2007 and has over 23 years’ industry experience. He has been involved in large scale mining and minerals processing projects across EMEA, implementing various greenfields and brownfields resources projects.  In his current role, Alistair oversees the successful delivery of all projects across EMEA. Alistair completed his B.Sc. Eng (Mechanical) at the University of the Witwatersrand, holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town and is a registered professional engineer.

A compulsive reader and student of history, Hogg founded Moneyweb in 1997 where he pioneered online financial journalism and business radio. He left the JSE-listed company in October 2012.After a stretch of eight months when he was forced to stay out of the market, the notice period was ended in July by mutual agreement. Hogg was immediately commissioned by CNBC Africa to anchor its daily Power Lunch programme.On August 3, his new website, www.biznewz.biz was switched on.Alec writes weekly columns for Business Day (Undictated) and Financial Mail (Rational Alternative). He is also a Keynote Business Speaker who specialises in helping audiences to better understand the rapidly transforming economic world we inhabit. A South African, Hogg travels widely including annual trips to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway AGM in Omaha, USA. He is married to Jeanette, a life coach and well-known sculptor. They met at school in Newcastle.

Mr Holland was appointed an executive director of Gold Fields in 1997 and became CEO on 1 May 2008. Prior to that he was the Company’s CFO. Mr Holland has more than 31 years’ experience in financial management, of which 23 years were in the mining industry. Prior to joining Gold Fields, he was Financial Director and Senior Manager of Corporate Finance at Gencor.

Jamie is the manager of the Vanguard Precious Metals and Mining Fund, which he has managed since joining M&G in December 2013. He is also the manager of the M&G Global Basics Fund. He has over 18 years’ investment experience in large cap, small cap, generalist and resources equity funds, as well as hedge funds. Jamie holds an Honours B Comm (Finance) from McMaster University in Canada, a diploma in Mechanical Engineering technology from Mohawk College Canada and a MSc in Finance from LSE.

He holds a Master of Economics degree, which was obtained in 1991 from the University of the Free State in South Africa.Prior to co-establishing Dynamic Energy Consultants in 2007, Darryl held several positions in Shell South Africa over 16 years, including Petroleum Market Business Analyst, Downstream Oil Economist, Fuels and Lubricants Commercial Sales Manager, Market Development Manager for the Kudu Gas Pipeline Project, and Commercial Manager for the Coega LNG-to-Power Project.Darryl also spent 6 months in Eskom’s Generation Division as Client Office Manager for gas-fired power generation and renewable projects, and was responsible for the receipt by Eskom from the OEM of the open cycle gas turbine plants at Mossel Bay (Gourikwa) and near Cape Town (Ankerlig).

Nicola is a qualified lawyer with almost two decades of experience in the resource sector, advising and representing mining companies on acquisitions and divestments in respect of projects throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. During her time in the profession Nicola was also actively involved in advising on regulatory aspects pertaining to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act and the Mining Charter.  In 2017, Nicola joined Sibanye-Stillwater’s Business Development team focusing on the legal aspects of acquisitions and disposals related to the Sibanye-Stillwater group, together with policy and regulatory aspects pertaining to the sector.  Nicola is a patron of Women in Mining South Africa and has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Pretoria and at the Mandela Institute, University of Witwatersrand.

Jónatan Jacobs is a full-time Honours student at the Department of Mining Engineering, at the University of Pretoria, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mining Engineering.  He is currently in the process of researching the potential applications of Augmented Reality in the mining sector. This research forms part of his post-graduate thesis, as well as his own passion for technological innovation and incorporation into the mining industry. 

Neil Jacobsohn is a life-long communicator with a passion for the future. He has been an award-winning journalist, a digital entrepreneur, a company director and professional marketer. In a career spanning nearly 40 years, Neil has: reported news from around the world for a wide range of newspapers and magazines; edited newspapers; managed operations for a broad-based media group; been group marketing director of a listed media company; run a US$40-million AIDS campaign for a national government; and launched more than 14 businesses.

Unusually, he combined entrepreneurship with corporate success. He has served as chairman, executive and non-executive director on a number of listed and unlisted company Boards.

He is a founding member of the FutureWorld Network, an energetic and entertaining speaker, strategist and facilitator, who works extensively on FutureWorld keynotes, workshops and strategic breakthrough projects for corporate clients and learning institutions around the world, among them Oxford’s SAID Business School, Duke Corporate Education and London Business School.

Irvin Jim is the General Secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). He is currently serving his third term as General Secretary, having been re-elected to serve the militant metalworkers in its December 2016 elective congress, following his first election in October 2008 and re-election in June 2012. After the negotiated settlement which led to the end of the Apartheid regime in 1994, Comrade Jim became the Regional Chairperson for NUMSA’s Eastern Cape region. He later served as the Regional Secretary. He was, at that time, the youngest member of the NUMSA Central Committee and remained in the regional leadership until his election to his position as General Secretary. He cut his political teeth as an anti-apartheid student activist in the 1980s and has also served in the leadership structures of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape. Under his leadership NUMSA continues to be a militant and principled left trade union. Its membership has grown to over 340,000, making it the biggest trade union in the history of South Africa.

After moving to London in 1997, he co-founded globalCOAL where he also helped to draft the Standard Coal Trading Agreement (SCoTA), now the world's benchmark physical coal contract. Together with the international coal industry he established the ARA, RB and Newcastle standard coal specifications, ultimately driving the commoditisation of the coal market.Bevan then moved into consulting with Allegro Development where he helped establish oil and coal trading risk management systems with industry leaders such as Maersk Oil & Gas, Statoil, Alpha Natural Resources and others. Still in commodities, Bevan moved into the banking sector where he was head of energy and metals trading for Rand Merchant Bank. Whilst at RMB he developed the world's only coal ETN that enables equity investors to access the underlying coal market, as well as the ability to buy Kruger Rands via FNB.Prior to Thebe, Bevan was head of the South African operations of London Commodity Brokers, the world's largest physical coal and iron-ore brokerage. At LCB he helped to establish transparency and infrastructure investment in the domestic SA coal market, as well as create a physically delivered coal futures contract on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange

ndré Joubert is a Mining Engineer. He is the Chief Executive of the Ferrous Division of African Rainbow Minerals (ARM). This division is responsible for the operational activities of Assmang, which is a 50/50 joint venture between African Rainbow Minerals and Assore, which are both listed companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. André is the Chairman of the Assmang Exco, The Chairman of the Sakura Board (Smelter in Malaysia) and an Executive Director of Assmang. In this position he is responsible for all operational, legal, strategic and growth related to the division’s Iron Ore mines, its Manganese mines and Manganese smelters. André Joined ARM in August of 2009 as Executive Operations in the Ferrous Division and was appointed to the Chief Executive position in July 2012. Prior to working at ARM he was the CEO at Hernic Ferrochrome in South Africa for two years and prior to that he worked for Anglo American Corporation for 25 years. André held various senior and executive operational positions within Anglo American’s gold and base metals divisions and also spent some time evaluating and designing mining projects. In total he accumulated 38 years of experience within the mining industry.  André studied at the University of Potchefstroom and graduated in 1981 with a BSc in Mining Engineering from the University of Pretoria and in 1996 he obtained a MBA at the University of Stellenbosch.

With more than 20 years of post-admission legal and corporate experience, Francois Joubert is a recognized strategic advisor providing clients with legal, strategic and commercial/ transactional advisory services in the natural resources, safety & health, land use planning, power, oil & gas, mining and industrial related sectors. Francois is a member of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, a member and past Vice-Chairman of the South African Environmental Law Association and a senior member of the International Association of Impact Assessors (IAIA). He has a B.Proc from the University of Pretoria, a Masters in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of Johannesburg and a Certificate in Biotechnology Law & Ethics from the University of Botswana. 

"Paul Jourdan is an African integrated development expert specialising in resource-based and spatial (corridors) development strategies. He has wide experience working on economic growth & development in Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the SADC, West and East Africa. He spent 16 years in exile in Mozambique and Zimbabwe during the struggle against apartheid, working as a geologist, geophysicist and minerals economist, before returning to SA in 1991 to join the NUM. He is the past President of Mintek, past Deputy Director-General in the DTI and past ANC DEP Minerals & Energy Policy Coordinator. He was a major contributor to the AU “Africa Mining Vision” (2009) and Country Mining Vision (2014). He is currently Chair of the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), on the board of the GGDA and subsidiaries, advisor to the government of South Africa on resource-based development, mineral value-chains (DTI) and mineral technologies (DST), the government of Zimbabwe on their new Minerals Development Policy and several other African governments on resource-based equitable growth & development. He was a member of the 2011 ANC SIMS (State Intervention in the Minerals Sector) research team and is a member of the ANC ETC (Economic Transformation Committee). He has a BSc (geology), a BA (African government), a PGDip (geophysics), an MSc (mineral economics) and a PhD (politics)”

Boris Kamstra is an accomplished senior business executive. He bravely capitalises on his strategic management style to ensure good business leadership, corporate alignment and success – imperative in challenging environments. He has a passion for Africa and the varied opportunities it holds. His ability to identify potential, unlock opportunity and celebrate talent diversity, adds significant value in the growing and competitive African business and mining environment. Boris graduated with an MBA from WITS Business School, University of Witwatersrand and a BSc (Civil Engineering) (cum laude) from University of Cape Town - both times named on the Deans merit list. Boris is a Registered Professional Engineer with the SA Engineering Council and a member of the SA Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

He is additionally a Non executive director of Village Main Reef (Gold), Keaton Energy (Coal), Octodec (Property) and Zico Investments (Diversified).His professional experience includes: RMB's Investment Banking Division (5 years), BOE (7 years). Private Equity - First Reserve (4 years) and Mining experience with AngloGold (22 years).Gerard holds an M.Sc : Mining Engineering.

Ms Kerber, BCom, HDipAcc, CA (SA), has recently joined Implats as the chief financial officer and an executive director of the Implats Board. She is an experienced finance executive having served as Senior Vice President, Finance at AngloGold Ashanti Limited, prior to which she spent 11 years at Anglo American Platinum Limited, serving as Head of Financial Accounting for the majority of that period. She has also previously held the position of non-executive director at Rand Mutual Assurance.

Charl Keyter was appointed a Director of Sibanye-Stillwater on 9 November 2012 and Executive Director and CFO on 1 January 2013. Previously, he was Vice President and Group Head of International Finance at Gold Fields. Charl has more than 20 years’ mining experience, having begun his career at Gold Fields in February 1995.

Charl Keyter was appointed a Director of Sibanye-Stillwater on 9 November 2012 and Executive Director and CFO on 1 January 2013. Previously, he was Vice President and Group Head of International Finance at Gold Fields. Charl has more than 20 years’ mining experience, having begun his career at Gold Fields in February 1995.

Lucky Kgatle began his journey in the mining industry after obtaining his BSc in engineering in 2001. He went on to obtain his MBA in 2009. During his career in the industry, now spanning beyond two decades, he has thrived in leadership roles encompassing both operational and strategic elements and responsibilities which, most recently, positioned him as the Senior Vice President of Sasol Mining, a coal mining company with six mines producing approximately 40 million tons of thermal coal per annum, supplied to JSE-listed petrochemicals company Sasol Limited as well as the export market.  Lucky served on the boards of five Sasol-related companies and he has represented Sasol Mining in industry forums such as the Minerals Council of South Africa. Lucky’s commitment to positive and substantive transformation led to his roles in managing large transformational projects involving significant organisational complexity. His experience and leadership abilities also contributed to the successful navigation of Sasol Mining through periods of extreme volatility, uncertainty and extensive changes in the industrial environment including the commitment and transition to the pursuit of zero-harm and the zero-tolerance approach to occupational health and safety, prolonged unprotected labour disputes and most recently, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout his career, Lucky has been driven by a passion for innovation and business improvement and he has succeeded in building strong, sustainable partnerships. Lucky’s journey has now led him to the private sector where his experience, networks and practical know-how have culminated in the incorporation of Tlou Commodities Proprietary Limited (“Tlou”) and a partnership with the mining powerhouse Q Global Commodities Proprietary Limited (“QGC”), aimed at thriving in the local and international coal and other mineral supply chains. With the technical and financial support of QGC and its affiliates, coupled with Lucky’s extensive experience, Tlou is poised to become the true example of a black-owned mining start-up growing into an independent, proudly South African behemoth.

Vice President Exploration MinEx Projects and Principal of PanEx Resources – minerals projects development companies.
He gained his Doctorate on Greenstone hosted gold mineralisation
Gold exploration specialist in Greenstone hosted gold mineralisation, specifically of the Paleoproterozoic Birimian Supergroup
Mineral exploration expert with more than 16 years of experience gained throughout Africa and other countries (Europe and China).
Commodity experience includes gold, platinum group elements, base metals and diamonds
Expert in identifying and generating of new exploration targets
Management of exploration projects
Was part of team that developed the Phosiri platinum deposit
Exploration methods include interpretation of remote sensing data, ground and airborne geophysical surveys, various techniques in soil geochemical surveys combined with surface mapping.
Previously, worked as an Exploration, Underground and Chief Geologist at the Amalia Gold Mine: Underground and opencast mining for gold and alluvial diamonds, planning and leading drilling programs, core logging, trenching etc.

Pulane joins Webber Wentzel from Absa Capital where she was managing principal. She was responsible for Absa Capital’s Human Resources, Transformation, Diversity, Marketing & Corporate Communication, and Corporate Social Investment Departments. She also managed the sustainability aspects of the Corporate, Investment Banking and Wealth Cluster.In 2003 Pulane co-founded Sphere Holdings, a new generation investment holding, empowerment company focusing on financial services, industrial services and infrastructure. Other leadership positions include advisory mandates aimed at establishing and maintaining positive dialogue with the South African Government, which she undertook for both Lafarge and Xstrata.Pulane’s career in law has included time with Shepstone & Wylie Attorneys in Durban as well as Edward Nathan & Friedland Inc (now ENS) and White & Case LLP in Johannesburg. She has an International Baccalaureate Diploma from the International School of Moshi, Tanzania; an LLB from University of Wales, College of Aberystwyth; and an LLM from the University of Nottingham, England. She is a member of the International Bar Association.

He worked on numerous Gold and Platinum mines in South Africa, after which he spent 17 years in the financial markets, including 5 years as a mining equity analyst and 12 years in mining corporate finance. He has worked in South Africa and the UK for banks including JP Morgan Chase, Investec and Standard Bank. He  has extensive experience in IPO's, capital raisings, M&A transactions and Nomad as well as broker experience.  Gerard has been CEO of Aurigin since November 2012.

He is currently a final year B.Eng. (Mining) student at the University of Pretoria and a Sibanye Gold bursary holder. Gerard has experience in underground gold mining as a vocational student. Gerard is doing his final year research project on determining the root causes of sub-standard practises and their effects on safety in the South African gold mining industry. He plans to do his Master’s Degree at the University of the Witwatersrand next year to investigate the amenability of deep level gold mines to mechanisation and the socio-economic impact thereof. He is a student member of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Riaan offers deep corporate and financial leadership experience, having served at the forefront of the creation of one of the largest BEE companies on the JSE as a champion for transformation. He possesses a blend of financial, commercial and legal skills which have proven successful in driving sustainable growth and financial vitality. Riaan has more than 20 years’ experience in large corporate senior financial and management roles. He is currently Director of Finance for a JSE top-40 publicly listed company. He has spearheaded several multi-billion-rand international acquisitions and has well-developed bank and investor relationship management skills.

Lullu Krugel is the Chief Economist for PwC South Africa and a Partner in the strategy team. She leads a team of 17 economists, political analysts and regulatory specialists. Lullu and the team assist clients in understanding how the external economic and socio-economic environment might impact on their business, as well as how their own activities contribute to the creation of jobs, their total tax contributions and their contribution to GDP. In addition, Lullu and the team also assist clients in identifying investment opportunities and develop business strategies in particular for Africa expansion. Some of their past clients include, amongst others, ABInBev, SASOL, Vodacom, Naspers, Discovery, FNB and Standard Bank. Lullu is a regular commentator in the media and a frequent presenter at national and international conferences. She holds an M.Com Degree in Economics and Risk Management and post graduate diplomas in Energy Law, Competition Law, Economic Regulation and Regulatory Pricing.

Satish Kumar is Director – Projects at Vedanta Zinc International (VZI). As Head of Vedanta’s projects in South Africa, a role he assumed in 2015, he led the development of the US$400m Gamsberg Mine in the Northern Cape. His current role includes the development of various growth projects for VZI in South Africa and Namibia, including Phase 2 of Gamsberg and its associated Zinc Smelter. Satish was previously General Manager at Skorpion Zinc in Namibia. He has over 23 years’ experience in leading both projects and operations in various leadership roles in multiple geographies (India, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa). He is a chemical engineer by profession and has also completed a general management programme at Harvard Business School.

Andrew is a senior partner at Deloitte Africa, where he leads the Energy and Resources practice in Africa, the Monitor Deloitte corporate and business unit strategy capability and the CEO programme at the Deloitte Executive Institute. Andrews professional career spans 32 years – 14 in Industry, mainly in general management in industrial companies; and 18 in strategy and operational consulting. Andrew joined Deloitte as a Director following Deloitte’s acquisition of Monitor. He had joined Monitor as a partner, after being a partner and founding member of North Road Consulting. Andrew has led strategy, operational improvement, organization redesign and implementation projects in several industries. Andrew has specific expertise in energy, resources, aviation, logistics and manufacturing. His consulting experience spans operational turnarounds, performance improvement, and strategy development for private, listed and parastatal companies. His strategy expertise spans portfolio strategy, corporate and business unit strategy, growth strategy, and sustainability strategy. Prior to founding North Road Consulting, Andrew enjoyed a successful career at Bain & Company in Johannesburg and London. During this time he led client assignments in various industries, including mining, car rental, utilities, revenue collection, general industry and media.

With a passion for transforming the mining industry, Gary has built up a global reputation in the mining industry over the past 26 years. His experience started with various engineering and project management roles within Anglo American delivering 5 mega capital projects before completing an MBA and co-founding his first business start-up, Cyest Corporation, 14 years ago focusing on mining optimisation. This was followed by a tech start-up to focus on next generation technology and more recently Vuuma Collaborations to focus on systems thinking for the mine of the future. Gary’s philosophy is about collaboration with thought leaders globally to bring together the technology, skills and experience to drive a quantum change in the mining industry. Gary is a registered professional engineer and is on the council for the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Kgomtso specialises in guiding end-to-end technology solutions delivery and the management of application maintenance cycles for technology solutions, as well as digital programmes. Kgomotso played the role of Technology Services Lead at various key accounts within Accenture, supporting client CIOs and IM Managers in modernising and setting up new IT environments, maintaining current applications and software management. He is also a client account lead at key clients within the wider Accenture group. He has over 17 years of consulting experience and excels at transformational solutions sales as well as delivery across multiple sectors and geographies. Kgomotso has worked across public sector, mining, utilities, consumer goods industries and financial services. He has succeeded in large-scale digital and transformation deployments on six continents in countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, India, UK, Australia and the United States. Kgomotso is passionate about developing and leading talent. He is a member of the executive committee for Accenture in South Africa. He is also one of the executive sponsors of the mental matters wellness programme within the company. He holds a BSc: Biochemistry from the University of Witwatersrand and a Masters: Information Technology from the University of Pretoria. Kgomotso is also a Harvard Business School-certified Disruptive Strategist and participated in the Executive Development Programme from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is also a member of the Golden Key Society.

Boipelo joined Harmony on 1 June 2017 as Chief Financial Officer. She is a chartered accountant (SA) by profession with extensive experience in group financial management and reporting within the mining industry. Her previous roles include that of Chief Financial Officer of Atlatsa Resources Corporation and Financial Manager of Northam Platinum Limited. She served as an independent non-executive director of Trans Hex Group Limited from August 2013 until March 2017 and currently serves as an independent non-executive director on the boards of African Rainbow Capital Proprietary Limited and UBI General Partner Proprietary Limited since 7 June 2018. She also serves as a trustee of the Harmony group environmental trust funds.

Thabi Leoka is an Economist who has worked for various organisations in the financial sector. Thabi started her career as an Economist at Investec Asset Management in South Africa and London. She has also worked as an Emerging Markets Economist at Barclays in London and Head of Economic Research, SA at Standard Bank and the Chief Economist for SA at Renaissance Capital. Thabi was named the Economist of The Year 2017 by ABSIP. She writes for various publication both in South Africa and internationally. Thabi is a budding activist, loves travelling, reading, food and music.

Peter is a partner and Co-Chair of the Africa Practice Group at global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills and is based in the firm's Johannesburg office.
He is one of the world's pre-eminent mining lawyers according to the International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers and other peer reviewed global legal directories. His areas of expertise include mineral and petroleum regulation in developing countries (including the South African Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 and international best practice), black economic empowerment and indigenisation law, international investment law and financial services regulation.
Peter regularly advises on major mine development agreements and resources regulatory issues across Anglophone Africa. He also has significant experience in contentious matters involving States in sub-Saharan Africa. He is particularly skilled in crisis management and has provided expert advice on an urgent basis to clients to assist them in managing and mitigating significant country risks.
Peter is well versed in the Sub-Saharan African geopolitical climate and provides strategic advice not only on the mineral regulatory framework but also how to navigate the framework within the prevailing economic and political conditions in key African mining jurisdictions.
Peter is a regular speaker at conferences, courses and Parliamentary hearings in South Africa and internationally. He is an honorary lecturer at the University of Dundee in Scotland. He is also an accomplished speaker and has written extensively on the topics of mining, resource nationalism, the regulation of foreign direct investment, and black economic empowerment and indigenisation law.

Cobus qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte & Touche in South Africa and he is also a CFA® Charterholder. He has been a director of Pan African Resources since 2009 and served as Financial Director of Pan African Resources from 2013 until his appointment as Chief Executive Officer on 1 March 2015. Cobus has 15 years of management and investment experience in the African mining environment and has successfully executed a number of value-accretive projects and transactions during his time at Pan African Resources. Pan African Resources is focused on safe, low-cost and sustainable gold production.

Makgabo William Mabapa was elected as the NUM branch chairperson at Anglo Platinum Mogalakwena section in 1994 to 1995. In 1995 he was elected the branch secretary. In 1996 he was elected the full-time shop steward after the adoption of the first NUM Ten Year Plan at the 1996 National Congress held at Sinnodale, Pretoria to merge the branch secretary position and the full-time shop steward position. As a branch secretary/full-time shop steward, he also served as secretary for COSATU Local in Mokopane. In 1997 up until 2001 he was a branch secretary of the SACP at Molekane Village in Mogalakwena Local Municipality. In March 2002, at the 4th regional conference, he was elected as the Regional Secretary for North East Region until 2005. In 2005 at the 5th the regional conference, he was re-elected as the Regional Secretary until 2008. In 2008, at the 6th regional conference, he was re-elected as the Regional Secretary until 2011. In 2011 at the 7th regional conference, he was re-elected as the Regional Secretary until 2014. In 2014, at the 8th regional conference, he was re-elected as the Regional Secretary until 2015 when he was elected as the Deputy General Secretary at the 15th and 16th  National Congress held at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg. He currently sits on the Mineworkers Investment Company Board as Executive Director, the Mineworkers Investment Trust as a Trustee and Royal Bafokeng Platinum and State Diamond Trader as a Board member.

Mosa Mabuza qualified as a geologist with a BSc (Hons) and with a PDA in Business. He has extensive exploration experience in multiple regional jurisdictions that span SADC, West Africa and Canada, amongst others. He assumed his official duties in 2006 as Director of Mineral Economics in the erstwhile Department of Minerals and Energy and later became Deputy Director-General of the Mineral Policy (and Investment Promotion) in 2012. During his tenure as an official, he was assigned with the duties of leading the preliminary strategy for sustainable development and meaningful transformation of South Africa’s mining industry with emphasis on competitive growth and transformation as symbolistic reinforcing concepts, the development of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill and the assessment of the progress impact on the implementation of the Mining Charter in 2009 and 2015, which respectively based the evidence value proposition for the amendments of the 2010 and 2017 Mining Charter. Mr Mabuza represented the Department of Mineral Resources on the boards of number of science councils and State-Owned Entities, including, albeit not limited to, the Council for Geoscience, Mintek and the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator. In November 2016, Mr Mabuza was deployed to the Council for Geoscience and now serves as CEO (since July 2017). He is currently working with his colleagues to champion the refocused geo-scientific programme that seeks to optimise the development impact, aligned with the national developmental priorities.

Jabulane (Jabu) Mabuza currently serves as the Chairman Sun International Limited as well as the Interim Executive Chairman and Acting Group Chief Executive of Eskom SOC Limited. He is widely recognised as a successful entrepreneur and business leader, having recently retired as the Chairman of Telkom SA SOC Ltd where he played a pivotal role in turning the company around. He has also recently stepped down as the Chairman of Anheuser – Busch InBev/SAB Miller - Africa, Business Leadership South Africa, as well as the Casino Association of South Africa.  He served as the President of Business Unity South Africa until 2018. He was appointed by the Presidency as a co-convenor of the CEO Initiative together with the former Treasury Minister to look into the state of affairs of the South African economy. Jabu was recently appointed to the board of MultiChoice Group. Jabu has held a number of directorships within the Southern Sun and Tsogo Sun Groups as the Former Group Chief Executive of Tsogo Sun. He served on the Board of South African Tourism for nine years and as its Chairman for six years, ending May 2012. Outside of our South African boarders, he served on the boards of Tanzania Breweries Ltd (TBL), and Castle Brewing Company in Kenya. He served on the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in Washington DC as a Board Member, on the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in the UK as an Executive Committee Member and as Chairman of the Regional Business Council for the World Economic Forum (WEF). Has been part of the B20/G20 Delegation to all the B20/G20 Summits and matters over the years. He was appointed to the Concordia Leadership Council based in New York, USA. Jabu holds a Doctorate in Commerce (Honoris Causa) from the University of the Witwatersrand and was also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards in 2016.

Lucky has a total of 22 years’ experience in the mining sector, which includes various managerial positions. 

Currently Vice President of South African Collieries Managers Association (SACMA); Council Member of SACMA; Regional Chairperson of SACMA (Northern Region 2014 – 2015; Chairperson of the Underground Coal Regional Tripartite Forum; Examiner for Mine Managers Certificate; Examiner for Mine Overseer Certificate (2007-2010); Member of SAIMM; Registered with Engineering Council of South Africa as Professional Engineer

Currently General Manager at Brandspruit Colliery from 2014 – to date; Mine Manager at Brandspruit 2010-2013; Mining Manager at Goedehoop Colliery 2007 -2010; Underground Manager at Goedehoop Colliery 2005 -2007.

Barry has been working in the power industry in South Africa for over 25 years. He is currently the National Utility’s head of Research, Testing and Development and leads a team of over 400 people involved in applied research, testing and consulting in a variety of specialist energy technology related disciplines. As a utility owned facility, the focus is on finding practical solutions to the operational and strategic challenges of Eskom, Africa’s largest power utility. Barry manages teams structured around centres of excellence – five of these have particular resonance with CCS – Fuels and Combustion, Emissions Reduction Technologies, Materials, Air Quality Monitoring and of course, Underground Coal Gasification.

Barry brings a practical approach to innovation as he understands the reality of applying new technologies in the context of a large fossil based power utility. He understands the need for change in the context of a slow moving industry and the need to balance risk, cost, efficiency and environmental issues. Coming from Southern Africa, Barry also knows the requirements of a developing state and how social impacts and economic imperatives intertwine, often in seemingly opposing directions.

Before this position Barry spent most of his time in Eskom’s Distribution Division as an engineer, manager and strategic planner. Time spent in operational deployment has given him a deep understanding of power system technologies and this mixed with societal imperatives forms the foundation for innovative approaches to old challenges in the future supply industry.

Barry fulfils a variety of leadership positions locally and overseas;
- He is the Chairman of the US based Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Research Advisory Board
- He is the Vice Chairman of the International Energy Agency Clean Coal Centre (IEA CCC)
- He is a Board member of the South African Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage (SACCCS)
- He is a Board member of the International Energy Research Exchange
- He is an Exco member of the National Science and Technology Forum
- He is an Exco member of the Fossil Fuel Foundation
- He is a member of the Large Infrastructure Investment Committee of the DST
- He is a member of the National Energy Storage Steering Committee
- He advises on several University bodies including the role of vice-chair of the Eskom Power Plant Engineering Institute.

Barry is an Electronics Engineer who obtained his degree from the University of Natal in South Africa in 1991. He also has an MBA from Rhodes University. 

Alastair is a mining engineer with 47 years of mining experience. He graduated as a mining engineer from Camborne School of Mines in 1973, whereupon he came to South Africa, joining Anglo American. After several international assignments, he rose to Mine Manager and Consultant, Mineral Resource Management, in AngloGold. Most of his production experience was in gold mining in South Africa, with some experience in potash mining at Boulby Mine.

He joined Wits University in 1999, where he worked as a Senior Lecturer, lecturing mining, mineral resource management and mine finance to undergraduates and post graduates. During this time, he developed numerous new courses and programmes. He formed Macsim Mining Consultancy, from which he has consulted to many companies in South Africa, Zambia, DRC, Tanzania and Australia, in areas of mine optimisation, mine planning and mine feasibility. He chaired the SAMVAL Committee, and the International Mineral Valuations Committee for many years, being the founder of the International Valuations template, and the current SAMVAL Code. He formed a successful BBBEE mining company, Sebilo Resources which is actively mining in the manganese business.

Alastair is a Non-Executive, Independent Director of Implats, and President Elect of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He is currently a Co-Director of the Mining Precinct@Carlow Road, which is a multi-stakeholder partnership formed to promote and further research and development in the South African mining industry. He is also a Director of the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa cluster.

Shirley was appointed as CEO, South Africa for PricewaterhouseCoopers, South Africa from 1 July 2019.  She has been a Partner in PwC’s Assurance Services division for 15 years. She is a Chartered Accountant and qualified Chartered Director Southern Africa (CD (SA)) and has over 26 years’ internal, external audit, risk management, compliance and governance experience in the private and public sectors across all industries. She has published several articles on internal audit in the professional journals of the IPFA, JUTA and IIA. She is a renowned speaker and has presented at national and regional level and at international conferences. She has had an opportunity to co-present with Prof Mervyn King on governance, risk and internal audit matters locally and regionally. She is the National Director of Faranani Rural Women Training Program since 2006, an initiative with a purpose to empower rural women in business skills with the aim to ensure that they contribute to the mainstream economy. She was a finalist of the “Africa’s Most Influential Woman in Business and in Government” awards in 2013.  She was a finalist of the “Top Black Female Leader of The Year” by Topco Media in 2014.  She was honoured by the African Women Chartered Accountants as “Audit Partner of the Year” in 2016. She was also honoured by the Black Management Forum as “Manager of the Year” again in 2016.  She was honoured by the South African Professional Services Awards with the “Big 4 Professional of the Year” as well as being named the overall “Woman Professional of the Year” in February 2018.  She was a nominee for “Business Woman of the Year” in 2018 by the Business Women’s Association. 

Mr Fidelis Madavo is the Executive Head: Listed Investment at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) of South Africa. Prior to this he was Head of Resources and Portfolio Manager for Strategic and African Listed Investment, also at the PIC. Before joining the PIC in 1997, he was Vice President in the Mining Team at Citigroup based in Johannesburg. Prior to Citigroup, he worked at Investec Securities.Prior to coming back to South Africa, Mr Madavo spent ten years with CRU International, a mining consultancy based in London. His professional background also includes working for Anglo American as a Metallurgist.Mr Madavo holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemical Engineering from Wales UK and MSc from City University London.

Jongisa Magagula is currently the Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Development at African Rainbow Minerals (ARM). She began her career in the financial reporting department of Unilever South Africa Home and Personal Care. During her time at Unilever she was seconded to the internal audit team of Ernst and Young. In 2007 Jongisa joined Absa Capital and was seconded to Barclays Capital in London where she worked in the Real Estate Group Services team originating commercial debt and structuring commercial debt securitisations. She returned to Absa Capital and joined the Mining and Metals team responsible for financing and risk management solutions for mining clients. Jongisa holds a Bachelor of Business Science (Finance) Honours from the University of Cape Town.

Oregopotse Magano is an Electrical Engineering student at the University of the Witwatersrand, Born and bred in Tshwane, he is eager to play a part in Africa's
transformation and is passionate about technology. Student Affiliation: Chairperson - His People Christian Society (2014); Mentor - FYE (First Year Experience) (2013); Member - SAIEE

Ben joined the Lonmin Board as Chief Executive on 1 July 2013. He is a graduate Mining Engineer from the University of Zimbabwe and has attended various management programmes, including the Accelerated Development Programme from the London Business School, UK and the AMP from GIBS, SA. Ben has extensive mining experience in both underground and surface mining as well as soft and hard rock mining. He also has experience in the energy and logistics industries. Ben was the Chief Executive Officer of Anglo Coal South Africa and the Executive Head responsible for Engineering and Capital Projects at Anglo Platinum. Ben was a Non-Executive Director of Foskor and was a Director of Anglo American South Africa, was Chairman of Richards Bay Coal Terminal and the Eskom 2008 Coal Working Group. He is a Zimbabwean national. He has a BSc (Engineering) (Honours), ADP.

Ms Nelisiwe Magubane holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and is a registered electrical engineer. She started her career in Eskom. After a stint in the private sector as a consulting electrical engineer, she joined the Department of Minerals and Energy as the Chief Director responsible for the restructuring of the electricity sector, planning and implementation of the electrification programme. She was later appointed as a Deputy Director General responsible for the development of the policies that govern electricity, nuclear and clean energy in South Africa.

She was appointed as Director General of Energy in December 2009 and was responsible, amongst other things, for the development of the Integrated Resource Plan. She subsequently established the Department of Energy.

Ms Magubane is an expert advisor in energy regulation, policy and procurement. She is currently advising the Government of Tanzania on the design of their reverse auctions. She is also working with the Tetratech team in restructuring Tanesco, the Tanzanian electricity utility, as part of Power Africa Transactions and Reform Programme (PATRP).

Ms Magubane’s contract with the Department of Energy ended in November 2014. She has since established Matleng Energy Solutions, a 70%-female owned company that provides energy solutions. She has also been appointed to the Board of State Information Technology Agency (SITA) as a Non–Executive Director, is a member of the Thebe Energy and Resources Advisory Council and a Non-Executive Director for Eskom Holdings. She has been named one of the top 50 most influential figures in the Southern African Power sector by the ESI Africa Magazine.

Mmusi Aloysias Maimane is the Federal Leader of South Africa's official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA). He also is the Parliamentary Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly of South Africa. 

Maimane is the former leader of the DA Caucus in the Johannesburg City Council and former DA National Spokesperson.

Born in Soweto, Mmusi earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Africa, a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of the Witwatersrand and a master’s in Theology from the University of Wales.

After he was elected as the DA Federal Leader on the 10th of May 2015, the DA’s membership grew significantly.

Mmusi is passionate about South Africa and is determined to fight for the improvement of Quality Education, Advancement of Youth Employment and Economic Growth in South Africa.
These passions are shared in his weekly video and newsletter, called Bokamoso. In his home language, Setswana, Bokamoso means “The Future”.

Peter Major was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 16 May 1955. His family moved to Kellogg, Idaho, the 'silver mining capital of the world' in 1961, where Peter grew up and worked through 1981. Peter graduated from Montana School of Mines in 1981 and came to South Africa in Jan 1982 to work for Harmony Gold Mine. He completed his South African Mine Manager's Certificate, an MBA from UCT and thereafter worked as a consultant and as Marketing & Training Manager for Eimco Mining Machinery SA. Peter began his investment career with Allan Gray in 1989 as a gold mine analyst. He then spent 10 years as mining analyst & fund manager at Nedcor Investment Bank where he won 2 Raging Bull Awards, 1 ‘runner up, and was South Africa’s Top Fund Manager 2 other years. In 2001 as CIO he set up HBD Asset Management with Mark Shuttleworth, with assets of $530m growing to $1.5bn by 2005. In 2006 Peter joined Cadiz where he is Director: Mining, focusing on Private Equity, Capital Raising and M & A activity in the Mining & Resources sector.

Thabile Makgala is the Executive: Mining at Implats. Prior to joining Implats, Thabile held various senior positions at Gold Fields, Anglogoldashanti and AngloAmerican. In 2018, she was selected as one of the “Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining worldwide. Thabile is the current chairperson of Women in Mining South Africa and made history by being the first female Mining Engineer Graduate at Gold fields Kloof and Driefontein division (Now Sibanye Gold). Thabile has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Stellenbosch Business School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering (Cum laude), from the University of the Witwatersrand. Thabile is a member of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Institute of Directors in Southern Africa. Thabile is passionate about Mining, transformation and the advancement of the industry through harnessing technology and innovation.

Mondli Makhanya, who is currently the Editor-in-Chief of City Press, has been in the media industry for more than 26 years. He is one of South Africa’s most respected editors and an influential columnist. Makhanya’s insights on South Africa’s political and social developments are much sought after. He is a regular speaker at public and private events and is frequently invited to speak on panels across a range of topics. 

He began his career at the Weekly Mail where he covered the transition to democracy and also reported on business and economic debates during that period. During this time he had a stint on Newsweek magazine in New York.

After the Weekly Mail he worked for The Star as political writer and later as deputy news editor and executive editor.

He was one of the founding editors of Sunday World before moving onto the Sunday Times where he worked as political editor. Makhanya has served as editor of the Mail&Guardian, Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday Times as well as Editor-in-Chief of the Times Media Group.

Makhanya has also served as Chairperson of the South African National Editors Forum and as Treasurer of the The African Editors’ Forum.

Trudi Makhaya is a writer, economist and entrepreneur. In April 2018, she was appointed as full time economic advisor to His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa. In this role, she provides technical support to the President on economic policy. This includes regular input on key issues and initiatives, interfacing with relevant advisory councils and engaging with economic policy stakeholders. Before taking up this role, Trudi was CEO of Makhaya Advisory, a boutique consulting firm with a focus on helping business navigate economic policy, including competition policy, that she founded in 2015. Trudi has also served as an advisor and angel investor in young companies. She has held non-executive directorships at Vumelana Advisory Fund and MTN South Africa. An active public commentator, Trudi was a columnist for various publications, including Daily Maverick, Business Day and Acumen. She has also published academic journal articles on competition economics and policy. Trudi holds an MBA and an MSc in Development Economics from Oxford University, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. She holds an MCom in Economics, an honours degree in economics and a BCom in Law and Economics from the University of Witwatersrand. Trudi was an economist and later a member of the executive committee at the Competition Commission of South Africa from 2010 to 2014. Trudi represented the Commission at various international fora including the OECD, BRICS, International Competition Network and the African Competition Forum. Prior to joining the Competition Commission, Trudi held various management consulting and corporate roles at Deloitte South Africa, Genesis Analytics and AngloGold Ashanti. In her spare time, Trudi writes fiction. Her recent work has been published in New Contrast and the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Anthology Vol IV.

Charl Malan is the Senior Analyst for the global hard assets strategy. He specializes in base and industrial metals and also serves on the investment team for the gold equity strategy. He has been a member of the investment management team since 2003. Prior to joining VanEck, Charl was an equity research sales analyst specializing in the South African mining, natural resources and financial sectors at JPMorgan Chase. He was actively involved in the merger of BHP Billiton/SAB Miller and the unbundling of Iscor Steel/Kumba Resources as well as capital raisings and the NYSE listing of Harmony Gold, Gold Fields, and Telkom SA. He was previously an equity research analyst and junior portfolio manager at Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank, Asset Management (South Africa). He developed and applied various fundamental and quantitative models within the natural resources, mining and consumer sectors and established an equity research department and managed Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank, Asset Management (Namibia). His media appearances include ROBTv and he has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Forbes, CNBC and The Financial Times, among others. Charl has also featured in mining journals such as miningmx, Mining Journal and Resource Investor. He has an MBA and an Honours’ degree in Business Administration from the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa);, and a BA in Arts from the University of Pretoria (South Africa).

Jayne is the Partner in charge of PwC South Africa’s Sustainability and Climate Change department and ESG Lead for Africa, where she focuses on developing and delivering services in the areas of: sustainable development strategy, framework, practices, reporting and assurance; Sustainable Development Goals; integrated reporting and management; social and environment impact and outcomes measurement; safety, health and environment risk, performance and compliance; and climate change risk and resilience. Jayne is a Chartered Accountant by profession but has been working in the broad areas of corporate governance, sustainable development and climate change since 2002. During this time, she has worked across a variety of industries including mining, oil and gas, banking, insurance, telecommunications, technology, construction, real estate and state-owned entities. As part of her work she has also written various “thought leadership” articles for publication in the press, presented at numerous conferences, is co-author of The Company Director’s Handbook and contributed a chapter to SAICA’s Green II. She was also a member of the IOD Sustainable Development Forum, the Integrated Reporting Committee of South Africa (IRCSA) Working Group and the NBI’s Advisory Committee on Environment and Sustainability. Currently she is a board member of the IRCSA and a member of the King sub-Committee on Climate Change.

Mr Samson Gwede Mantashe was born on the 21st of June 1955 in the village of Lower Cala in the then Transkei (now Eastern Cape Province). He cut his teeth as an activist in the Student Christian Movement (SCM). Minister Mantashe received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 1997, where he also completed a Bachelor of Commerce Honours in 2002. He holds a Masters’ degree from the University of Witwatersrand (WITS), acquired in 2008. He is currently studying for his Masters’ in Business Administration through MANCOSA. In 1975 he was employed as the Recreation Officer at the Western Deep Levels mine and, in the same year, moved to Prieska Copper Mines where he served as the Welfare Officer until 1982. Working at the Matla Colliery in 1982, Mr Mantashe co-founded and became the Witbank branch chairperson of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), a position he held until 1984. In 1985, he was elected as the NUM Regional Secretary. A skilled mineworker and leader, Mr Mantashe served as the NUM’s National Organiser from 1988 to 1993; and became the Regional Coordinator between 1993 and 1994. From 1994 to 1998, Mr Mantashe served as the Assistant General Secretary of the NUM, whereupon he was elected as the first worker General Secretary at the union’s congress in 1998.

For his first stint in government, Mr Mantashe was elected Councillor in the Ekurhuleni Municipality in 1995 where he served until 1999. In 1995, he became the first trade unionist to be appointed to the Board of Directors of a Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed company, namely, Samancor. In May 2006, he relinquished his position as the General Secretary of the NUM at the union’s 12th National Congress. In the same year, Mr Mantashe was appointed as the Executive Director at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) where, for a period of two years, he served as the Chairperson of the Technical Working Group of the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA). In 2007, Mr Mantashe was elected as the Chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and also served as a member of the Party’s Central Committee. In December 2007, he was elected as the Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC) at the party’s 52nd National Conference. He was re-elected to the same position in 2012. At the ANC’s 54th National Conference, in 2017, Mr Mantashe was elected as the National Chairperson. Mr Mantashe was appointed Minister of Mineral Resources in February 2018. Following the 6th democratic elections in 2019, and with the expansion of the Ministry to include Energy, he was appointed as the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy in May 2019 where he currently serves.

As a youth, not surprising for someone with his religious roots, he had begun his activism in the then Student Christian Movement (SCM). At the time the SCM was pivotal in raising the consciousness of young people in the 1970s at the dawn of liberated Angola and Mozambique. Mantashe received a B.Comm degree from the University of South Africa (Unisa) in 1997 and completed his B.Comm Honours degree in 2002. He also holds a Masters degree from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), acquired in 2008.Like most of his kin and countrymen from the hinterland of South Africa, he joined the migratory labour force to eke out a living in the mining industry. Beginning his mining experience at Western Deep Levels mine in 1975 as a Recreation Officer and, in the same year, moved to Prieska Copper Mines where he was Welfare Officer until 1982. Mantashe moved to Matla Colliery where co-founded and became the Witbank branch chairperson of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in 1982, a position he held until 1984. He was then elected NUM Regional Secretary in 1985. In recognition of his skills Mantashe became the NUM’s National Organiser from 1988 to 1993 and its Regional Coordinator between 1993 and 1994.From 1994 to 1998 Gwede Mantashe served as the Assistant General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), whereupon he was elected as the first worker General Secretary at the union’s Congress in 1998. He relinquished his position as General Secretary of the NUM in May 2006 at the union’s 12th National Congress. Between 1995 and 1999 he served as an elected local government councillor in Ekurhuleni, formerly known as the East Rand. In 1995 Mantashe became the first trade unionist to be appointed to the Board of Directors of a Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed company, Samancor, a position he still holds today. In 2006, after leaving the NUM, he was appointed as the Executive Manager: Strategic Initiatives at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) where he was the Chairperson of the Technical Working Group of the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) for a period of two years. He was elected Chairman of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in 2007, and also served as a member of the Party’s Central Committee. At the 52ndNational Conference of the ANC in Polokwane, December 2007, Mantashe was elected as the Secretary General of the ANC. In 2012 at the SACP National Congress, Mantashe stepped down as the Chairman of the SACP. He was however, at the same Congress, elected into the Central Committee of the Party. In the same year, at the 53rd National Conference of the ANC in Mangaung, he was overwhelmingly re-elected as the Secretary General of the African National Congress. Current Position: Secretary General of the African National Congress, ANC (since 2007)

Trevor Manuel is a senior advisor to the Rothschild Group worldwide and Deputy Chairman of Rothschild in South Africa.

Trevor Manuel served as a Cabinet Minister from 1994 to 2014 under the first four successive Presidents, Mandela, Mbeki, Motlanthe and Zuma in democratic South Africa. His cabinet responsibilities included Trade and Industry (May 1994 to April 1996), Finance (April 1996 to May 2009), and in the Presidency, responsibility for the National Planning Commission (May 2009 to May 2014). During his two decades as a Cabinet Minister he also served as a Member of Parliament, representing the African National Congress.

His ministerial career highlights have tracked two decades of major development in the South African economy. As Minister of Trade and Industry he led the process of reintegration of South Africa into the global economy after decades of sanctions, and he introduced extension support measures for small, medium and micro-enterprises. During his lengthy tenure as Minister of Finance he stabilised the macro-economy, significantly transformed the fiscal system in respect of taxation, expenditure and the intergovernmental system. As Chairperson of the National Planning Commission he oversaw the drafting of the broadly accepted first-ever National Development Plan for the country.

As Minister he assumed a number of ex officio positions on International bodies, including the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Bank, the IMF, the G20, the African Development Bank and the Southern African Development Community. In these institutions, he was also frequently elected by his peers to chair several of these bodies.

Mr Manuel was also appointed as Special Envoy for Financing Development on two occasions (2001 and 2008) by successive Secretaries General of the United Nations. He served on various international commissions including the Task Force on Global Public Goods (2002/3), the Africa Commission (2005), the Commission on Growth and Development (2006 to 2010), the Global Ocean Commission (2012/4) (that he co-chaired) and the Commission on the New Climate Economy (2013/4). He was requested to chair various Task Teams including on IMF Governance Reform (2007/8) and the World Bank Doing Business Report (2013).

Mr. Manuel has received a number of awards and presentations, including Africa's Finance Minister of the Year and the Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award. He has 7 honorary doctorates from South African tertiary institutions and a Doctor of Laws from MacMaster University, Ontario Canada. His South African doctorates are in the following fields: two of commerce, three of technology, one of economics and one of law. He has served as the Chancellor of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) since May 2008.

Mr Manuel was born in 1956. He matriculated from Harold Cressy High School in Cape Town. He has a National Diploma in Civil and Structural Engineering from the Peninsula Technikon and completed the Executive Management Programme in a joint programme between Stanford University and the National University of Singapore. He is married to Maria Ramos and they live in South Africa.

Olivia Markham, CFA, Managing Director and portfolio manager, is a member of the Natural Resources team within the Fundamental Equity division of BlackRock's Active Equity Group. She co-manages the BGF Circular Economy Fund, the BlackRock World Mining Trust, the BGF World Mining Fund and a number of the team's segregated portfolios. Ms. Markham joined BlackRock in 2011. Previously, she was head of the European Mining team at UBS. Ms. Markham earned a BComm degree, with honours, in finance, from the University of Western Australia in 2003.

Mashego joined Harmony in 2005 in the human resources discipline. He has since been responsible for a variety of portfolios at senior management level and as an executive. These include Human Resources Development, General Manager at Evander, Human Resources Executive and Government and Stakeholder Relations. Mashego was appointed an Executive Director on 24 February 2010. He represents Harmony on a number of boards as a director including the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA), Enactus and the Rand Refinery where he is also the Chairman of the Social and Ethics Committee.

Mogale Mashilane joined the Marula team at Implats in 2013 as an engineering manager. In 2015 he was appointed as the General Manager of the mine. Prior to joining the company, Mogale worked for Foskor, where he worked in various managerial roles concluding his journey with this company as the chief operating officer (COO) of their Zirconia Division.  He started his career in mining at AngloGold. Mogale holds a National Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, as well as an Executive Development Programme Diploma and has pursued various other leadership and business studies.

Dzingira Matenga is the Managing Director, Development Assets at ERG Africa. His background is in mineral economics and he has a keen interest in new development assets (greenfield and “stalled brownfields”) across sub-Saharan Africa. His experience includes Project development in countries as diverse as Mali, Senegal, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, DRC and South Africa; Multi-commodity development and innovative funding techniques for greenfield projects; A deep network of logistics, power and human capital enablers for mining projects; Operations improvement work for brownfield projects and “non-traditional” methods of getting new mines into production in order to preserve capital and maximise cash flows for investors. Dzingira is a Chartered Accountant, is a Prince2 Certified Project Manager and is a member of the SA Institute of Directors (IoDSA).

He was a Chairperson of the Students Mining Engineers Society (SMES) in the same year. He is currently working at Sasol.

Joseph Mathunjwa  is the founder and Head of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) – one of the most progressive and fast growing trade unions in South Africa’s labour landscape.  Born in Amatikulu, in the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Mathunjwa began his career as a laboratory attendant. He then worked as the laboratory assistant at BHP Billiton’s Douglas Colliery in Mpumalanga where he gained popularity among the workforce due to his interests in representing workers. It was at BHP Billiton where Mathunjwa honed and refined his skills for representing the workforce around him by managing to convince management to implement a bonus system for underground mine workers. His interest in trade unions came when he saw people being retrenched without companies making an effort to save their jobs. The first retrenchment that Mathunjwa fought for through the Labour Court was at BHP Billiton in 2005 where he successfully won the case. This paved the way for Mathunjwa to join the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) as a Chair of a local branch of the union. After parting ways with NUM in September 1999, Joseph laid the foundation for the formation of AMCU, which was formally registered in 2001, to address the swelling vein of discontentment among poor, black workers who were seeing little improvement in their lives two decades after apartheid ended. AMCU now makes a difference in the lives of its more than 200,000 members, with the Union enjoying steady growth year-on-year.  

Otsile Matlou is ENSafrica’s Chief Operating Officer, Practice Integration. He is also a Director and Head of the firm’s natural resources and environment department. As COO, Practice Integration, Otsile ensures the seamless delivery of effective solutions for clients across the continent. As Head of the firm’s natural resources and environment department, Otsile’s expertise covers the circle of mining – from exploration, mining and beneficiation to downscaling and closure. His experience ranges from start-up exploration projects to well-established mining projects, and he acts for a wide range of mining companies in all mineral commodity sectors, including the base and precious metals, coal, rare earths, sand and diamonds sectors.  Otsile’s expertise includes advising on mining aspects of equity and asset acquisitions, disposals and corporate restructuring, and black economic empowerment transactions, as well as on distressed mining assets and on royalties in the mining sector. His experience further includes all aspects of regulatory work in the mining and petroleum (upstream) industries, for listed and unlisted senior, mid‑tier and junior companies, as well as for financial institutions with regards to resource-finance projects. Otsile has done mining title and transactional work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. He has also advised on joint ventures in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Zambia. In addition, he has advised the Uganda Chamber of Mines in relation to the Ugandan mineral regulatory framework. Otsile is an instructor for the Black Lawyers Association and is a member of the Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law section of the International Bar Association. He is also an instructor at the International Law Institute – African Centre for Legal Excellence, where he has trained senior government negotiators and regulators from various African countries in regards to mining contracts, concessions and disputes. Otsile is regularly invited to present papers at conferences and seminars in the field of mining law, and he is widely published.

Anton Mauve has over 25 years’ experience in mining and the minerals industry, formerly holding the position of Vice President Strategy and Long Term Planning with Lonmin plc where he worked for over 15 years.  He is a partner in Plinian Capital and the CE Mining Fund, and serves as Director of Consolidated Nickel Mines Ltd. and President of West African Minerals Corporation.

Tonny Mavimbela is the Chairperson of Tuks Mining Society (TMS) and he is a final year mining engineering student at the University of Pretoria. Tonny is currently participating in Mining Engineering Leadership Academy to develop soft skills and strong leadership qualities such as self-awareness, communication and collaboration. In his life Tonny has been engaged with various organisations where he was a leader and he has been in the following positions: 2015: Chairperson of the Tuks Mining Society, 2014: Treasurer of the Tuks Mining Society Treasurer, 2014: Chairperson of Twelve Apostle Church in Christ Youth Structure, 2007: Chairperson of the Learners Representative Council at Sozama High School. Tonny is looking forward to pursuing his career in the mining industry where he will express the skills acquired at the university. Tonny was exposed to opencast coal mining, conventional narrow tabular platinum mining and mechanised bord and pillar nickel mining, this exposure was obtained during vacation work. After his studies Tonny is looking forward to do his Blasting Certificate, register with Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and do his Mine Manager Certificate. Tonny is also planning to do his postgraduate studies.

Kolobe Nala Investment Company (Pty) Ltd (KNI) is a family-owned business focused on investments in mining, energy and aviation and is headed by Billy Mawasha, who has extensive mining experience with Anglo American, Rio Tinto, De Beers and AngloGold Ashanti to name but a few. Until recently, Billy was the Country Head in South Africa for Rio Tinto and the MD of Richards Bay Minerals. In addition, Billy serves on the Board of Metair Investments Ltd (MTA:SJ – Automotive Components and Battery Manufacturer) and is the Chairman of their Investment Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk and Nomination Committees. Billy is also a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Billy’s experience, a strong network of relationships in the mining industry and his understanding of doing business across the continent, enables KNI to bring long-term value-adding perspectives, hands-on and pragmatic expertise and solid operational and technical know-how to projects they invest in. This is realised through strategic guidance and active participation in the board of directors and associated committees, in particular the investment, technical and risk committees and through working collaboratively with relevant parties and management teams. 

Bothwell Mazarura is the Chief Financial Officer at Kumba Iron Ore, a position he has held since September 2017. Prior to that he served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at Wescoal Holdings Limited from July 2016. He previously held various senior financial roles at Lonmin Plc from 2010, including Group Head of Finance, Head of Treasury and Acting Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Lonmin Plc, he was a Partner at Deloitte & Touche from 2002, where he also spent some time working in the United Kingdom. Bothwell holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science Degree from the University of South Africa and is an accredited Chartered Accountant in three jurisdictions – England and Wales, South Africa and Zimbabwe. 

Norman Mbazima joined Kumba Iron Ore, a business unit of Anglo American on 1 September 2012. Previously he was the CEO of Thermal Coal and during this time has overseen the business unit’s record operating profit in 2011 combined with an improved safety performance. A Chartered Accountant by profession, Norman began his career in accounting roles at Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines, before spending 17 years with Deloitte & Touche, also in Zambia. He has extensive experience in the Anglo American Group and joined the company in 2001.  His former roles include,  CEO of Scaw Metals, Finance Director and Acting CEO of the platinum business unit as well as CFO of the former Anglo Coal business unit and CFO of Konkola Copper Mines. Norman has had extensive experience in the mining industry, including managing operations, capital raising and managing finances, negotiating transactions, and interfacing with stakeholders including labour, communities, government departments and a wide variety of investors. Norman is on the Anglo American SA Board, a member of the Group Management Committee and has been the Deputy Chairman of Anglo American South Africa since June 2015.

Glen is the Executive Head of Technical and Projects for Kumba Iron ore.  In his current role he is responsible for exploration, geosciences, mining, processing, asset strategy and reliability, business improvement, technology deployment and growth projects.  He has over 22 years of experience in South African and West African iron ore and has held numerous roles in the fields of exploration, geosciences, geotechnical engineering and geohydrology.  Glen is a registered Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat) and holds a Bachelors degree in Geology, a Graduate Diploma in Rock Engineering, a Chamber of Mines Certificate in Rock Engineering and a Masters degree in Mining Engineering. He has published several papers on open-pit geotechnical engineering and was the founding Chairman of the Surface Mining branch of the South African Institute of Rock Engineering.  From October 2011 to 2014 he also served as the examiner for the Surface Mining Chamber of Mines Certificate in Rock Engineering.

Sandy joined Allan Gray as an investment analyst and economist in October 1991. Previously he was employed by Gold Fields of South Africa Limited in a variety of management positions for 24 years, where much of his experience was focused on investment-related activities. His current responsibilities include the management of fixed interest and individual client portfolios and he is a fund manager for the Allan Gray Bond Fund. He was a director of Allan Gray Limited from 1997 to 2006.

Claire has spent majority of her career working in the mining industry, firstly in her role as the Managing Consultant of a specialist mining placement company, followed by many years as the Group HRM for MSA, one of Africa's largest exploration and mining consulting firms. In conjunction with MSA leadership, Claire developed effective and innovative systems which focused on the professional development of technical people, who are able to meet the challenges of the modern mining industry. She is most proud of her involvement in the change management process that resulted in MSA winning various awards in the Deloitte Best Company to Work for Survey – including best professional services company. Claire joined the Fraser Alexander Executive Team in September 2018 where she is responsible for the Human Resources department that fulfils four key roles – those of strategic partner, change agent, administrative expert and employee champion. In addition, Claire leads the Learning and Development, Communication and Community Liaison functions. She is also responsible for their annual sustainability report. Claire holds an Honours degree in Industrial Psychology and has over 20 years of management experience. She is particularly passionate about the advancement of women in the South African mining industry and in addition to her role in HR, Claire serves as the Past Chairperson of Women in Mining South Africa (WIMSA) and is a current WIMSA patron.

Michael (Mick) James McMullen brings more than 28 years of senior leadership experience in the exploration, financing, development and operations of mining companies globally.  He is CEO and Director at Metals Acquisition Corp, a NYSE-listed SPAC that recently raised $265 million to acquire a business in the metals and mining space. Mick recently served as the CEO and President at Detour Gold Corporation (“Detour”), a 600,000 ounce per annum gold producer in Canada from May 2019 to January 2020. During his tenure, Mick took the market capitalization from C$2.1 billion to C$4.9 billion over 7 months, which represented an internal rate of return of 208%, leading to the acquisition by Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. in 2020. Prior to Detour, Mick served as CEO at Stillwater Mining Company (“Stillwater”) from December 2013 to May 2017 and as Technical Advisor from May 2017 to December 2018, where he was instrumental in the increase in market capitalization from US$1.3 billion to US$2.2 billion against a 10% fall in PGM prices over the same time. Mick also served as a Non- Executive Director at Stillwater from May 2013 to December 2013. Stillwater was sold to Sibanye Gold Ltd. in May 2017 in an all-cash deal valued at US$2.7 billion, which represented an internal rate of return of 16% during his 41-month tenure. Mick’s time before Stillwater involved the identification, acquisition, development, and operation of a variety of mining assets across North and South America, Europe, Australia and Africa. These ranged from gold to base metals and bulk commodities. In addition, he has provided technical and financial advisory services to many of the larger PE funds, activist funds, and banks providing mining finance. Mick is a qualified Geologist and received his B.Sc. from Newcastle University in 1992 and has been a Non-Executive Director at Venturex Resources Limited (“Venturex”), an ASX-listed base metal developer, since February 2021. Since May 2021, he has served as a Non-Executive Director at OceanaGold Corporation, a dual-listed ASX-TSX gold miner with operations in the US and New Zealand.

Jabu Mdaki’s role is to lead and manage the operations and contribute to the strategic initiatives of Richards Bay Coal Terminal. He manages the engagement with key stakeholders including coal exporting parties, Department of Minerals, Transnet Freight Rail and Transnet National Ports Authority. Jabu has served RBCT for 17 years, having previously worked for Sasol Synthetic Fuels and Eskom.

Brian Menell is a British/South African industrialist and investor with natural resource and energy interests across both emerging and developed markets.  He is the Chairman and CEO of TechMet Limited, a private industrial company building a portfolio of world-class assets to secure supply of the metals critical to EVs and renewable energy systems.   The company is focused on projects which produce, process or recycle these “technology metals”, and currently has operations in North America, South America, and Africa. Brian serves as a Director of Tinco Investments Ltd, an integrated Tin and Tungsten producer in Rwanda, and is the Chairman of Brazilian Nickel Ltd, building a nickel/cobalt mine in northern Brazil. He is also a Director of Li-Cycle, the biggest lithium ion battery recycler in North America and serves as a Director of US Vanadium, a vanadium-specialty chemicals company in the US. Brian is a former Principal and Executive Director of Anglovaal Mining (AVMIN) with extensive base metal, precious metal and ferrous metal interests across southern Africa and a former Director of Anglovaal Ltd, a diversified industrial and mining holding company. Prior to Anglovaal, Brian spent 8 years with the De Beers Group.

Rick Menell,Chairman, South Africa and Senior Advisor, Credit Suisse. Rick Menell has had a 35 year career in the mining industry, heading Anglovaal Mining and Teal Exploration & Mining up to 2008. He has previously served as President of the South African Chamber of Mines, as Chairman of the South African Tourism Board and on numerous boards as director, Deputy Chair or Chairman including Harmony Gold, Bateman Engineering, ARM, Avgold, Associated Manganese, Standard Bank Group, Mutual & Federal Insurance, Telkom SA and the Business Trust. He is currently a Non Executive Director of Gold Fields Limited, Sibanye Gold Limited, Rockwell Diamonds Inc and Weir Group plc. He is also Chairman-South Africa and Senior Advisor to Credit Suisse and a Council Member of Business Leadership South Africa. Recently appointed a Trustee of Brand South Africa in the Presidency. In the non-profit area, Rick is currently founding co-Chairman of City Year South Africa Youth Service Organisation, Chairman of the Tourism Enterprise Partnership, Chairman of the Carrick Foundation and Chair of the Palaeontological Scientific Trust. He is a director of the Claude Leon Foundation and the National Business Initiative. He is one of the convenors of the Dinokeng Scenario Project, and was for 12 years a Governor in the mining industry group of the World Economic Forum.

Siki is a freelance financial and current affairs journalist. She is the previous daily anchor of the 'The SAFM Market Update with Moneyweb and the nightly business show 'Moneyline on eNCA' from Monday to Thursday. Siki also hosted eNCA's "The Big Debate". This acclaimed TV and radio personality has also been the 'Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year - TV' twice, and was included in the 'Mail & Guardian Book of South African Women. She also won the acclaimed 'Telkom ICT Journalist (TV) of the Year' Award'. She’s been listed on YouTube as 'one of the Top 10 African journalists to watch, and her alma mater Rhodes University presented her with the Emerging Old Rhodian award for 2015 in recognition of her role as one of the leading public voices on finance in South African media. She is currently reading for her Masters in Journalism and Media Studies at Wits University. 

Mxolisi Mgojo has been in the mining industry since 2001. Prior to that, his career includes 10 years as a software engineer and 8 years in the finance industry including Societé Generale Investment Banking. Mxolisi has been with Exxaro Resources since its inception in 2006, heading the Base Metals and Industrial Minerals business before being appointed as the Executive Head of Coal in August 2008.  In May 2015 Mxolisi was appointed as CEO Designate and took over the reins from Sipho Nkosi as Chief Executive Officer on 1 April 2016.  Before joining Exxaro, Mxolisi was a founder member of Eyesizwe Coal where he was the Marketing and Logistics Manager.  Mxolisi sits on the boards of Exxaro Resources and Tronox Limited. On 24 May 2017 Mxolisi was elected as the President of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa after serving on the Executive Council of the Chamber since 2015 and the Collieries Committee of the Chamber prior to becoming a member of the Chamber’s Executive Council.  On 27 May 2017, Mxolisi received the Paul Harris Award from the Hatfield Branch of the Rotary Foundation. Mxolisi has a BSc degree in Computer Science (Northeastern University, USA), an Honours degree in Energy Studies (Rand Afrikaans University), a Diploma in International Financial Management and an MBA (Henley Management College, UK).  He has also completed a Societé Generale Investment Banking and Corporate Finance Programme (Kellogg, USA) and an Advanced Management Programme (Wharton).

Ntombi Mhangwani is the Director for Integrated Marketing and Communications and Women’s Forum Lead at Accenture Africa. She joined Accenture in 2015, tasked to build strategic value and deliver personalised, unique marketing as well as communications experiences. She also drives initiatives to attain Accenture’s vision to achieve a 50/50 gender-balanced workforce by 2025. In September 2019, Mhangwani won the Gender Mainstreaming Awards’ Positive Role Model for C-Suite award. Prior to joining Accenture, Mhangwani held senior marketing and communications roles in various multinational companies such as Schneider Electric South Africa, Dimension Data and MTN – to mention a few – with a scope that covered the rest of Africa and the Middle East. Mhangwani’s journalistic, marketing and communications experience spans a period of more than 20 years. She has a huge hunger for continued learning and an ability to master and implement the new knowledge she gains. She holds an MBA from Henley Business School and an Honours Degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University. She is also studying towards her PhD in Management with a focus on technology and innovation from The Da Vinci Institute.

Tsundzukani (Tsu) Mhlanga joined ARM in July 2020 as Chief Finance Officer and was appointed as Finance Director in October 2020. She has over 15 years’ financial experience and was previously Executive Director: Group Finance And Administration of Italtile Limited. Prior to that, Tsu was a financial director in the property sector and spent six years in the mining industry as Chief Financial Officer and Group Manager of Finance for a mining joint venture. In addition, she gained experience in the retail and public sectors after completing her articles at Edcon. Tsu has a BCom (acc sciences) from the University of Pretoria, a BCom (acc)(hons) and CTA from the University of KZN, she is a CA(SA) and she has an MBA from the University of Cape Town.

Anik is Group Director – Corporate Relations and Sustainable Impact, having joined the GMC in 2015. Her remit includes corporate communication (including brand and employee engagement), international and government relations, social performance and engagement, sustainability integration to drive positive impact from the Group’s Sustainable Mining Plan and the office of the Chief Executive. Anik joined Anglo American in 2008 as Group Head of Corporate Communication. Prior to that, she was Director of Public Affairs for Rio Tinto Alcan, following 10 years with the Alcan group. Anik was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Anglo American Platinum in July 2021.

Paul Miller was recently recruited to the position of Managing Director of CCP 12J Mangers (Pty) Ltd, the management company of CCP 12J Fund Limited.  CCP 12J is a mining-focused venture capital company, established in terms of Section 12J of the Income Tax Act. The DRA Group, a leading mining engineering firm, is the lead technical partner to CCP 12J in respect of engineering (EPC/M) and outsourced operations and maintenance services. DRA is also a principal investor in CCP 12J.  Stockdale Street, a private equity fund manager which advises DRA’s largest shareholder, is a co-founder of CCP 12J. Paul has extensive experience across all areas of investment banking, principally focused on mining in South Africa and on the rest of the continent. He also has operational mining experience having lead a team that financed, developed and/or operated two coal mines between 2007 and 2013.

He has been a founder Director, Executive Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of a number of successful resource companies listed on the Australian and North American exchanges.In 2007, Stephen Miller was a founding shareholder in Firestone Energy Limited and led the team in identifying, evaluating and transacting the series of transactions which has led to the creation of The Waterberg Coal Project. In 2012-13 Stephen has overseen the reorganization and recalibration of The Waterberg Coal Project ownership which has led to the creation of The Waterberg Coal Company Ltd. The Waterberg Coal Company Ltd now effectively controls 70% of the Waterberg Coal Project Joint Venture. In April 2013 Stephen was appointed Executive Director and CEO of The Waterberg Coal Company Ltd.Stephen Miller is a Member of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and previously a Director on the Australian Gold Council.

A mining career from a ‘Welkom‘65 Lnr.Mine Official’, WitsBSc., Global Techno. & Ops. assignments for then Anglo/DeBeers Groups in Africa & Americas in Gold, Diamonds & Base Metals - serving later on then Anglo Platinum and DeBeers-Global Boards. He joined in 2011 the launch of the Private Equity Fund APPIAN Capital Advisory LLP, and serves 3 listed non-exec. directorships, two off-shore via APPIAN investment and one with the Royal Bafokeng Platinum. A South African Citizen, Jo’Burg Resident and Staying – with 3 SA passports and multiple expired visas.

With degrees in chemical engineering and law, he specialises in mining law, mining finance and traditional communities within the legal sector. His mining experience includes involvement in platinum, aluminium, nickel, cobalt, chrome, vanadium, steel and heavy minerals projects. He also specialises in financial services, project and infrastructure finance, corporate finance, building, engineering and administrative law.Andrew’s commendations are many and include recognition by Chambers Global as a leading lawyer within the fields of ‘Energy & Natural Resources: Mining’ and ‘Projects & Energy’ (2013 edition), and recognition by Legal 500 as one of the ‘leading names in the mining sector’ (2013 edition).

Appointed to the Board in 2015. Thando Mkatshana has more than 20 years of experience in the mining industry. His career started with Anglo American Coal in 1988, where he gained extensive experience working in production at various Anglo American Collieries. He joined Xstrata Coal South Africa (Pty) Ltd in 2003, where he was responsible for the development from feasibility to implementation of the Goedgevonden Colliery (a flagship greenfield project which is a joint venture between ARM Coal (Pty) Ltd and what is now Glencore Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd). Thando worked for Kalagadi Manganese (Pty) Ltd and AccelorMittal South Africa Limited before joining African Rainbow Minerals Limited in 2011 as Executive: Coal Operations. He was appointed Chief Executive: ARM Coal in 2012 and assumed the additional responsibilities of Chief Executive: ARM Copper in 2015. Thando also sits on mining industry-related boards.

Dr Mpumelelo Mkhabela is the Chairman of Menar which has controlling stakes in Canyon Coal, Zululand Anthracite Colliery, Kangra and East Manganese. He is an experienced media practitioner and business leader. As a political and policy analyst, Mpumelelo regularly comments on South Africa’s political economy.

Mpumelelo Mkhabela is the Chairperson of Menar, which has controlling stakes in Canyon Coal, Zululand Anthracite Colliery, Kangra and East Manganese. He is an experienced media practitioner and business leader.

As a political and policy analyst, Mkhabela regularly comments on South Africa’s political economy. He has edited the Sowetan and the Daily Dispatch newspapers and is also the former chairman of the South African National Editors’ Forum. His qualifications include a BA Hons (Political Science) from the University of Limpopo, BA Journalism (Hons) and a certificate in economic and political risk analysis from Stellenbosch University and, lastly, an MA in International Politics from the University of South Africa.

Treasurer General of the African National Congress, Dr Zwelini Mkhize is a medical doctor, former legislator and politician. Dr Mkhize has played a pivotal role in the process leading towards the establishment of a democratic government. In 1986 he went into exile and continued with his medical practice in Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

He returned to South Africa in 1991 to work at Themba Hospital in the Eastern Transvaal. Later the same year he started his private practice in Pietermaritzburg. Between 1991 and 1994 he served as a member of the ANC’s National Health Secretariat, the structure that was tasked with the responsibility of developing the country’s health policy.

He co-founded the Regional Health Forum and became a member of the National Health Forum. Dr Mkhize was the provincial chairperson of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal from 2008 – a position he was re-elected to in 2012.  He is accredited with having played an active role in the promotion of peace and stability in the KwaZulu province working with His Excellency JG Zuma and had a hand in the successful hosting of the 2010 World Cup Soccer tournament as the Chairperson of the 2010 World Cup Political Oversight Committee between 2006 and 2010.

His previous appointments also include MEC for Finance and Economic Development from 2004 to 2009. He has also held the position of Chairperson of the ANC’s National Education and Health sub-committee and was leader of Government Business in KwaZulu-Natal between 2004 and 2009. He served as MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal from 1994 to 2004, making him the longest serving provincial health MEC in the country.

Dr Mkhize has been Chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal since 2009 and he is the Treasurer General of the ANC, having been elected at its 153^rd National Conference in December 2012. The ANC Progressive Business Forum Operates under Dr Mkhize's leadership.

Themba Mkhwanazi was appointed CEO of Kumba Iron Ore in September 2016. Prior to that, he held the position of CEO for Anglo American’s Thermal Coal business in South Africa. He has extensive experience in the resources industry, including 18 years in his native South Africa, as well as in the USA and Australia. Themba was a Managing Director of Huntsman Tioxide in South Africa until 2007 when he was appointed COO of Richards Bay Minerals, a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. In 2011, Themba was seconded to Rio Tinto’s Australian coal business, before taking up the role of Regional General Manager for the Americas in 2012. Themba holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Chemical Engineering

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is the Former United Nations Under-Secretary- General and Executive Director of UN Women. She was sworn into office on 19 August 2013. During her tenure, UN Women was a small agency which grew to raise $40 billion for women and girls of the world. She brought a wealth of experience and expertise to this position, having devoted her career to issues of human rights, equality and social justice, working in government and collaborating with private sector and civil society. Before that she was a teacher in South Africa, worked with World YWCA in Geneva where she established the first global young women’s programme. She also established a chapter of World University Service in South Africa which promoted access to education in South Africa. Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka did her bachelor’s degree at the National University of Lesotho and Masters at the University of Cape Town in 1998. She did a gender planning course at University College London and completed her PhD on education and technology at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom in 2013. From 2005-2008, she served as Deputy President of South Africa. She served as the Minister of Minerals and Energy from 1999 to 2005 and Deputy Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry from 1996- 1999. She was a Member of Parliament from 1994-1996 as part of South Africa’s first democratic Government. She is the Founder of Umlambo Foundation, which assists with enhanced performance in poor schools and digital literacy and she is a Trustee of The Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

Pleasure is the leader for Exxaro coal business strategy, digital transformation and operational performance optimisation. Exxaro is currently the largest coal mining company in South Africa and a leader in digital transformation. Pleasure is an internationally experienced change agent with over 10 years’ experience in mining operations performance improvement (South Africa, Chile and Australia) and an internationally certified world class manufacturing instructor with five years’ experience in different manufacturing industries (France, South Africa and England). Besides his professional engineering and operations experience, Pleasure Mnisi is a passionate, active entrepreneur and industrialist at heart. He believes every leader of a large traditional organisation should strive to make their organisations feel like a “start-up company” in order to create a culture that allows them to disrupt their operating business models and come up with new innovative solutions to improve safety, productivity and reduce costs in their organisations.

Lucas Moalusi is a recognized mining lawyer in South Africa. An expert in traditional leadership legislation, he is also highly skilled in the law applicable to traditional communities’ structures, and the structuring of Black Economic Empowerment transactions. Consistently recognized by Legal 500 for his expertise in mining, Lucas has particular experience in advising mining companies and traditional communities in their governance structures, including corporatization of their affairs. As a trusted advisor, he is there every step of the way with clients acting for both mining companies, surface rights holders and traditional communities.

Tim Modise has worked in the broadcast media for over thirty years. He has worked for various radio & TV stations across different formats from music, current affairs & talk shows.

Modise participated extensively in the coverage of transition from 'apartheid' to the new 'constitutional democracy', reporting and commenting on the unbanning of the ANC and other liberation movements, the release of political prisoners, the uprisings, the violence and subsequent negotiations that ushered in the South Africa of today. He provided voter education on his programmes, hosted the debates leading to the elections of 1994 which he also covered on both radio and TV. His highlight was as panelist on the Mandela/de Klerk debate which was broadcast to a global audience of 800 million. He has interviewed all South African Presidents since 1990. 

Tim Modise has also worked as political analyst for the investment community and columnist for City Press, was appointed founding chairman of Proudly South African by President Mbeki, briefly worked as Chief Communications Officer of 2010 World Cup and later became CEO of Sizwe Africa IT Group, a technology company. 

He continues to cover South African public affairs and through his company FGP Media which, until recently, produced his own TV show on SowetoTV and currently produces his radio show on @touchhdonline as well as a digital publication called GrowSA.net. He is involved in education & health in his home community of Garankuwa. He has received numerous awards for communication, broadcasting, and reconciliation from IJR & Archbishop Tutu as well as for human rights from the Jaime Brunet Foundation, University of Navarro in Spain. He is a sought after public speaker who has also given keynote speeches at graduation ceremonies of universities. Modise lives with his children in Kyalami, Johannesburg and enjoys music and reading biographies, world current affairs and developments.

She started her mining career at Marula Platinum as a graduate trainee and continued steadily through the production ranks up to her current position as Mine Manager at Cons Murch Antimony mine.

Fortune is a mining entrepreneur with a strong exploration and development track record, Fortune has played a leading role in the origination, establishment and project development of several junior mining companies in Africa including New Kush Exploration and Mining (Gold in South Sudan), AfriTin Mining (Tin), Bushveld Resources Limited (Iron Ore), New Horizon Minerals (Iron Ore), Bushveld Platinum Limited (PGMs) and Eagle Resources Limited (Uranium). As Chief Executive Officer of Bushveld Minerals since its inception, he also serves as a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Lemur Resources Limited.

Dr Molefe is the current Chairman of the Transnet Board of since May 2018. He has previously chaired, among others, the boards of Petroleum and Gas Corporation of SA (Petro-SA), Armaments Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR); Morvest Information and Communication Technology Ltd, later renamed Xantium, and Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and (PRASA). He is the Executive Chairperson of the Lereko Investments Company which he established with the former Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mr Valli Moosa, after he retired from government in 2004. He subsequently founded the Popo Molefe Foundation, whose primary role is to support youth from disadvantaged communities to access education at tertiary levels. Dr Molefe has been a political activist, community leader and national leader in the Soweto Civic Association (SCA) and the United Democratic Front (UDF). He was elected to the position of General-Secretary at the inception of the UDF in August 1983. He was arrested for his anti-apartheid struggle activities in April 1984. In June 1985 he, together with 21 others, were charged in the infamous Delmas Treason Trial that ran from 1985-1988 and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. He was incarcerated on Robben Island but was released in December 1989 after a successful appeal and the setting aside of their sentences by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). In 1994 Dr Molefe served as the Chairperson of the African National Congress’ (ANC’s) National Elections Commission whose role was to co-ordinate the campaign and election machinery of the ANC. After the ANC won the general election of April1994 he was appointed the first Premier of the North West Province. He served two terms as Premier until his retirement from government in 2004. He served as the Chancellor of the University of the North West from 2004 to 2009. More recently, he appeared at the Commission on State Capture where he laid bare the intricacies of the phenomenon of State Capture at Transnet.

Having obtained a BSc and BSc Honours degrees from the University of Zululand, Mandisa started her career as a Geologist. She later moved on to join the law enforcement agency of government focusing on regulatory and legislative compliance in accordance with the Water and Environmental Acts in coal mines, municipalities and farming operations in the Natal Midlands. She then received an opportunity to head a Directorate of Environmental Protection in the central region of the Eastern Cape government.

She then joined the Transnet Ports Authority as an Environmental Planning Manager for the ports of Port Elizabeth, East London and Mossel Bay and within a period of two years, she was given an opportunity to lead the entire environmental department nationally. She then ventured into heading the risk management function of the Ports Authority, adding to her scope, health and safety, business continuity management, Insurance and quality management. Mandisa was also given a new challenge to lead the implementation and embed enterprise risk management at the Ports Authority. She later joined the Rail Division of Transnet to lead the enterprise risk management department which included corporate governance and integrated management systems.

Mandisa was given a challenge to lead one of the six businesses of the Rail Division, namely Mineral Mining and Chrome.  She grew the business by 19% over a period of two years. For the last year she has been leading the biggest business of the Rail division, namely Coal, and finished the previous financial year with a new record of 77 million tons/year railed to Richards Bay Coal Terminal.

Having completed her Masters Degree in Environmental Management from North West University, she pursued various leadership training programmes, including the Global Executive Development Programme with GIBS, Lean and Six Sigma with General Electric, Breakthrough for Senior Executives with IMD, Strategic Management Programme with HEC Paris and she is currently finalising her studies towards a Masters Degree in Business Leadership from UNISA.

Lumkile Mondi, MA Economics (Eastern Illinois University), BCom (Hons) Economics (Wits University), is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Economic and Business Sciences of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He is a lead independent non-executive director of Pallinghurst Resources Limited and a non-executive director at GAIA Infrastructure Capital Limited. He was previously the Chief Economist of the Industrial Development Corporation. He is a director of several companies, including Yard Capital (Pty) Ltd and Thelo Rolling Stock, and previously served on the Board of ArcelorMittal Limited.

Since joining Umbono, Richard has been involved in several exploration programs in South Africa and Northern Canada, including various Ni-PGE, diamond, coal, coal bed methane and gold exploration projects.Richard successfully acted as Project Manager for the 39 Moz Lesego Platinum feasibility study, advancing the project from an inferred resource to a completed bankable feasibility study with proven and probable reserves on time and under budget, managing all aspects of the programme, from exploration programme design to EIA applications. Richard is assisting Sunbird Energy with obtaining the various environmental authorisations required for the offshore Ibhubesi Gas Field.

• BSc (Hons) Geology: University of Witwatersrand, 2002
• Member of the Geological Society of South Africa
• Member of the Society of Economic Geologists
• Registered SACNASP Professional Natural Scientist

Melinda Moore joined ICBC Standard Bank’s Bulk Commodities team in mid-2012 as Head of the London steel raw materials origination, trading and strategy to assist clients with their physical and financial commodity requirements. She has since progressed to become Director International Client Coverage, focusing on servicing the financing and risk management requirements of the international mining/producer community.
Melinda previously served as a Director of Credit Suisse in the Investment Banking division, based in London, responsible for coordinating the global Metals & Mining equity team’s strategic commodity positioning.
Ms Moore joined Credit Suisse in 2009 from BHP Billiton Marketing Asia, where she was a member of the Carbon Steel Materials team, based in Shanghai and Singapore since 2007. Prior to that, Melinda served as the China Chief Representative for Steel Business Briefing in Shanghai from 2004. Before this, Ms Moore held various positions in the investment industry, based in Shanghai, Melbourne and Sydney.
Melinda holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) degree from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

He served as a cabinet minister from 1994 to 2004 as Minister of Constitutional Development and Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and was Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development during 2002 and 2003.Valli read a BSc in Mathematics and Physics at then Durban-Westville University. He lives in Johannesburg with his wife, Elsabe and enjoys cycling and listening to classical music and farming in his spare time. Valli’s other passion is for the environment and in this respect he has just completed a four year term as global President of the International Union of the Conservation of Nature. He is currently a member of the Global Leadership on Climate Action, the China Council for International Co-operation and development, the India Council for Sustainable Development and is the Deputy Chairman of WWF (SA).Valli Moosa serves as Chairman of Anglo American Platinum and Sun International and as a Director on the Boards of Lereko Investments, Dinokana, Imperial Holdings, Real Africa Holdings and Sanlam in South Africa.

James was educated in Lesotho, and worked in the mining industry from 1970 to 1987. He was the founder member of the NUM 04/12/1982. He bought TEBA Ltd from the mining industry in November 2005, and he also holds the following positions: Owner and Executive Chairman of UBUNTU MINING (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED; Director, Shanduka Group; Chairman, Verimark Holdings Limited from 2005 to date; Former Chairman of Anglo-Gold Ashanti; Former Chairman of the ICEM (International Federation of Chemical,Energy,Mine and General Workers Union; Former Chairman, Masana Petroleum Solutions (Pty); Founder member and Director of Adopt-A-School Foundation; Chairman of Platfields Limited; Chancellor of Lesotho College of Education and a Patron of the National Education Collaboration Trust(South Africa). In 2002 James was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Science by the National University of Lesotho.

Gerick Mouton, a Mechanical Engineer by profession, is a global mining professional with over 22 years’ experience in strategic mine development, implementation and execution of multifaceted capital intensive mining projects on the African continent. He has held senior and executive management positions within various mining development projects and established international mining companies, and is currently a Senior Vice President role at Ivanplats Limited and the multi-billion dollar Platreef Project in South Africa (an Ivanhoe Mines Company). Gerick’s experience includes countries like Botswana, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Madagascar where he held senior and executive positions. Given his experience and social knowledge and importance over the years, he enrolled towards his Masters in Philosophy (Sustainable Development within the Minerals Resource Sector) through the University of Cape Town. Gerick enjoys the strategic development of mineral projects, optimising alternative development scenarios by creating maximum shareholder value and economic benefit to local affected parties.

Dr. Nkosana Moyo is the Founder of MINDS. He is, an Eisenhower Fellow and a World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Leader of Tomorrow alumnus, holds a PhD in Physics from Imperial College, University of London and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, UK. He was until August 2011, the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Before joining the AfDB, Dr Moyo worked at Actis Capital LLP as Managing Partner for the Africa Business (http://www.act.is) and also served at the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) as an Associate Director. In his native country Zimbabwe, Nkosana served as Minister of Industry & International Trade. In his long association with the World Economic Forum (WEF), Nkosana has served as a Co-Chair of the Regional Agenda Council (RAC) on the Future of Africa, Chair of the Global Agenda Council (GAC) on Population Growth, member of the GAC on Population Divident and Deputy Chair of the Meta-Council on Inclusive Growth (www.weforum.org).

He is currently a Non-Executive Director (NED) on the following Boards; Old Mutual PLC, Impala Platinum, Nisela Capital and the Africa Leadership Institute (www.alinstitute.org). He has previously served on the following boards; Chair of Banque Commercial Du Rwanda, Chair of DFCU Bank in Uganda, Diamond Bank in Nigeria, UAC in Nigeria, South African Airways and Kumba Iron Ore both in South Africa, Triangle Sugar and Border Timbers both in Zimbabwe and he was a Founding Trustee of the Investment Climate Facility (ICF) for Africa (www.icfafrica.org). In the Tertiary Education sector, Dr Moyo has served as an Advisory Board Member of the London Business School (www.london.edu) as well as the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (www.soas.ac.uk). He is a patron of The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Business Foundation. 

Nkosana is currently the Executive Chair of the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS), which he founded.

Vusi is currently the Sector Lead: Mining & Chemicals (Client Coverage) within the Nedbank Corporate and Investment Bank franchise. He has been at Nedbank in various roles for the last 12 years. Pre-banking he held positions including Treasury & Corporate Finance Manager for Total South Africa, Treasury Manager at Dunlop Tyres and Assistant Manager at KPMG. In a post-articles career spanning 22 years, he has been involved in various capacities on multiple transactions for a number entities in different sectors. Over the years he has been privileged to lead diverse professionals and teams in different geographies. Vusi holds an MBA from Wits Business School, a Diploma in Advanced Banking from the University of Johannesburg and a B. Com degree from the National University of Lesotho, a Certificate in Professional Leadership Coaching from Wits Business School and has been on executive advancement programmes with Total South Africa and Nedbank. He is registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants as an AGA (SA), as a member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers of Southern Africa (ACTSA) and as a Professional Leadership Coach for Masters’ students at the Wits Business School.

Mzila is a mining engineer with combined experience in mining and investment banking of 20 years. This includes seven years in deep-level gold mining at AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields Limited in senior mine management and corporate development roles, respectively, and six years in investment banking at RMB and Deutsche Bank. His knowledge of business sustainability was honed over six years as Executive: Business Sustainability at Royal Bafokeng Holdings and Royal Bafokeng Platinum. He assumed his current role in May 2013. Mzila also serves as the 2019/2020 President of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM).

Dr Mufamadi, PhD and MSc, is the Director of the School of Leadership at the University of Johannesburg and he serves on the board of Impala Platinum Holdings Limited, Zimplats Holdings Limited and Transnet (SOC) Ltd. He also serves on subsidiary boards of Barclays Bank Africa Group in Mozambique and Tanzania.  He has built his reputation in various leadership positions including being a previous Minister for Safety and Security and Minister for Provincial and Local Government in the Government of the Republic of South Africa, and is known for his mediation and conflict resolution skills as well as his expertise in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. In 2019, The President of South Africa appointed him as chairman of a high level review panel into the operations of the State Security Agency.

Abigail Mukhuba qualified as a Chartered Accountant (SA) in 2005 and has over 16 years working experience in the financial reporting and tax specialist environment in both the automotive and mining industries. Abigail started her career at BMW SA. In 2009, she commenced her career in the mining industry at TSA Sands, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exxaro Resources Limited. She joined Exxaro in 2010 as the Group Manager: Financial Reporting responsible for Financial Reporting as well as Investor Relations. Abigail joined African Rainbow Minerals Limited in 2016 as the Chief Financial Officer and in 2017 she was appointed as ARM's Financial Director.

Lebogang Mulaisi works as the Labour Market Policy Coordinator for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). Her responsibilities and duties include the coordination and implementation of COSATU labour market policy and work on the just transition to a low-carbon economy.

Nico Muller holds a BSc Mining Engineering degree from the University of Pretoria and has a 28-year mining career across a range of commodities, including platinum. He has a proven track record as a successful operator and is a highly-rated leader and strategic thinker. Nico was appointed to the board of Implats as both Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director in April 2017. Prior to this he served as Executive Vice-President of Gold Fields’ South African operations (South Deep) for three years, where he fulfilled a pivotal role in re-energising and repositioning the mine for a sustainable future. He also served as the Chief Operating Officer at Royal Bafokeng Platinum, and in various other high-level positions at Anglovaal, African Rainbow Minerals, Avgold and De Beers.

Jay was the founding General Secretary of COSATU, a Minister in Nelson Mandela's Cabinet, is currently a trustee for Earthrise Trust looking at new models of rural development and livelihoods. Jay sits on the board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation that looks at leadership and governance in Africa and remains committed to social justice.

Jay was the founding General Secretary of COSATU, a Minister in Nelson Mandela's Cabinet, is currently a trustee for Earthrise Trust looking at new models of rural development and livelihoods. Jay sits on the board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation that looks at leadership and governance in Africa and remains committed to social justice.

Deshnee Naidoo is a mining executive with diverse experience spanning 22 years. She has progressed through both the operational and corporate ranks across various functions and commodities over multiple geographies. Deshnee started her career at Anglo American Platinum in 1998 where she occupied a range of positions, including Process Engineer, Strategic Long-term Planning Manager and Manager - Corporate Finance Manager. She was appointed Deputy Head of the Anglo American Group CEO’s office in 2009 . In 2011, she was appointed CFO of Anglo American Thermal Coal, where she managed two commodities (thermal coal and manganese) across three geographies (South Africa, South America and Australia).

Deshnee was appointed CEO of Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) and Copper Mine Tasmania (CMT), subsidiaries of Vedanta Limited, in 2014. She was responsibie for operations and projects in South Africa and Namibia, the now closed Lisheen Mine in Ireland, and CMT in Australia. In May 2018, Deshnee was appointed to the board of the Minerals Council South Africa. Deshnee was also appointed CEO of Konkola Copper Mine and Africa Base Metals for Vedanta Resources Limited in June 2018. During her time at Vedanta, Deshnee saw the execution of the iconic Gamsberg Project in the Northern Cape. During her two-year tenure at the Minerals Council, Deshnee championed the Women in Mining initiative to advance the representation and development of women in the industry. Deshnee left Vedanta in May 2020 to spend time with her family whilst she plans her next industry move.

Nelson Ndlala began his mining career in the late 80’s as a Learner Official Mining at Gold Fields Training Services. He completed his training and studies and was appointed a Shiftboss in early 1992. In 1996, becamea Mine Overseer; in 1999 he was appointed Business Unit Manager at Driefontein and in 2003, he was transferred to Beatrix as Manager Mining of 2 & 2B shafts. In 2005, he joined Impala Platinum as Minemanager. In 2008 he was appointed General Manager of 6, 7A, 7, 8 shafts and the Open pit. In 2010 he was promoted to Senior General Manager responsible for Group Technical Services and Best Practice. In 2012 he has been appointed as a director onto the Impala Holdings Limited and Two Rivers (Pty) Ltd subsidiary boards. In 2013 Nelson was appointed Executive Mining at the Rustenburg Operations in charge of shafts from 1-10 shafts. In November 2013, Nelson was appointed Head of Operations: Rustenburg. Nelson has various industry certificates. He has an MBL degree from the University of South Africa and a Mining Engineering degree from the University of Johannesburg. Nelson has completed various programs such as: • General Management Program (Harvard Business School, Boston: Massachusetts ) • Mining and the Environment(Lulêa Technical University, Sweden) • Management Advancement Program (Wits Business School, Johannesburg) Nelson is registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ESCA) as Professional Certificated Engineer. He is a member of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM). He has served as council member of the Association of Mine Managers of South Africa (AMMSA). He has been elected Vice President in 2012 and the President of the Association in 2013.

July Ndlovu is the CEO of Thungela Resources and a coal miner at heart. He was previously the CEO of Anglo American’s Coal business before it was demerged and listed on the JSE and LSE. After starting at Anglo American as a graduate trainee, in 2001, he transferred to Anglo American Platinum, where he was first appointed Business Manager of the Polokwane Smelter, then Executive Head of processing. He spent some time at Anglo American subsidiaries in Zimbabwe in several senior managerial positions in metallurgical operations, and technical services. While working to make a difference, July demands high standards and delivering on commitments; his leadership style is respectful and fair, serving and supporting the people he works with. July graduated with honours in Engineering and Business Leadership from the Universities of Zimbabwe and South Africa, respectively. He also completed the Columbia Business School's Senior Executive Programme. In 2020 July was appointed as the Chairman of the World Coal Association (WCA), tasked with ensuring that the organisation meets both customers’ needs and society’s expectations of it, including working together to deliver a new era of clean technologies.

Delia is the Managing Director for the Deloitte Africa Tax & Legal business. Deloitte Africa Tax & Legal serves 14 countries Anglophone speaking countries across Africa and has a staff complement of over 600 people with more than 50 Partners / Directors. Delia currently serves on the Executive board for Deloitte & Touche Africa and has also been appointed to the Deloitte Global Tax & Legal Executive. Delia has had more than 20 years of experience in the Tax field, which has been primarily focused on providing employment and individual tax solutions to expatriates and executives of multinational companies. Her prior experience included leading the Africa Tax Desk, which helped multinational companies with setting up in Africa. Delia believes in using technology as an enabler and leveraging off Deloitte’s powerful suite of technology tools. She is particularly interested in the tax function of the future, the impact of BEPS and the evolving tax landscape. She is also passionate about spending quality time with clients. Deloitte’s purpose, “to make an impact that matters”, resonates with Delia. She is passionate about women in leadership and growing new talent. Outside of her work, she is an advisor to the Kgosi Neighbourhood Foundation, which has built a school focusing on early childhood development. She also supports the Thuli Madonsela Foundation, which promotes social justice in South Africa. Delia also enjoys spending time at the Orlando children’s home in Soweto where they accommodate orphans. This is Delia’s way of making an impact that matters and ploughing back to the Soweto community, where she grew up.

Jan is a seasoned industry veteran possessing a diverse range of skills acquired as an exploration geologist, mine manager and successful CEO of an intermediate-sized gold producer. Acting as Chief Executive Officer of AIM-listed Pan African Resources PLC, Jan oversaw its evolution from an exploration company with a market value of $30 million to a $550 million underground gold and platinum producer within a period of 5 years. During this rapid growth period, Pan African was one of the most successful junior gold mining companies in South Africa and among the first to pay a high yield dividend for more than five consecutive years. In his capacity as CEO, Jan raised over US$125 million in debt and equity to transform the company from explorer to producer.

Jan started his career with Gold Fields, one of the world's largest gold producers where he received an award as the best post graduate geologist. He also received the Rand Pioneers award as the best graduating geologist during his final year at university. Jan has held progressively senior positions with Harmony Gold, beginning as a mine geologist and advancing to the position of acting Mine Manager.

Sipho Nkosi is a mentor that continuously challenges teams to collectively leave a lasting impact on the economic landscape, being a true visionary and guiding light. Sipho is the Independent Director of Tronox Limited, Sanlam and the Chairman of the Talent10 Holdings Group. In February 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Nkosi as the head of the red tape team in the office of the Presidency; this initiative will promote ease of businesses processes in the country. In March 2016, he retired as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Exxaro Resources Limited. Sipho founded Eyesizwe Holdings and served as CEO before its merger into Exxaro in 2006. He is also Chairman of Eyesizwe Holdings and a Board Member of Eyesizwe Mining. Sipho holds a BCom (Hons) degree from Unisa and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts in the USA. He currently serves on a number of boards, including WITS University, CDE (Centre for Development and Enterprise), the Small Business Institute, and he currently serves as Chairman of Sasol. Sipho also previously served as the Chairman of the SA National Energy Association, the President of the South African Chamber of Mines and was a representative on the World Energy Council. Over the years, business at large has bestowed a number of prestigious awards on Sipho in recognition of his ongoing contribution as an astute business leader. In 2012, he was announced as the Master Entrepreneur of the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Award. Thereafter, Sipho went on to represent South Africa at the Global Awards event hosted in Monte Carlo. In 2013, the Afrikaanse Handels Institute recognised Sipho with the Tinie Louw Award for outstanding Business Leadership. The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) also presented Sipho with the Brigadier Stokes Memorial Award in 2015 for his substantial contribution to the South African minerals industry. The Black Management Forum honoured Sipho with their most coveted Black Excellence Leadership Award at their corporate dinner which celebrated 40 years of transformation and change.

Justice is an accomplished executive and has 22 years  of experience as a human resources generalist. He has worked at both strategic and operational HR levels across different industries, of which more than 12 years has been in the mining industry, having worked at African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and Anglo American. He is currently working for Sasol Energy Business as the HR VP responsible for Sasol Mining. Justice’s HR passion covers, inter alia; strategic workforce planning, employee relations, HR development, talent management, transformation and organizational effectiveness, coaching and mentoring, HR analytics, technology and systems. In his thesis for his executive MBA with Guglielmo Marconi University, Italy, he conducted his research on “creating shared value: how can mining companies’ corporate policies and practices enhance company competitiveness and simultaneously advance community social and economic conditions”, which is relevant to the ESG and sustainability topics as a business strategic focus.

Sifiso Musa Nkosi is the Executive Chairperson of Ntuthuko Exploration & Mining, a junior mining company currently exploring anthracite coal mining in KwaZulu-Natal. Ntuthuko has mineral rights over various tenements in KwaZulu-Natal. The company currently represents/has relations with various tribal councils in the Ngonyama Trust. Sifiso has 12 years’ experience in the mining industry, having previously served as a board member for Isiphenduko Holdings, a joint venture company with Sephaku Cement. He sits on various boards including YIMSA (Youth in Mining South Africa), a youth mining lobby organization. He is also co-founder of the Junior Miners Forum, an African junior miners chamber with a national footprint representation. He currently serves as a member of the DMR’s Junior Miners Secretariat Committee chaired by Godfrey Oliphant - the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources. Sifiso is a staunch believer in the South African junior mining sector being a catalyst for transformation into a sunrise industry.  He is a partner of the Coniston insurance product, which is currently the only insurance guarantee product open to mining permit applications. He is also a partner of Rands 2 Cents, the only market training product aimed at surface owners and mining affected communities.  He holds an Information Technology Diploma, a Project Management certification and a Business Analysis qualification. 

Bongi has had over 15 years’ experience in the mining industry, having worked in iron ore and base metal commodities. Her career started after graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand with a BSc (Eng) in Metallurgy and Material Engineering. Bongi holds a Masters of Business Administration from GIBS, University of Pretoria and a BSc (Eng) Honours (Metallurgical Engineering), University of Pretoria. She also has an Advanced Management Programme Certificate, University of Navarra, IESE Business School. She has held various positions in the mining industry, which has given her experience in the processing of minerals, delivering capital projects, technology research, digital road mapping and driving modernisation across the mining value chain. Bongi also served as a member of the innovation steering committee at the Minerals Council of South Africa and she is also a Council Member for the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM).  

As Manager of Technology at Kumba Iron Ore, she was responsible for leading Kumba’s digital technology strategy and innovation roadmap, which has seen the company roll out some significant technologies such as a fully autonomous drilling fleet at Kolomela mine, advanced process control for plant operations, an autonomous braking system for haul trucks and other applications. She has been recognised as a leader in the field of mine modernisation, which has led to her being a panellist at several conferences. Bongi was appointed Cluster Executive Manager for Mining at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in April 2020. In her current role she continues to provide strategic direction and drive the leadership for strategy development of appropriate capabilities for the mining industry, in line with revised re-invigorated CSIR industrialisation and collaboration strategy. 

Bongi has more than 13 years experience in the mining industry with exposure to iron ore and base metal commodities. Her career started after graduating from Witwatersrand University with a BSc (Eng) in Metallurgy and Material Engineering. She has since attained post graduate qualifications in Metallurgy and Process Engineering, Project management and Business management. She has held various positions in the mining industry which have presented opportunities in Technology research and innovation. Bongi is currently employed by Kumba Iron Ore Limited, a division of Anglo American plc. In her role as Manager of Technology, her responsibilities include leading Kumba’s Technology strategy roadmap and accelerating the adoption of latest technologies at mining operations to deliver technology driven solutions.

Paul is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He began his career at PwC in 1986 and served as an audit partner for 6 years. Since 2001, he has worked as both CFO and CEO in the listed company environment as well as public sector and in family-owned businesses. He has worked in South Africa across Africa as well as in the Middle East and the USA. From a South African perspective, Paul has served as the CFO of Group Five Limited as well as Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd and was CEO of ArcelorMittal (South Africa) Limited. Paul has diversified industry experience including mining, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, trading, steel manufacturing and financial services. Paul also has experience as a non-executive director for listed companies in South Africa. Paul has in depth experience within corporates in public offerings and debt raising locally and internationally. He has been involved in turnarounds, restructurings, M&A, programme and project management including recently the overall responsibility for the $1bn separation of ABSA Bank Limited from Barclays PLC. Paul also has regulatory experience in Africa in the energy and financial services industries.

Dominic has 16 years’ specialist experience in Mining equity and debt markets. Dominic is an Executive Director and Head of J.P.Morgan’s CEEMEA Metals, Mining & Steel team. Dominic was previously a lead analyst in J.P.Morgan’s European Mining & Steel team covering the UK diversified miners and the UK gold equities. Dominic joined J.P.Morgan in 2012 from Liberum Capital, where he was a founder member and a senior analyst in Liberum’s Mining equity research team, specializing in the UK listed diversified miners, gold and platinum equities. Prior to that Dominic spent the period 2001-2008 arranging debt financing for the global mining sector.

Thandi is married with 3 adult children and a granddaughter. She is an avid golfer, sport fanatic, reads voraciously, travels extensively and is passionate about transforming mindsets. She is an Inanda Seminary Alumna having matriculated in the Class of 1974. Thandi obtained her undergrad degree from Fort Hare University, went on to qualify and be admitted as an attorney.

During her student years, she was a political activist, taken into detention and expelled from Fort Hare University when she was doing her final year LLB. She became a Human Rights Lawyer and Socio-Economic Development Activist whose career of over 35 years spans the roles of attorney, mediator, arbitrator, facilitator, dispute resolution practitioner, public speaker, executive management and director of companies.

She holds a B Juris Degree from Fort Hare University, B Proc and LLB Degrees from UNISA, LLM Degree from Wits and an Executive Management Program from Kellogg's Business School, Chicago, USA. She practiced as an attorney at the Legal Resources Centre, headed the Independent Mediation Service of South Africa where she concentrated on management, fundraising, arbitration and mediation. When the CCMA was established, she became its first Black female National Director. After she left the CCMA, her first board position was at the South African Reserve Bank as an Independent Non-Executive Director. She then straddled practice as a commercial lawyer, independent Non-executive director on listed and private companies and trustee of various Foundations and NGO's.

She is presently an admitted advocate, shareholder and executive director of Peotona Group Holdings, Trustee of various Trusts notably Chair of the Legal Resources Trust and Zenex Foundation, Trustee of Friends of LRC (USA)South African Future Trust (SAFT) , Council Member of Zenex Charitable Foundation (Jersey Island) and Director of a number of boards and Chair of BP Southern Africa and Chair designate of Impala Platinum Limited.

Before joining Rothschild & Co in this role in 2003, she had 17 years of experience in the City of London at major financial institutions where she was consistently rated as one of the top investment analysts in mining, ending up as head of the European Mining Research at SSMB (part of Citigroup). In 2006, Fiona formed AIM Mining Research and, in the same year, published "Understanding Junior Miners" in conjunction with three geologists and a mining engineer. Prior to arrival in the City of London in 1986, she had six years of experience in financial journalism and academia in South Africa, building up a broad knowledge of managerial and financial topics. Fiona served as a non-executive director on the board of Dominion Diamond Corporation from February 2014 to January 2016.

Before joining Rothschild & Co in this role in 2003, she had 17 years of experience in the City of London at major financial institutions where she was consistently rated as one of the top investment analysts in mining, ending up as head of the European Mining Research at SSMB (part of Citigroup). In 2006, Fiona formed AIM Mining Research and, in the same year, published "Understanding Junior Miners" in conjunction with three geologists and a mining engineer. Prior to arrival in the City of London in 1986, she had six years of experience in financial journalism and academia in South Africa, building up a broad knowledge of managerial and financial topics. Fiona served as a non-executive director on the board of Dominion Diamond Corporation from February 2014 to January 2016.

Barend Petersen is a chartered accountant with broad international business experience in mining, finance, auditing, oil industry, energy, government relations, business turnarounds, corporate recovery, consulting and corporate governance. Barend is Executive Chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines and represents the De Beers Family of Companies in South Africa. In the past decade Barend has had a wide involvement in De Beers Family of Companies. He is also a director of De Beers Societè Anonyme. He is a shareholder in Ponahalo Capital who owns a 50% stake in Ponahalo Investments, the black economic empowerment partner of De Beers Consolidated Mines. He is a director of several companies including, Anglo American South Africa, Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings and Curro Holdings. Barend is the Chairman of Sizwe Business Recoveries which he founded in 1998. He was born in Cape Town and was educated in the Western Cape. He studied at UNISA where he obtained a B.Compt (Hons). He qualified as a chartered accountant during 1995.

Dr Sizwe Phakathi is the Head of Safety and Sustainable Development at the Chamber of Mines and Employer Convenor on the Board of the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC). He is the Employer Convenor on the Culture Transformation Advisory Committee (CTAC) at the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC). He is an alumnus of the Emerging Leaders in African Mining (ELAM) Programme coordinated by the Minerals and Energy for Development Alliance (MEfDA) at the University of Western Australia and University of Queensland – in partnership with the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dr Phakathi obtained his PhD from the University of Oxford, England.

Steve Phiri is an admitted attorney to the High Court of South Africa. His qualifications include a B Juris degree, University of the North; LLB, Vista University; Diploma in Corporate Law, Rand Afrikaans University (now University of Johannesburg) and an LLM degree from the University of Johannesburg. His significant wealth of mining and business experience has been gained over a period of more than 15 years. He was appointed CEO of Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) in April 2010. Prior to this, he was the CEO of Merafe Resources, a public company listed on the JSE, for a period of 6 years. He has previously served as a non-executive director on the Boards of Impala Platinum Limited for 3 years until April 2010; Zurich Insurance Company SA and the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator. In addition, Steve has also served as President of the International Platinum Association (IPA) for 5 years until October 2019. In 2017, Steve was elected as one of the Mineral Council South Africa’s three Vice presidents, a position he held until 2021.

Thabisile is an accredited public relations and communication specialist, with 17 years’ experience in the mining industry. Thabisile is the Senior Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Relations for Southern Africa at Sibanye-Stillwater. She has worked in the corporate affairs environment at the University of South Africa, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Commission for Gender Equality and Anglo American Platinum.

In her 22-year career, she has worked in diverse sectors within the communication and stakeholder relations field focusing on among others; reputation management, crisis communication, media relations, strategy development, lobbying and advocacy, community development and fundraising. She has also spent at least 8 years as a part-time lecturer/course facilitator in corporate communications, corporate social responsibility and stakeholder engagement.

She is involved in career mentorship and coaching programmes; convener of a women`s development network, Inspired Connect; is a past President of the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa and is currently a member of the Academic Advisory Board for Strategic Communication at the University of JHB.

Kgosi Pilane is not only the traditional leader of the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela nation but also an astute businessman in his own right and a vigorous champion of the socio-economic development of the region. He was appointed to serve in various Parastatals. Kgosi Pilane is currently the Deputy President of CONTRALESA, which is the congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa and it represents Traditional leaders from across the entire country. Kgosi Pilane’s leadership and vision have brought new dimensions to the development of the region and its people. He has created numerous permanent and temporary jobs in the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela region.

Noel’s career with South32 spans more than 25 years. He joined the company in 1994 as a Maintenance Engineer at Hillside Aluminium in South Africa, and after several leadership roles in maintenance, production, business improvement and human resources, he was appointed as Bayside Operations Manager in 2008, where he led the consolidation of the Bayside and Hillside smelters into a single business (Aluminium South Africa). In 2009, Noel took up the role of Maintenance Manager at the Worsley Alumina Refinery in Australia where he spent three years before returning to South Africa in 2012 to take on the role of General Manager for Aluminium South Africa. In 2015, Noel was appointed to the role of President, Aluminium South Africa where he led the transformation of the Hillside business. In 2018, Noel returned to Australia as Vice President Operations at Worsley. In 2021, he returned to South Africa in the role of Chief Operating Officer overseeing South32 operations in Africa and Colombia. Noel is a trained Mechanical Engineer and holds a National Higher Diploma (NHDP) from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sipho Mila Pityana is Chairman of AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. Having joined the board as senior director in February 2007, he is the chairman of the Nominations committees, and a member of the Remuneration and Human Resources and Social, Ethics and Sustainability committees. He was previously the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

Mr Pityana has extensive business experience having served in both an executive and non-executive capacity on several JSE listed boards of companies as well as running his own company which he chairs, Izingwe Capital Proprietary Limited. He is Chairman of the JSE listed Onelogix and of Munich Reinsurance of Africa. He also served on the boards of Bytes Technology Group, AFROX, SPESCOM and the Old Mutual Leadership Group, Scaw Metals.

He previously worked as the Executive Director of Nedcor Investment Bank and Managing Director of Nedbank. He is also a director of a number of manufacturing companies including Aberdare Cables. In addition to his private sector track record, Mr Pityana has extensive public sector experience and international exposure.

He was the first Director General of Department of Labour in a democratic South Africa. As the Foreign Affairs Director General he represented South Africa in various international fora including the United Nations, African Union, Commonwealth and the International Labour Organisation. He was one of the founding members of the governing body of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and Convenor of the South African government delegation to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC).

Gerhard has 32 years of hard rock mining experience, through a career that spans the gold, platinum and base metal industries. In his early career he was the General Manager of Lorraine and Target gold mines before being promoted to Executive Director for Avmin during 2000. When Avmin became African Rainbow Minerals, he was responsible for the Platinum and Nickel portfolio of mines. From 2007 to 2010 he was the MD for Norilsk Africa. During 2010 he joined Implats as the Group Executive projects, responsible for the completion of Impala 16 and 20 Shafts, the sinking of 17 Shaft, as well as Zimplats Phase 2 expansion consisting of 2 shafts and a concentrator plant. He is currently the Executive responsible for all mining operations across the Implats Group.

He has an insatiable drive towards change and innovation and is a part-time mining engineer, but a full-time imagineer!

Niël Pretorius has two decades of experience in the mining industry. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer designate of DRDGOLD Limited on 21 August 2008 and Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2009.  Niël also serves as an elected Council Member with the Minerals Council of South Africa. Niël initially joined the company on 1 May 2003 as a legal adviser and was promoted to the position of Group Legal Counsel on 1 September 2004 and General Manager: Corporate Services on 1 April 2005.  Niël was subsequently appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ergo Mining Operations (formerly DRDGOLD SA) on 1 July 2006. He has been instrumental in implementing several corporate social investment strategies and environmental, educational and rehabilitation policies during his tenure, in line with the company's strategy to deploy its resources to maximise economic value through sustainable and responsible mining, while releasing land back to Johannesburg for re-development.

Xavier has a MSc in Engineering Geology UMSA; Diploma in Mining and Exploration from the Montan University, Leoben, Austria, Graduate Diploma in Engineering and M. Eng. degree from Wits.
He has been in coal since 1977, established the Geological Survey’s National Coal Database (NCDB); was Genmin IT Exploration Manager and joined the Minerals Bureau, DME in 1995, as Chief Mineral Economist; Coal and Hydrocarbons. He was appointed Coal Senior Analyst, Wood Mackenzie, Southern Africa and since 2009 is consulting privately with XMP Consulting. He promotes South Africa’s coal mining industry within government and industry groups, lectures at Universities as well as companies on coal science, i.e. coal reserves, economics, quality control, marketing and clean coal technologies. He has extensive experience in reserves and resources. His main tasks are optimisation of coal utilisation and marketing, economic empowerment in coal, evaluation of coal reserves, implementation of clean coal technologies (CCTs) and impact of the use of fossil fuels. Xavier belongs to several local and international coal committees and groups involved in coal science and technology.

Myuran Rajaratnam is a portfolio Manager at MIBFA, a large pension fund in South Africa. He is also the lead analyst in the Resources/Mining sector as well as various industrial sectors such as Telecoms, Food and the Small/Mid-cap space. He has previously worked in operational/management roles in telecommunications companies, banks and asset managers in South Africa and the UK. He holds a PhD in electronic engineering and has authored academic research papers in international finance journals on probability-based valuation models for equities and corporate credit. He enjoys reading, is addicted to contract bridge and subscribes to the principles of value/valuation investing.

Ngoako is the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). He holds legal qualifications from the National University of Lesotho (NUL) and a masters degree in International Relations from the University of Zimbabwe. Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree by the University of Limpopo and admitted as an advocate to the Bar of Lesotho and to the Bar of South Africa. Ngoako served as the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services from 2010 to 2014. From 2009 to 2010, he served as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, as well as Chairperson of the ANC cluster on Peace and Stability. Besides being an NEC member, Adv Ramatlhodi was the Director of the ANC Policy Institute from 2004 until 2009, and was the head the ANC Elections Committee from 2008 to 2014. He also served as a member of the Judicial Service Commission from 2010 to date and served as Premier of Limpopo province from 1994 to 2004, and was also chairperson of the ANC in Limpopo. IExecutive Assistant to the Rector and was also a lecturer in Public International Law. A student activist until he went into exile in 1980, where he held several positions within the ANC. He returned from exile as a political secretary and speech writer to President OR Tambo

After a year in the finance division, Nema was appointed as a junior analyst in Global Market’s research division, where she focused primarily on global economics, the South African rand and corporate risk management. Her commentary on the rand was regularly quoted in local newspapers and broadcast on the Closing Bell slot of CNBC Africa. Nema broadened her focus in 2010 when she joined Celeste Fauconnier in taking up the challenge of providing economic and financial market analyses for selected African countries. Four years on and the pair have made great strides in providing information to both corporate and institutional clients, in South Africa and abroad. Their product offering includes daily notes, weekly currency updates, a monthly outlook on the macroeconomic landscapes of FirstRand’s portfolio of countries and insight pieces on SSA’s financial markets. Nema’s research interests lie specifically in the development of SSA’s capital markets and the workings of foreign exchange markets. In addition to their regular publications, Nema and Celeste produce two annual flagship documents entitled “Where to Invest in Africa – a guide to corporate investment” and the “Africa Investor Guide”. In recognition of their contribution to South Africa’s bond market, Nema and Celeste were awarded 1st place at the JSE’s Spire Awards in 2011 and 2012 and 2ndplace in 2013. Nema is no stranger to the countries she covers, travelling frequently to her respective jurisdictions to conduct client presentations, address business forums and meet with policymakers and regulators. Nema has spoken at various events including the EMTA Forum on Sub-Saharan Africa in London, IMN conference in Cape Town andThomson Reuters IFR gathering in Cape Town.

Christine was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of AngloGold Ashanti with effect from 1 September 2020. Prior that she served as AngloGold Ashanti’s Chief Financial Officer and has been an executive director of the company since 1 October 2014. Christine has held senior financial management and executive positions in various companies. She previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Sasol from 2006 to 2013. Prior to this, she was CEO of Johnnic Holdings, having previously served as Financial Director. Christine is currently a non-executive director on the board of MTN Group. She also serves as a director of the World Gold Council and the International Council on Mining and Metals. She previously served on the boards of Rand Refinery, Lafarge SA (France), Transnet and Johnnic Communications. She is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Public Accountants’ and Auditors Board in South Africa. Christine serves as a director of the International Federation of Accountants and she was recently appointed on the Presidential Council for State Owned Enterprises in South Africa. Christine was nominated as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in 2007. She previously served as the Chairperson of the listed companies CFO Forum in South Africa and was awarded CFO of the Year in 2018. She also previously served as a member of the Standing Advisory Committee to the International Accounting Standards Board and as Deputy Chair of the Financial Reporting Standards Council of South Africa.

Kerwin has 20 years of minerals and energy resource industry experience in Southern and East Africa including being the Head of New Business for De Beers and was a founding director and Executive Chairman of Sunbird Energy Limited (“Sunbird”) in 2011. Sunbird is an ASX-listed (ASX:SNY) gas explorer and developer focused on southern Africa where limited domestic gas supply and growing energy needs have created significant opportunity for the development of large scale energy projects. Kerwin is also Managing Director of Umbono Capital Partners (Pty) Limited (“Umbono”). Umbono is a black-owned natural resources and energy investment and project development company that has been in business for over 17 years with a diverse portfolio of interests across the resources and energy sectors in South Africa, across Africa, Europe and North America. Kerwin was formerly a non-executive director of the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator (“SADPMR”). 

As a founding member of Lerama, Archie is also a director. Currently holding the position of Chief Operations Officer, Archie oversees all of the operational activities for Lerama and its subsidiaries.Archie is a director of The Prepaid Company, chairman of Bula Mahlo Investment, chairman of Meruka Mining and hold various other non-executive directorships.

Dimitri Reading-Picopoulos is an Executive Director in J.P. Morgan’s EMEA Metals & Mining team. He originally joined the UK M&A team of J.P. Morgan Cazenove in August 2007. Dimitri holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge and a M.Eng from University College London. He has worked on a wide range of South African and international transactions within the metals and mining space.

Before moving to the UK, Laurence Robb was Professor of Economic Geology in the School of Geosciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, and between 2001-2005, also Director of its Economic Geology Research Institute. He is currently Visiting Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford. He has worked for over 30 years on many the great mineral districts of the African continent and is currently involved in research on the metallogeny of Myanmar/Burma and also the Western Sahara. He is the author of the text book ‘Introduction to Ore Forming Processes’ that is widely used all over the world. He served a term as President of the Geological Society of South Africa in 1999-2000 and has also been a Vice-President for the African region of the Society of Economic Geologists. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa, a Fellow of the Geological Society, a Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa and a Chartered Geologist. Together with its co-founders, Ido Lekota, Archie Rantao and Sam Madiba, Laurence helped establish Lerama Resources in 2005 and is currently CEO of the company. For the past decade Lerama has targeted the acid phase of the Bushveld Complex for IOCG style deposits and is currently exploring and evaluating 4 prospecting rights in the eastern Bushveld.  

Jacinto holds a BA (Hons)(Political Science) and a BSc (Hons)(Geology) from Gustavus Adolphus College in the USA, a Graduate Diploma in Engineering (Mining) from Wits University, a LLB (law) from UNISA and a MBA (Executive) from the University of Cape Town. He is an expert in mineral law and policy. He has over 20 years’ experience in mineral policy and legal research, policy and legislative drafting and implementation. In addition, he has over 13 years’ executive management experience in the public sector. From 2012 to 2014 he served as Special Advisor [Legal Advisor] to the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Energy, respectively. He is a Co-coordinator and Lecturer on Prospecting and Mining Law (LLM level) at the Wits University Law School (Mandela Institute). He is also Senior Lecturer (Honorary) at the Wits University’s School of Mining Engineering (SOME) where he lectures on the mineral policy and investment module. He has lectured on mining policy and contract negotiations at the United Nations, African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) in Dakar, Senegal. Jacinto is the founder and Director of Mineral Investment Advisory Services (Pty) Ltd. He is an admitted Advocate and a member of the National Bar Council of South Africa.

Brad Rogers became Managing Director of Jupiter Mines on 1 August 2022. Jupiter holds a 49.9% interest in the Tshipi Borwa manganese mine in South Africa and is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Brad has come from 14 years at Bis Industries, where he was CEO for the last 7 years, having previously served as CFO and Director of Corporate Development. Bis is one of the largest mining logistics companies in Australia and Indonesia, operating on 50 mine sites, providing bulk haulage, crushing, screening, train loading, ship loading, build-own-operate infrastructure, underground services and logistics consulting services. Bis services major miners across various commodities including iron ore, manganese, bauxite, coal, gold, nickel and copper. Prior to Bis, Brad was General Manager Corporate Development at ASX-listed gold mining, engineering and infrastructure company GRD Limited, where he was responsible for strategy, M&A and investor relations. Brad started his career as a strategy advisor at Arthur Andersen and Mainsheet Corporate. He is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in the mining industry around the world, including Africa.

Dawie Roodt is a founder, Director and Chief Economist of the Efficient Group. He serves on a variety of investment committees within the Efficient Group. Dawie’s latest role is that of Chairman of Efficient Private Clients, of which Efficient Group is the majority shareholder. Dawie is a nationally-renowned economist, with over 30 years’ experience. He specialises in monetary and fiscal policy and is currently doing extensive research on the possible impact of “crypto” currencies on monetary policy. He is closely involved with the management of client asset portfolios. His interest in international and local politics has grown and he has become knowledgeable in the field of politics as well. Dawie is ranked one of the most referenced economists in the country and received the prestigious Economist of the Year award by Sake 24, a media house. He has been the anchor/presenter of the television programme Ontbytsake for the past 13 years.

Andries is PwC’s Africa Energy, Utilities and Resources leader and an experienced JSE accredited audit partner. He has been with the firm since 1997 and partner since 2007. He has experience in numerous stock exchange transactions, including IPOs, fund raisings, and reporting accountant work for acquisitions. He has a specific focus on mining clients across commodities and mining methods. Andries is the project leader for the firm’s SA Mine and Global Mine publications which gives him excellent insight into industry wide issues.  Although he has a specific focus on mining and construction clients, Andries also has a variety of cross industry exposure with previous involvements in retail, manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, banking and insurance clients. His core industries has given him the opportunity to work with cross border teams on a regular basis.

Hanré Rossouw has served as Chief Financial Officer of Royal Bafokeng Platinum Limited since October 2018. Previously, he was a Portfolio Manager at Investec Asset Management covering precious metals and South African resource equities. Prior to that, Hanré was the Chief Financial Officer of Xstrata Alloys overseeing Xstrata plc’s chrome and platinum interests in South Africa. He joined Xstrata in 2004, and also held other senior roles in strategy, mergers and acquisitions and investor relations in London as part of the core team that built Xstrata into a global diversified mining company, subsequently acquired by Glencore in 2013. His mining career started as a graduate engineer at Anglo American plc (with experience at AngloGold and AngloCoal). Hanré later worked for De Beers and Accenture. Hanré graduated from Oxford University with a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He also holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) degree in Economics.

Mike Rossouw has over 30 years experience in engineering, general and executive management roles in the gold, manganese, titanium, platinum and chrome mining and mineral beneficiation sectors. For the first part of his career Mike was involved in all aspects and disciplines of engineering and then progressively became more involved in other functions such as general management, strategy formulation, risk management, business and organisation reengineering and implementing large scale production facility and information system projects. His academic qualifications include a BSc Engineering from the University of Pretoria and an MBA from the University Brunel UK. He is an executive director of a Global Mining Company and previously a non-executive director of Zimplats. He is the current chairman of the Energy Intensive Users Group of South Africa and the Industry Task Team on Climate Change. Mike served for five years as a government appointed independent director of the National Electricity Regular of South Africa. His area of expertise is in the fields of systems engineering, value engineering, asset management, organisation design, safety and risk management, energy management, large scale project management and business strategy formulation. In 2012 Mike received the premier SANEA ENERGY AWARD in recognition for outstanding and sustained individual contribution to the enhancement of the South African Energy environment.

Rick began his career 47 years ago in 1974 in the securities business and has been involved in it ever since. He is known for his expertise in many resource sectors, including agriculture, alternative energy, forestry, oil and gas, mining and water. Mr. Rule is actively engaged in private placement markets, through originating and participating in hundreds of debt and equity transactions

Jim Rutherford has more than 25 years of experience in investment banking and investment management, both as an institutional investor and analyst. Between 1997 and 2013, he was a Senior Vice President at Capital Group, one of the world’s largest and longest established investment management companies, with responsibility for investments in the mining & metals industry. Sir John Parker, Chairman of Anglo American, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jim Rutherford to Anglo American’s Board. Jim brings his considerable financial insight from the perspective of the capital markets, combined with his deep strategic understanding of the mining industry. I am sure that Jim’s experience and expertise will bring considerable benefit to our Board.”

Muhammad specialises in Mining Taxation. He has also worked on entities with various energy and natural resources in the tax service line. During his 14 year tenure at KPMG, Muhammad had advised an array of clients on a number of ground-breaking transactions, some of them being the largest in their respective industries. Muhammad has experience in several industries including mining, power, food, financial services, private equity, manufacturing and industrial.  He also advised various clients on in-bound and out-bound investments, corporate re-organisations, assistance with tax objections and settlements, and general tax advisory assistance including tax opinions, advanced tax rulings and a liaison with Revenue officials.  Muhammad’s clients include a number of Private Equity Funds, Financial Institutions, Mining Houses, Parastatals, Large Industrial and Manufacturing concerns, etc.

Lee-Ann joined Implats in October 2017 as Group Executive: People. In this role she provides strategic direction for the Human Resource discipline across the Group, including developing human resource policies in support of Group strategy and effectively managing external trends and other impacts on the HR function. Lee-Ann serves on the Implats Board of Directors, as well as on the subsidiary boards of Impala Platinum Limited and Impala Canada Limited. Lee-Ann has 20 years’ experience as an HR professional across various sectors including financial services, mining and telecommunications. Prior to joining Implats, Lee-Ann was a member of the Executive Committee at Gold Fields responsible for People and Organisational Effectiveness following a stint as the Vice President, Group Remuneration and Employee Benefits. Lee-Ann has also worked at Telkom Media, a subsidiary of Telkom, as Head of People and Organisational Development. She holds a BA Honours degree in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Johannesburg and is a WorldatWork (USA) Global Remuneration Practitioner (GRP).