Who we are

Allison George

Senior Strategic Advisor

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Ben Magara

CEO

Exxaro

Bokang Kelepa

Chief Growth Officer

Baletsema Holdings

Bokang Kelepa is a Mining Engineer with over 18 years’ experience in the mining industry. He founded and runs Baletsema Mining Services which has a footprint in multiple mining commodities offering various mining services including contract mining, mining consulting and mining and engineering supplies. He founded the 4IR in mining seminar which looks at the latest trends taking place in the industry and on how they can be of benefit to various mining houses. He believes that all the changes can be of benefit to the industry provided there is a multi-stakeholder approach. In all the interventions that come about we should not forget to integrate from the beginning to end instead of only considering single point solutions.

Bongi Ntsoelengoe

Executive Manager: Mining Cluster

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Sibongile has over 15 years of experience in the mining industry focusing on iron ore and base metal commodities. She has gained extensive experience in the development of integrated innovation strategy roadmaps across the mining value chain and held several leadership roles where she has led multidisciplinary teams in the development, deployment, and adoption of appropriate innovations across mining operations. She is currently the Executive Cluster Manager for CSIR’s Future Production: Mining, at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and serves as Non-Executive Director (NED) at Fraser Alexander and as a council member of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM). 

She provides thought leadership in building diverse capabilities including digital capabilities that are required to identify and develop bespoke mining solutions in support of a safer, modernised, and sustainable mining industry. Her latest achievements include delivering a research and innovation strategy roadmap for the revitalisation of the South African Mining industry and rebuilding the mining Research Development and Innovation (RDI) ecosystem.  

Master of Business Administration (GIBS), BSc Metallurgical Engineering (Hon) (University of Pretoria), BSc in Metallurgy and Material Engineering (University of the Witwatersrand), Advanced Management Programme Certificate (University of Navarra, IESE Business School).

Botlhale Seageng

Director, Investment Promotion

DMPR

Bronwyn Barnes

CEO

Ivanhoe Atlantic

Bronwyn has successfully led exploration and mining projects internationally over a 28-year career with extensive experience working across African jurisdictions, with a focus on West Africa.
Previously Bronwyn was the Deputy CEO of privately held Guinean bauxite developer AMC Bauxite.
Holding senior leadership roles Bronwyn has worked with BHP, Fortescue and WMC in Australia and has significant ASX-listed company experience as Managing Director, Chairman and major shareholder of several listed entities.
She brings significant experience and connections in working with multilateral investment agencies and Australian/US Governments for infrastructure development funding support.

Clive Govender

CEO & Founding Partner

CGC Management Consulting

Clive Govender is a global executive with over 25 years of experience in procurement and supply chain strategy, sustainability, and innovation, spanning the mining, industrial, and automotive sectors. As the CEO & Founder of CGC Consulting, a boutique consultancy specializing in supply chain optimization and supplier diversity, he has guided leading global mining and heavy industrial companies to optimize supply chains, achieving billions in cost savings.

Clive also co-founded Black Umbrellas CGC Consulting, a Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation initiative, focused on SME development and supplier diversity. 

Previously, Clive served as Group Head of Supply Chain (CPO) at Anglo American Platinum, delivering over $1.5 billion in benefits and spearheading the restructuring of Anglo American’s procurement into a world-class, center-led model. He also held the role as Vice President Supply Chain & Sustainability at ABB, responsible for driving supply chain excellence and sustainability for Sub-Saharan Africa.

A recognized thought leader, Clive is an expert advisor to Procurement 50 a member of World 50 Group (a think tank of Global Chief Procurement Officers & Global Sustainability officers),  and also chaired the Technology & Innovation Hub at the African Mining Indaba for the last 5 years. He is a board advisory member of the CSIR Mining Cluster and a sought-after speaker on supply chain, supplier diversity, digital transformation, and mining innovation.

Clive holds a BSc (Hons), MBA (Henley, UK), and a Senior Executive Program from London Business School, where he also guest lectures. He is currently pursuing a PhD in entrepreneurship and supply chain.

David Sturmes

Co-founder, Director Partnerships and Innvoation

The Impact facility

David Sturmes-Verbeek is the co-founder of The Impact Facility, with the mission of helping transform mineral wealth into lasting prosperity for local communities. 

He applied his background in International to help set up a blended-finance financial inclusion programme targetting artisanal gold miners across Kenya and Tanzania, providing lease-to-purchase equipment financing to artisanal miners excluded from formal financing. 

David has also been instrumental in developing and growing the Fair Cobalt Alliance, a multi-stakeholder action platform dedicated to uplifting artisanal cobalt mining communities in the DR Congo, leading fundraising efforts that led to more than USD 5 million in investment into the professioanlisation of artisanal mining operations since 2020. 

David co-authored several reports including “Digging for Change”, which laid the groundwork for the creation of the FCA, and a report investigating barriers to accessing the formal gold market, as well as various artisanal gold value chain mappings and case studies documenting financial inclusion efforts across Africa and South America. 

In his current role, David focuses on forging partnerships across civil society and the private sector and mobilising blended-finance investment for the socio-economic development of mining communities. Through his work David hopes to help create thriving and resilient mining communities.

Deshan Naidoo

Founder

AfriVolt

Deshan Naidoo is the Founder and Managing Director of Afrivolt, a pioneering company based in Cape Town, South Africa, with a bold vision to develop Africa’s first gigafactory.  
In this role, he oversees all aspects of the business’s operations. Prior to Afrivolt, Deshan served as the CEO of an automotive component company, where he led a successful turnaround strategy, transforming the business into a 99% export-focused operation. His leadership earned the company the prestigious Exporter of the Year award from the President of South Africa in 2022. Deshan also contributed to the automotive industry as a member of the National Executive Committee of South Africa’s automotive component association for several years. 
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Cape Town and has earned various executive certificates in finance and entrepreneurship from some of the world’s top business schools, including a BatteryMBA certification. He is a Fellow of the Presidential Precinct in the USA and one of the youngest INSEAD-certified International Directors in the world. 

Dr. Stacy Hope

Partner

ERM

Emmannuel Nkumba

Executive Director

African Natural Resources Watch

Maître UMPULA NKUMBA Emmanuel is founder and executive director of AFREWATCH. With over 23 years' experience in the extractive sector in the DRC and Africa, he has worked for and sits on the Board of Directors of several national and international organizations. From 2012 to 2018, he was one of the Congolese civil society players who actively participated in the revision of the Congolese mining code and regulations. His current work focuses on natural resource governance, legal and judicial support for local communities, corporate social responsibility, the formalization of artisanal mining, human rights and community development.

Estelle Levin-Nally

CEO and Founder

Levin Sources

For more than 20 years, Ms Estelle LEVIN-NALLY has been working in minerals sustainability, having begun her career in shipbroking, gorilla conservation & international development. Today she is CEO & Founder of B CorpTM advisory firm, Levin Sources, which, has helped 160+ clients mine, trade, source, invest in & regulate minerals more responsibly & sustainably through 280+ projects on 160+ minerals in 90+ countries since 2010.  Ms LEVIN-NALLY is also Chair (Sustainability Committee) and Member (Leadership Committee) for the Investing in African Mining Indaba, Commissioner for the Global Investor Commission for Mining 2030, Member of the Women in Mining UK’s Policy Committee, and Mentor for the International Women in Mining’s International Women in Natural Resources Mentoring Programme. Ms LEVIN-NALLY was selected as a 100 Global Inspirational Woman in Mining (2020) and an African Mining Review's "Mining Elite in Africa" in 2024.

Fabiana Di Lorenzo

Senior Director, Impact and Innovation

Responsible Minerals Initiative

Fabiana Di Lorenzo is a senior executive with over 15 years of experience navigating the complexities of responsible business regulations, environmental and human rights and geopolitical supply chain risks. In her current role as Senior Director of Impact, Innovation, and Credibility at the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), the largest industry association in the electronics sector with over 500 members, she leads organizational expansion to support responsible sourcing and scale impact through a full value chain approach. She defines collaboration frameworks with stakeholders, shapes data strategies, and drives systemic change to enhance member due diligence. Beyond her work at RMI, she serves on boards and committees, offering strategic guidance to organizations undergoing growth and transformation. Passionate about empowering fast-growing entities, she helps sharpen strategic focus, effectively use new technologies, foster innovation, and build cohesive teams. Through her extensive network of experts, businesses, and investors, she has facilitated critical exchanges among brands, mining companies and investors that bridge knowledge gaps, enabling impactful action. Her career reflects a commitment to purpose-driven leadership, reputation management, and leveraging innovation to address evolving global challenges.

Heidi Sternberg

Sector Specialist: Mining

Public Investment Corporation (PIC)

Ime Ekripko

Director, Metallurgical Raw Materials and Investment Promotion

Ministry of Steel Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Isabelle Ramdoo

Director

IGF

Isabelle Ramdoo is the Director of the IGF Secretariat and leads its work on local content policies, critical minerals and mineral value chains.
Isabelle is an economist with over 20 years of experience in trade negotiations and industrial policy. She has worked as a senior advisor to the African Minerals Development Centre/United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, as Deputy Head of Programme, Economic Transformation, at the European Centre for Development Policy Management, and as an economist and trade negotiator for the Government of Mauritius.

Jill Cooper

Director, Responsible Investing

Orion Resources

Ms. Cooper is an environmental attorney with over 30 years of experience working on sustainability and ESG topics. Her experience covers a wide array of industries including mining, energy, water, manufacturing, consumer products, and government. Throughout her career she has managed teams of ESG and sustainability specialists in industry and government roles. Prior to joining Orion, Ms. Cooper helped Geosyntec Consultants create an ESG team and services. She served as a Director of Global Environment for Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (including ESG). Ms. Cooper has experience working with directly with executives, investors, financial institutions, and not-for-profits. She holds a BS in Marketing, an MBA from Thunderbird, and an JD in environmental law from the University of Colorado.

Jonathan Veeran

Partner

Webber Wentzel

Joseph Starwood

Global Mining Expert

Microsoft

Mr. Starwood has deep expertise and experience in digital solutions for the mining industry.  He aligns digital capabilities to client visions and strategies to transform business models and operational processes.  The resulting solutions enhance profitability and productivity, reduce cost and risk, and improve employee safety and engagement.

Mr. Starwood is a thought-leader on the Digital Sustainable Mine of the Future.  Here, he applies a full range of techniques and technologies including digital twins, artificial intelligence, industrial metaverse, edge computing, and more.  Using a holistic approach, he helps clients gain visibility and control across the entire value chain to achieve business and operational objectives while realizing ESG commitments.

Mr. Starwood also has expertise and experience in value realization from digital investments.  He applies his mining industry knowledge to craft a range of solution options to address client budgets, preferences, and constraints.  He utilizes proven methods to accelerate business outcomes and value realization.

Mr. Starwood previously worked as an exploration geologist and geophysicist prospecting for gold, silver, copper, and molybdenum deposits in the Western USA.  He developed significant expertise in Kuroko-style gold deposits.  He also worked as a petroleum exploration geologist and geophysicist in the Middle & Upper Magdalena Basins in Colombia, South America.

K2 Mapasa

Head of Africa

Appian Capital Advisory

Kenny Ives

CEO

CMOC

Kenny Ives, Joined IXM in Q4 2022 as CEO. In December 2024, Kenny took on the additional role of Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of the CMOC Group. IXM is a leading global marketing and trading house, focused on commercializing base metals, metal concentrates and specialty metals. CMOC Group is a leading producer of Copper, Cobalt, Molybdenum, Tungsten, Niobium and Phosphate fertilizer, with a diversified portfolio of operations in the DRC, Brazil and China. Before joining IXM, Kenny spent over 23 years at Glencore, and is a graduate of Brasenose College, Oxford.

Marcus Courage

CEO

Africa Practice

Marcus is the CEO of Africa Practice - a mission-led strategic consulting firm advising investors and development partners across the continent. He has more than twenty five years’ experience capacitating organizations to co-create solutions that address complex business and development challenges, and unlock value.

Marcus has served as an advisor on public policy, regulatory compliance and stakeholder relations to several mining majors. He was a contributor to the drafting of the African Mining Vision.

Prior to founding Africa Practice in 2003, Marcus served as director of international affairs for an NYSE-listed firm advising governments on how to secure preferential terms of trade and attract investment. 

Marie-Chantal Kaninda

CEO

Glencore - DRC

Marie-Chantal Kaninda joined Glencore DRC 5 years ago as Vice-President of Corporate Affairs .

Since January 2023 , she is The President of Glencore DRC and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kamoto Copper Company-KCC(since July 2022) ,a partnership between Gécamines and Glencore in the DRC. She has over 25 years of professional experience in the mining sector in major international groups such as Ashanti Goldfieds, AngloGold Ashanti, Debeers Group in charge of administration, communication and external affairs in Central Africa and Communities in Africa, and Rio Tinto as Director of External Relations for Africa. Marie-Chantal holds a degree in economics from the University of Liège, in Belgium, and for two years was one of the first woman to helm the World Diamond Council. Married with two daughters, she has long advocated for greater access to training for girls and women, as well as for greater inclusion in the mining sector. She is a mentor to several young women entrepreneurs in the DRC, the founder and creator of a not-for-profit association (the MCKM Foundation), which addresses the issue of girls’ education in the DRC. She is a member of several boards of directors, including Standard Bank in DRC as chairman of Board of Director . Marie-Chantal was recognized as one of the most influential women for 3 consecutive years by Forbes Africa”.

Marna Cloete

CEO

Ivanhoe Mines

Marna Cloete has been the President of Ivanhoe Mines since April 2020, leveraging over 20 years of expertise in strategic finance, resource development, and organizational transformation. Since joining Ivanhoe Mines in 2006, she has played a vital role in the company’s evolution, notably serving as Chief Financial Officer from 2009 to 2020. During this time, Marna’s financial acumen and visionary leadership laid the groundwork for Ivanhoe Mines’ sustainable growth and global success.

Marna has been instrumental in driving some of the mining industry’s most significant achievements. Under her leadership, Ivanhoe Mines successfully developed and launched production at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the world’s largest and highest-grade copper projects. She also guided the reopening of the Kipushi mine, renowned for its ultra-high-grade zinc, copper, germanium, and silver deposits, and continues to oversee the development of the Platreef Project in South Africa, the world's largest precious metals development, which includes palladium, platinum, nickel, copper, and gold.
 
Her leadership extends beyond operations to strategic partnerships that have transformed Ivanhoe Mines’ footprint on the global stage. Marna played a pivotal role in forging joint ventures with Zijin Mining and partnerships with companies such as CITIC Metal and a Japanese consortium led by Itochu. Under her guidance, Ivanhoe raised critical funding, including a US$490 million equity offering in December 2023 and a US$750 million debt package to fuel expansion in January 2024. She also positioned Ivanhoe Mines as the first company to utilize the Lobito Atlantic Rail Corridor for mineral exports, unlocking cost efficiencies and international trade opportunities.

Mecktilder Mchomvu

Executive Director

Tanzania Women in Mining & Mineral Industry (TWiMMI)

Mecktilder M M, Executive Director & founding member of the Tanzania Women and Youth in Mining and Mineral Industry (TWiMMI), empowers women and youth in mining. Through TWiMMI, she implemented health and safety programs benefiting over 400 women miners in northern Tanzania. TWiMMI has empowered 3,900 youth & women in the mineral Industry, from miners, value addition,mineral traders, service providers and mining professionals. She is a former small-scale miner, Mecktilder’s journey spans Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, and Zambia. 

As Co-founder of WOOW ME JEWEL, she transforms gemstones into world-class jewelry, promoting local value addition. She contributes to mineral value discussions in the Great Lakes region and authored a PanAfGeo-2 chapter on sustainable artisanal mining. Her work emphasizes ethical practices and inclusivity in mining.
 

Miguel Vemba

Director of Mining Operations and Joint Venture Management

Endiama

Director of Mining Operations and Joint Venture Management ENDIAMA E.P Miguel Vemba is the Director of Mining Operations and Joint Venture Management at ENDIAMA E.P. With over 20 years of experience in the mining sector, he oversees mining operations and joint ventures, ensuring safety, efficiency, and alignment with ENDIAMA’s strategic goals. His focus is on maximising shareholder value while driving sustainable mining practices that comply with global standards like ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. Miguel is committed to enhancing Angola’s position in the global diamond industry by increasing production and fostering new international partnerships. Before this role, Miguel spent over 8 years in the oil and gas sector, holding key leadership positions at Azule Energy and BP. There, he managed joint ventures, led energy transition projects, and improved operations across Angola, Mauritania, and Senegal. His expertise in integrating complex operations and driving performance initiatives advanced the sector. Miguel holds a Diploma in Financial Strategy from the University of Oxford (Saï d Business School), an MBA and a Master’s in Engineering Management from Penn State University, and a Mining Engineering degree from the University of Witwatersrand. His educational background underpins his strategic approach to managing large-scale operations.

Mike Teke

CEO

Seriti Resources

Mike Teke is the CEO of Seriti Resources Holdings which he co-founded in 2018. His qualifications include a BA (Ed), BEd, BA (Hons) and an MBA.

Mike has held HR roles at several companies including Unilever from 1992 to 1994, Bayer from 1994 to 1999, BHP Billiton from 2000 to 2005 and Impala Platinum from 2005 to 2007. Upon his departure at BHP Billiton, he became a founding member of Optimum Coal from 2007 to 2012 where he took on the role of CEO, and later Non- Executive Chairman until 2015.

Mike was also the VP of the Chamber of Mines in SA between 2011/12 and subsequently became the President from 2013 to 2017. He became the Chairman of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal Board in 2012 and stepped down in 2016 to become a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

Mike currently serves as Executive Chairman and controlling shareholder of Masimong Group Holdings and Non-Executive Chairman for several companies, including Rolfes, Anchor Group, and previously served as the Chairman of Council at the University of Johannesburg. He has been appointed as a Professor of Practice at the Johannesburg Business School. This title is only conferred on professionals who contribute to UJ’s academic enterprise through their professional expertise. Mike is also a Non-Executive Director of ARB, DNI, Halewood, and Mouton Citrus.

Mohamed Stevens

Legal Counsel

African Legal Support Facility (ALSF)

Naseem Banu Lahri

Managing Director

Lucara Botswana

Naseem Banu Lahri is a seasoned Executive Leader with more than 18 years of experience in the mining industry. She has a Masters in Strategic Management (BCOM, FCCA) and has held key strategic roles throughout her career. In May 2018 she was promoted to the position of Managing Director at Lucara Botswana, being the first woman and the first Motswana woman to serve in this capacity for a diamond mining company in Botswana and the youngest female MD in mining in the world.Throughout most of her career, Lahri has taken strategic positions on different boards. She has served as a board member on the Debswana Pension Fund, Botswana Accountancy College and Pula Medical Aid. She was recently appointed as a board member at First National Bank Botswana which is rated the best bank in the country.

Lahri was labelled by Forbes, the New Yorker, Mining Weekly and Vogue as the youngest female to run a diamond mine in the world and a trailblazer in the industry. In November 2020, she was nominated as the Top 100 Women in Mining. In addition, Lahri was nominated under the Business Woman of the year category at the 2022 All Africa Business Leaders Awards. She was awarded the Forbes Woman Africa Impact Award at the 2022 All Africa Business Leaders Awards. The award honours female leaders who have transformed a market, company, product or service and who, through their work. This award has only been awarded to 4 women (Lahri included) in the 10 years history of the AABLA Awards. During the 11th African Leadership Magazine Awards in 2023, Lahri was conferred with the African Mining Personality of the Year Award. The award is in recognition of Naseem Lahri's strategic leadership pedigree in the mining sector which is marked by excellence, tenacity and dedication to duty. In 2023, Lahri was chosen to represent the Diamond, gold and/or platinum group metals producer forum on the RJC Board of Directors. Lahri has been named the African Female Leader of the Year 2024 by the African Leadership Organisation. Lahri has succesfully completed the Senior Executive Program - Africa with Harvard Business School in August 2024.
 

Nere Emiko

Managing Director

Kian Smith Refinery

Nere Emiko is the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Kian Smith - a mining and minerals firm. The company is involved in the mine to market gold value chain of Nigeria. It has developed the first gold refinery in Nigeria and pioneered other gold initiatives including SANU- digital tokens for precious metals backed by physical gold and silver from a traceable and consolidated supply chain. The company has also partnered with private consortiums and state govt mining vehicles in developing the value chain for critical minerals including Tin & Lithium. As a strategist, Nere has worked for sustainable solutions in building diverse ecosystems in Mining, Culture & Tourism.

Ntokozo Nzimande

DDG: Policy, Global Relations and Investment Promotion

DMPR

With 24 years of experience in South Africa's mining and energy sectors, Ntokozo currently serves as Deputy Director-General at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). She holds an Honours degree in Geography and Environmental Management, an LLB Degree, and is in the process of completing a Master’s degree in Energy Leadership at the Wits Business School. In addition to their governmental role, Ntokozo serves as a board member at Mintek, a state-owned metallurgy entity under the DMRE, and as a board member at Hyve, the UK-based owner of the Mining Indaba, a premier event with 8,500 mining investors and three decades of influence in the industry. Her past board memberships include the Council for GeoScience, the State Diamond Trader, the DTIC's Industrialists Advisory Panel to the Minister of the DTIC, and the Benguela Current Commission, a collaborative environmental body with South Africa, Angola, and Namibia. As a co-author of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) and numerous other mining and energy-related policies, Ntokozo has played a key role in shaping South Africa's legal framework for these sectors, contributing to the balance between resource development, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Recently successfully drafted and presented to Parliament the Amended Electricity regulation Amendment Act (ERA) which will enable the liberalisation of the electricity market in South Africa and the first ever Petroleum Resources Development Bill (UPRDB) in South Africa. The ERA Bill was signed into law by President in August this year while the UPRDB awaits Presidential assent. She is currently leading a team that is reviewing the MPRDA to strengthen transformation agenda in the mining sector.

Phoevos Pouroulis

CEO

Tharisa

Phoevos Pouroulis is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tharisa plc, with responsibility for overall strategy and management. Phoevos has held various senior managerial and operational positions in his more than 21-year career. He has extensive experience in project management, mining design, commissioning and mining operations, including PGM and chrome, having been involved in South Africa's mining industry since 2003. He has served as Commercial Director for Chromex Mining plc and was a founding member of Keaton Energy. Phoevos currently serves on the board of the World Platinum Investment Council.
 

Prof. Francis Petersen

Vice Chancellor and Principal

University of Pretoria

Prof Francis W Petersen is a visionary leader in the South African higher education sector and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria. He has previously held esteemed positions as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cape Town. Prof. Francis Petersen holds a PhD in Engineering from Stellenbosch University. His international speaking engagements include prominent conferences worldwide, contributing to the global discourse on higher education and research. Currently, he is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Universities South Africa. 

Raj Ray

Managing Director, Metals & Mining Research

BMO Capital Markets

Raj joined BMO Capital Markets in October 2019 covering primarily precious metals. Raj has over 10 years of sell-side research experience having worked previously at another Canadian broker-dealer covering Metals & Mining, and prior to that at a Canadian bank-owned dealer covering Precious Metals. Raj started his career in the industry at a natural resources company monitoring process operations in the base metals business. He has also worked at a risk management firm where he developed and reviewed risk evaluation metrics for mining and energy companies, and also integrated ESG factors to screen portfolios. 
Raj holds a bachelor in metallurgy and materials engineering from National Institute of Technology (Rourkela), India, and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. Raj is also a CFA charterholder.

Raksha Naidoo

CEO & Chairperson

The Particle Group & Women in Mining South Africa

Raksha is a BSc graduate and an executive level professional who has amassed almost two decades of experience in various analytical, production leadership and general management disciplines.

Raksha views teamwork, consultation and communication as the key pillars of all her successes. To this end, she is passionate about the transfer of knowledge to enable all members of her team to grow both personally and professionally. She has built harmonious relationships at all levels of the organisation to enable the achievement of common goals. This includes constructive relationships with organised labour, which has assisted in her growth as a leader.

One of Raksha’s biggest passions is people. Over the years that has come in different forms, always being the go-to friend, the listener and problem solver, mentor and leader, getting involved in various charity initiatives whenever possible, including founding a non-profit company called The Girlfriends Group, and even play match maker to friends looking for love.

When Raksha sees potential in someone, she invests hard in them. She wants to see them develop, grow and become the best version of themselves. This mentorship passion propelled Raksha to get involved with Women in Mining South Africa organisation, where she currently holds the position of WiMSA Chairperson. And Raksha holds the position of CEO of The Particle Group.

Dr. Rokhaya Samba Ba

General Manager

National Geological Survey of Senegal

Sonwabo Modimoeng

Executive Lead

Faded Black Innovations

Sonwabo Modimoeng, is a Social Entrepreneur and CEO of Faded Black Innovations. My areas of focus are Community development, Social Enterprise Development, Project Management and Community Wealth Building. Faded Black Innovations is an Award winning NPO with a mission that is centered on empowering Civic organisations to achieve self-sufficiency through innovative social enterprises. We believe in the power of social entrepreneurship to elevate communities, create sustainable economic opportunities, and drive long-term positive change. Sonwabo was chosen as one of the News 24 Visionaries’ 2019, he was also awarded Job creation award by Proudly South African in 2021 and CSI- Legacy Awards - Best Social Entrepreneur award in 2022.

Thabani Mlilo

Adjunct Professor, MD UCT

Moahi Sustainable Solutions

Thabani is the Managing Director of Moahi Sustainable Solutions, a boutique sustainability advisory company, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Cape Town, Chemical Engineering Faculty, Mining to Minerals Department. He has over 23 years’ experience in the Sustainability field, primarily focused on Mining. Thabani’s previous roles have included Executive Head of Sustainability at KAP, Executive Head of Safety, Health and Sustainability at ERG Africa, Head of Sustainability at Anglo American Platinum, and Sustainability Manager at AngloGold Ashanti. His experience includes Africa (South Africa, Guinea, Mali, Ghana, Tanzania, Egypt, Ethiopia, Namibia and Zimbabwe), South America (Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Colombia), North America and Asian Pacific (Indonesia and Australia). 
Thabani’s main areas of work and research are, Critical Minerals, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, Responsible Sourcing, Leadership development, climate change,  environmental and social impact, and sustainable development in mining.  Thabani also works with early career African leaders to shape policy, develop strategy and implementation frameworks at country, regional and continental level on key mining and developmental topics linked to environment, social, economic and governance paradigms. Thabani serves as a member of the African Union’s Technical Committee on the draft Model Law on Mineral Resources Development.

Tim O'Connor

Chief Exploration Officer

BHP

Tim O’Connor is the Group Exploration Officer at BHP. 
In his current role, Tim has accountability for BHP’s global Exploration efforts – including the innovative Xplor incubator. Prior to stepping into the Exploration, Tim led the Resource Centre of Excellence and Legacy Assets - with functional accountability for Geoscience, Resource Engineering, Tailings and Processing across the group, as well as operational accountability for 24 mine sites in various states of closure.  
A strong believer in the solving complex challenges across the value chain, Tim led the integration of the OZ Minerals business into BHP following its acquisition in 2023.   
Tim has been at BHP since 2006 and has worked in both the Petroleum and Minerals businesses – holding senior roles in Strategy, Exploration and Production.  Tim has degrees in both Geology and Geophysics from Boston College. 

Veston Malango

CEO

Namibia Chamber of Mines

Zenzi Awases

President

Association of Women in Mining in Africa (AWIMA)

Zenzi Awases is a multifaceted leader in the mining industry. A skilled geologist with nearly two decades of experience, she is also passionate advocate for women’s empowerment in mining. Through her company, EmpowerMine Consulting Services, she extends her expertise beyond technical skills.

Co-founding the Women in Mining Association of Namibia (WiMAN) and serving as vice-president of the Association of Women in Mining Africa (AWIMA), her dedication extends far beyond her own accomplishments. 

Zenzi's impact and contributions have gained recognition both nationally and globally. She has received Namibia's prestigious  Award of the Most Excellent Order of the Eagle, First Class.  Zenzi is a captivating speaker who brings energy and enthusiasm to sharing her experiences from her career in leadership and business. 
Her journey is an inspiration to those who strive to make a difference in their industries and communities.