Government Presenters
Presenting Companies
2024 Presenters
Director, PwC Consulting
Kristy has spent over 20 years’ building and maintaining strategic relationships and professional connections with senior business leaders, C-suite executives and Non-Executive Directors. She has experience in various sectors including mining and resources, oil & gas, state government, federal government and defence.
Prior to PwC, Kristy was an entrepreneurial start-up founder and CEO of a specialist national recruitment business. Kristy reinvented her career when she joined PwC Australia and has dedicated the last eight years to leadership, business strategy, transformation and growth with a current focus on ESG, social value and the future of work.
Kristy has spent the last three years as PwC’s Global Account Director for the firm’s largest global resources client and is a PwC Consulting Director in the EUR (Energy, Utilities & Resources) Perth practice. She is also the National Co-Chair of PwC’s Symmetry Committee (PwC’s employee network for gender diversity). This has recently been supplemented by a Senior Executive MBA (SEMBA) with Melbourne Business School which combines the best of her entrepreneurial spirit with global enterprise to create consulting solutions for clients across the EUR sector.
On a personal note, she is Perth born and raised and lived some of her childhood in the Pilbara of Western Australia. She is the wife of a FIFO husband, mother to two active boys and NFP Board Director. She has been a Judge of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards in VIC in 2020 and in WA from 2015-2017. Previous individual awards as a business owner include the Telstra Business Women’s Awards Finalist 2007 and EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist 2008.
Chief Executive Officer, Minbos Resources Ltd
A Mining Engineer with 30 years experience in exploration, development, operations and corporate finance. Lindsay has worked in minerals sands, copper and tin operations obtaining a Mine Managers Certificate. After completing an MBA he worked as a resource analyst in the Australian equity markets. Since then he has started and managed a number of resource companies with projects in a range of commodities in Australia, Africa and Asia.
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
Managing Director
Mr Taylor is a geologist with over 25 years’ experience in exploration, project assessment and development in the resources sector. He has had a diversified career as a resources professional providing services to resource companies and financial corporations. His experience spans a range of commodities including gold, fertilisers (phosphate and potash), base metals, nickel, uranium, coal and coal seam methane. Whilst his experience includes Australia a majority of his projects have been in countries including Brazil, Turkey, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali, China, UK and North America.
His experience includes providing consulting services to resource companies and financial corporations as a resource analyst. His analytical and technical expertise, combined with his corporate experience have given him an ability to advise companies at a corporate and Board level including fund raising, acquisitions, promotion and recognising value opportunities to add shareholder value.
Managing Director
Lucapa Diamond Company Limited Managing Director Stephen Wetherall is a qualified chartered accountant with more than 20 years’ experience in financial and operational management, corporate transactions, structuring and strategic planning. Stephen previously held senior roles with De Beers and Gem Diamonds, building significant experience across the diamond industry in Africa, Indonesia, Australia, UK, Europe and the Middle East. Most recently, Stephen has led the successful exploration, evaluation, funding and development of two unique diamond mines in Africa with high-quality productions.
Managing Director & CEO
Errol is a geologist, registered for JORC purposes. Errol has 28 years of industry experience across all aspects of exploration, mine development and operations with experience in precious and base metals. Errol has held positions in Anglogold, Cluff Mining, Metallon Gold, Clarity Minerals LionGold Corporation and African Stellar Holdings. Errol’s senior executive roles have been on several boards of companies listed on both the TSX and ASX and currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Minerals Council South Africa.
Executive Director
Mr Strizek has more than 20 years of experience in gold exploration, resource development and operations of open pit and underground projects ranging from the Kalgoorlie super pit to high grade projects such as Frogs Leg in the Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia. Prior to joining ASX-listed Vital metals limited as Chief Executive Officer, Mr Strizek was involved in project development of mineral, coal and petroleum resources in both Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Global Head of Hybrid
Dave Manning, juwi’s Global Head of Hybrid, has 25 years’ international experience in power solutions for mines and remote energy consumers. He was also previously involved in the Australian DeGrussa Sandfire hybrid project as General Manager for the Thermal Power Station Owner, from initial contract negotiation through to project completion. Based in Perth, Dave is responsible for overseeing the installation and operation of hybrid installations worldwide, with Africa and Australia being the prime focus regions.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Karl Simich has more than 30 years’ experience as an international resource company executive, specialising in corporate finance and company management. He has held Board and senior executive positions with numerous ASX-listed mining companies and has played a key role in the financing, construction, development and operation of mining projects in Australia, New Zealand and Africa.
Mr Simich joined the Sandfire Resources Board in 2007 and has overseen discovery and development of the Company’s DeGrussa and Monty Copper-Gold Mines in Western Australia, which are now well established as two of the Asia-Pacific region’s premier high-grade copper mines. More recently, he has overseen the establishment of a global project development pipeline which now also includes advanced copper development projects in Botswana and the USA.
Managing Director
Mr Hoskins commenced his career at a large international accounting firm and has since gained corporate experience with both Australian and international listed companies. He is a senior executive with 14 years of broad finance and commercial experience across resources exploration, project development and production as well as large-scale property developments requiring debt and equity financing. He was appointed as IMX’s Managing Director in October 2015 after being Chief Executive Officer since September 2014, before which he spent almost three years as IMX’s Chief Financial Officer.
Head of International Program
Lisa Sharland is Head of the International Program at ASPI with research interests in the United Nations and multilateralism, peacekeeping reform, Australia’s engagement in UN peacekeeping, African security issues, Australia-Africa engagement, protection of civilians and women, peace and security.
Since commencing at ASPI in March 2014, Lisa has conducted field research on preventing and countering violent extremism in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Kenya, and UN peacekeeping missions in Mali, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. She has authored numerous research publications and provided expert commentary to media and news outlets.
Lisa has been a Visiting Fellow at the Stimson Centre in Washington DC and the National Institute for Defence Studies in Japan. She remains a non-resident fellow in the Protecting Civilians in Conflict Program at the Stimson Centre. She has also worked as a consultant for the International Forum for the Challenges of Peace Operations.
Prior to joining ASPI, Lisa worked as the Defence Policy Adviser at the Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations in New York, where she provided advice on peacekeeping and defence-related policy issues and represented Australia in multilateral negotiations in the UN Security Council and General Assembly bodies, including the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34).
Lisa is a member of the Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations (AGAAR), which is tasked by the Foreign Minister with informing Australia’s thinking and policies on Africa. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Western Australia’s Africa Research and Engagement Centre (AfREC).
Managing Director
Dr Michael Anderson has extensive management and technical experience built up over a 30-year career in Africa and Australia. Michael recently joined Firefinch from Taurus Funds Management where he helped to lead the fund’s investment into numerous West African gold producers. Previously, as Managing Director of Exco Resources, he led the Company to a number of major achievements. These included successful development of the White Dam Gold Mine, advancement of resource development, feasibility studies and approvals for the Cloncurry Copper Project ahead of its ultimate sale to Xstrata for A$175M, and numerous funding arrangements, all of which led to a significant share price re-rating and a five-fold increase in market capitalisation. Dr Anderson holds a BSc. (1st Class Honours in Mining Geology) and a PhD in Mining Geology, both from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, University of London.
Chief Operating Officer
Allan Mulligan is a mining engineer with 30 years of mine management and production experience.
Allan has specialised in technical assessment and production economics, feasibilities, project design and costing of underground mines and prospects. He has worked extensively in exploration, mine development and operations across Africa and Australia and understands the value of Australian expertise and African opportunity.
Allan was a founding director of Walkabout Resources Pty Ltd. He has previously been on the board of several West Australian explorers.
CEO
Mr Grove has over 30 years technical, commercial and financial experience in global resources including 14 years with Macquarie Bank’s Mining Finance and Risk Management Groups. Andrew has gained significant operational experience across all phases of resources projects such as the Sunrise Gold Dam project in Western Australia and has substantial African gold mining experience including his most recent role as Group General Manager Business Development and Investor Relations at Perseus Mining Limited.
Mr Grove has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology) and a Masters Degree in Mineral and Energy Economics.
Chairman & Managing Director
Martin Holland is a mining executive with over a decade of corporate experience. Mr Holland is a co-founder of Cobre, and is the founder and former CEO of ASX listed Lithium Power International Limited (ASX: LPI). Mr Holland listed LPI in 2016 and raised in excess of $70 million in new equity; and acquired, explored and developed one of the world’s highest grade and largest lithium mines in Chile. Mr. Holland is Chairman of Sydney based private investment company, Holland International.
CEO
Allan graduated from the University of Technology in Sydney in 1986 with a Bachelor of Business and subsequently attained a post graduate Diploma in Applied Finance from the Financial Services Institute of Australia.
Allan’s distinguished career spans 30 years in both the energy and resources sectors, in investment banking and leadership roles in both private and publicly listed companies.
Allan currently serves as Non-Executive Director of ASX listed Hydrocarbon Dynamics Limited (HCD:ASX) and has previously served as Executive Director and Deputy CEO of HK Listed energy group EPI Holdings Limited (0689.HKEX).
Allan’s investment banking background includes structuring commercial transactions in the energy and resources sector. Senior roles include positions within Westpac, ANZ Bank, HSBC and BNP Paribas in Australia, London, New York and Asia Pacific.
Allan’s career achievements have been recognised several times in BRW’s annual poll of bankers.
Managing Director
Peter Ledwidge, Managing Director and founder of Mako Gold is a geologist with over 30 years’ experience in exploration and mining. His career has focussed primarily on gold in Canada, Africa and Australia.Prior to founding Mako Gold, Peter was a senior manager with ASX-listed Orbis Gold whereby he secured all of Orbis’ permits in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire.
Peter played a critical role in the discovery of the Nabanga gold deposit and thereafter contributed geological ideas towards the discovery of the Boungou mine.
Peter is fluently bilingual in French, the working language of the majority of West Africa.
Founder, CEO & Executive Chairman
Richard is a geologist with 25 years’ experience in the mining industry and 20 years experience operating in West Africa. He has managed large exploration and development projects for gold and base metals in Australia, Africa and Eastern Europe. He founded West African in 2006 and has led the Company from IPO in 2010 through to production in 2020. He was instrumental in coordinating the A$365 million debt and equity financing to fully-fund the Sanbrado Gold Operation to production in March 2020. Richard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Geophysics from the University of New England and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists.
Managing Director
Mr. Tim Harrison initially joined the Company in the role of Project Manager of Makuutu Rare Earths Project at the start of 2020. Since then he has been driving development and value creation, and was appointed CEO in June 2020 and was appointed Managing Director in December 2020.
Mr. Harrison holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and has over 20 years of experience and an extensive and successful track record in the fields of both mineral processing and hydrometallurgy across multiple commodities.
Mr. Harrison has been involved in project development, process and flowsheet development, studies, test work planning and supervision, engineering, construction, commissioning, operations and project management.
Managing Director
With more than 30 years’ experience within the resources industry, Tom Revy is considered a corporate and project development specialist with an extensive international network in the mining sector. He has held senior operational and corporate positions within EPCM organisations, including GRD Minproc and WorleyParsons, as well as Board positions on both a number of ASX listed companies and not for profit organisations.
As the founder and Managing Director of BlackEarth Minerals NL, Tom has overseen the listing and subsequent development of the Company, where it is now positioned to become a material player in the global graphite supply chain.
Managing Director
Justin has extensive experience across the mineral resources sector. He was appointed Managing Director of Manas Resources Ltd in December 2020 to reinvigorate and grow the company’s West Africa gold interests.
Prior to joining Manas, he was the Managing Director of Exore Resources. Within just over 2 years he transformed Exore into a West Africa gold explorer through the acquisition of a gold exploration portfolio in Cote d’Ivoire. After the rapid discovery and delineation of maiden JORC Resources at two gold deposits in northern Cote d’Ivoire, Exore was acquired by Perseus Mining in September 2020 for a value of circa $80 million.
Prior to Exore, Mr Tremain founded Renaissance Minerals in 2010 and served as its Managing Director until its takeover by Emerald Resources in November 2016. During his tenure, Justin was responsible for growing Renaissance from a grass roots Western Australian gold explorer into a gold development company in the frontier jurisdiction of Cambodia. The company delineated a JORC Resource of +1Moz at the Okvau Gold Deposit in Cambodia and completed feasibility studies for the development of the project before Renaissance was acquired by Emerald. Upon completion of the Emerald takeover, Justin joined the Emerald Board of Emerald as Executive Director and remained in that role until January 2018.
Prior to founding Renaissance, he had over 10 years’ investment banking experience in the natural resources sector and has held positions with Investec, NM Rothschild & Sons and Macquarie Bank.
He is also Non-Executive Director of Caspin Resources Ltd.
Projects Counsel, Gilbert + Tobin
Phil is Projects Counsel (and a former Partner) in Gilbert + Tobin’s Perth Energy + Resources team, who has many years of experience advising on the development and operation of projects in the infrastructure, mining, energy, oil and gas sectors across Australia, Asia and Africa (including Botswana, Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, Mali and Mozambique).
Phil has expertise in all forms of contracts for the funding, construction and operation of African resources projects including Government Conventions and the FIDIC “Rainbow Suite” and has advised extensively on the involvement of Chinese investment and Chinese Project Partners in African resources projects. Phil has also served as Chairman and non-executive director on listed and unlisted companies which operate across the energy, resources, infrastructure and engineering sectors.
Managing Director and CEO, Deep Yellow Limited
Mr Borshoff is an experienced mining executive and geologist with more than 40 years of uranium industry experience. He spent 17 years at the start of his career as a senior geologist and manager of the Australian activities of German uranium miner Uranerz.
In 1993, following the withdrawal of Uranerz from Australia, Mr Borshoff founded Paladin Energy Ltd. He built the company from a junior explorer into a multi-mine uranium producer with a global asset base and valuation of more than US$5 billion at its peak.
At Paladin, Mr Borshoff led the team that completed the drill out, feasibility studies, financing, construction, commissioning and safe operation of the first two conventional uranium mines built in the world for 20 years. He also oversaw numerous successful, large public market transactions including acquisitions and major capital raisings before leaving Paladin in 2015.
Mr Borshoff is recognised as a global uranium industry expert and has a vast international network across the uranium and nuclear industries, as well as the mining investment market. He has a Bachelor of Science (Geology) from the University of Western Australia and is a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
He is a member of the Uranium Forum within the Minerals Council of Australia (of which he is a former Board member) and sits on the Council of the Namibian Chamber of Mines.
Mr Borshoff was appointed Managing Director in October 2016.
Executive Chairman, KEFI Minerals plc
Harry Anagnostaras-Adams was founder or co-founder of Citicorp Capital Investors Australia, investment company Pilatus Capital, Australian Gold Council, EMED Mining, KEFI Minerals and Cyprus-based Semarang Enterprises. He has overseen a number of start-ups in those and their related organisations principally through the roles of Chairman, Deputy Chairman or Managing Director. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant while working with PricewaterhouseCoopers and has a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management.
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)
Tim Beresford is the Australian Trade and Investment Commission’s (Austrade) acting Chief Executive Officer.
His previous roles include Deputy CEO of Global Client Services at Austrade, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Macquarie University and First Assistant Secretary of Social Policy Division at Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as roles with Westpac and McKinsey.
Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in law and economics (First Class Honours) from Sydney University and Master of Philosophy (International Relations) from Cambridge University where he was a Menzies Scholar in 1994. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tim is passionate about community engagement. He is Chair of The Benevolent Society (TBS) and a board member since February 2013.
Managing Director and CEO, Perseus Mining Ltd
Mr Jeff Quartermaine has more than 25 years’ experience in senior financial and strategic management roles with ASX and TSX-listed resources companies. Mr Quartermaine is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) who holds both business management (MBA) and engineering qualifications (BE).
As Perseus’ Chief Financial Officer from 2010 to 2013, Mr Quartermaine was a significant contributor to the team advancing Perseus’s Edikan Gold Project in Ghana to production, and preparing the Sissingué Gold Project, Côte d’Ivoire, for a development decision.
Mr Quartermaine was appointed Managing Director in January 2013.
Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Government of Western Australia
Bill Johnston was sworn in as the Mines and Petroleum, Commerce and Industrial Relations, Electoral Affairs, and Asian Engagement Minister in March 2017.
This occurred a week after the WA Labor Party’s landslide victory against the Liberal Government.
As our State’s first Asian Engagement Minister, Minister Johnston’s focus was to capitalise on the rapid population and economic growth in Asia to create more job-boosting opportunities in Western Australia.
The Minister has a particular affinity with Indonesia, having spent time in West Java as a high school exchange student, and he maintains a working proficiency in both written and spoken Indonesian.
After almost two years in those roles, Minister Johnston was appointed Energy Minister on December 13, 2018.
To accommodate these changes, and to focus on this important new role, the Asian Engagement, Commerce and Electoral Affairs portfolios were handed over to other Cabinet Ministers.
He retains the Mines and Petroleum and Industrial Relations portfolios.
In Opposition he served as Shadow Minister for State Development and Energy from 2012, and Shadow Minister for Mines and Petroleum from 2013.
He was a Member of the Economics and Industry Standing Committee and Deputy Chair of the Inquiry into Domestic Gas Prices from 2010 to 2011.
Prior to entering Parliament, he was the State Secretary of WA Labor from 2001 until 2008, with responsibility for all State and Federal election campaigns.
During this time he was also a member of the Australian Labor Party’s National Executive.
As Assistant State Secretary of WA Labor from 1998 until 2001, his duties included creating and operating the Labor Business Roundtable, that connects WA Labor with business, industry and the not-for-profit sector in WA.
In 1985, he was a delegate to the International Youth Conference in Kingston, Jamaica during the UN International Youth Year; he participated in the Australian Young Political Leaders Program delegation to Indonesia in 1991; he participated in the US State Department’s Australian Young Political Leaders tour for the Mid-Term Elections in 2002; and in 2006 he was an ALP International Delegate for the UK Labour Party National Conference.
He was a senior official of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association for eight years, President of ACT Young Labor in 1988, and appointed by Prime Minister Bob Hawke as Youth Director to the Board of the Australian Bicentennial Authority from 1985 until 1989.
Executive Vice President and Head of West Africa, Gold Fields
Alfred was one of the first Ghanaians to lead a large mining company in Ghana, having risen through the ranks at Damang and Tarkwa mines.
Under his leadership, the company has invested strongly in future growth through the reinvestment of Damang and the acquisition of Asanko Gold, signed a Development Agreement with the Ghana Government and strengthened community investments.
Global Co-Chair of International Arbitration, DLA Piper
Michael Ostrove has over twenty years of experience handling international commercial arbitrations, investment arbitrations and other public international law disputes. He has advised and represented clients in approximately 100 arbitrations, court proceedings and mediations. Michael has handled numerous investment treaty disputes both for and against sovereign states, with his investment cases and commercial disputes involving a variety of sectors including mining, oil and gas (upstream and downstream).
Executive Chairman, West African Resources Ltd
Richard Hyde is a geologist with 20 years’ experience in the minerals industry and more than 15 years of experience in West Africa. Richard has managed large exploration and development projects in a range of different geological environments in Australia, Africa and Eastern Europe. He has consulted extensively to the mining industry as a senior consultant with RSG Global and Coffey Mining based in West Africa and Australia. Richard is a founding director and shareholder of West African Resources. He is Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Global Co-Chair of Energy and Natural Resources, DLA Piper
Alex Jones is the Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Energy & Natural Resources Sector, and Partner in the Finance and Projects team. He advises clients in relation to the acquisition, feasibility assessment, development, and operation of mining and major infrastructure projects. Alex has an extensive track record in assisting with development of mines, processing facilities, ports, railways, gas-powered and solar power generation, gas pipelines, electricity transmission and roads. He specialises in advising on Government concessions, regulatory compliance and approvals, land access, project structuring and negotiating the full range of project agreements.
Chairman, Aurum Exploration Services
An experienced Exploration Geologist with a solid managerial and entrepreneurial background, Wilson is a co-founder, Principal Geologist and Executive Chairman of Aurum. With technical and managerial experience within the mineral exploration industry, he has a proven track record of developing intuitive exploration programmes and successful identification of new gold and base-metal mineralization.
Global Head of Natural Resources, BDO
Sherif is BDO’s Head of Global Natural Resources (includes Mining, Oil & Gas and Renewables) responsible for the strategy and development of the sector within BDO internationally.
Sherif’s valuation experience covers small, medium sized and large businesses in both the private and public sector and extends across a wide range of industries, with a focus on the mining sector.
Sherif has led BDO teams for several mergers and acquisitions and has prepared numerous independent expert reports and other special investigation assignments. Having prepared over 400 public independent expert and investigating accountant’s reports, Sherif is recognised as a leader in his field in Australia.
Sherif is a Fellow of both Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. Sherif is a CA BV (Business Valuation) Specialist as recognised by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Managing Director, Lycopodium Ltd
A professional engineer with over 30 years’ experience in engineering and construction within the domestic and international resources and infrastructure sectors, Peter possesses strong business management and project implementation skills and has been responsible for the successful delivery of many of Lycopodium’s pioneering and large-scale projects.
Given his various roles across the company since 1994, Peter has a deep knowledge of the business and its markets.
A Fellow of Engineers Australia, Peter is also a Director of the Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group (AAMEG).
Executive Chairman, Mali Lithium Ltd
Dr Alistair Cowden has spent more than 35 years as a mining executive and geologist, during which time he has been part of the discovery, financing, and development of many mines in Australia, Africa, Asia, and Europe. He is currently a Director of TSX listed Copper Mountain Mining Corporation, a major copper-gold producer in Canada. He has founded eight public companies including Altona Mining which built and sold the Kylylahti copper-gold mine in Finland prior to its $250 million merger with Copper Mountain. Dr Cowden holds an honours degree in Geology (Edinburgh University) and a PhD in Geology (University of London).
Director, Agate Projects Ltd
Professor Mark Jessell is a geologist with nearly 20 years’ experience working with universities, geological surveys, and the international minerals industry in Africa. Together with Dr Nicolas Thébaud and Ms Corinne Debat, they recently founded the Agate Project to support higher education in the earth and planetary sciences in Africa. The goal is to fund graduate students and researchers through scholarships and stipends, together with training courses open to all African earth and planetary science professionals, academics, and graduate students. Professor Jessell has previously worked at Monash University, the University of Toulouse and is currently based at The University of Western Australia.
Managing Director, Predictive Discovery Ltd
Paul Roberts has had a long and successful history in mineral exploration management and mine geology in Australia, West Africa and Peru where he has been associated with a number of discoveries including the Henty gold deposit in Tasmania, and more recently the Bongou gold deposit in Burkina Faso. He has been the CEO of PDI since its inception in 2007. He is the architect of PDI’s business model and is responsible for assembling PDI’s project portfolio and West African team.
Executive Director, Tietto Minerals Ltd
Mr Strizek has more than 20 years of experience in gold exploration, resource development and operations of open pit and underground projects ranging from the Kalgoorlie super pit to high grade projects such as Frogs Leg in the Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia. Prior to joining ASX-listed Vital metals limited as Chief Executive Officer, Mr Strizek was involved in project development of mineral, coal and petroleum resources in both Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Managing Director, Kogi Iron Ltd
David Turvey is a geologist with over 35 years’ experience in the Australian and Asian mining industries, especially in business development and corporate M&A activities in precious-base-specialty metals, bulk commodities and industrial minerals.
His career includes international roles for major corporations (CSR Ltd, Chevron Corporation, Normandy Mining) and executive management positions in mid-small public companies and private companies.
Qualifications include Bachelor of Science (Geology) and Diplomas in Gemmology and Marketing Management. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists.
David is currently Managing Director – Kogi Iron Limited leading a team in evaluation and development of the Agbaja Cast Steel Project, Nigeria.
Managing Director and CEO, Sandfire Resources NL
Karl Simich, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer – Sandfire Resources NL
Karl Simich has more than 30 years’ experience as an international resource company executive, specialising in corporate finance and company management. He has held Board and senior executive positions with numerous ASX-listed mining companies and has played a key role in the financing, construction, development and operation of mining projects in Australia, New Zealand and Africa.
Mr Simich joined the Sandfire Resources Board in 2007 and has overseen discovery and development of the Company’s DeGrussa and Monty Copper-Gold Mines in Western Australia, which are now well established as two of the Asia-Pacific region’s premier high-grade copper mines. More recently, he has overseen the establishment of a global project development pipeline which now also includes advanced copper development projects in Botswana and the USA.
Managing Director, Mako Gold Ltd
Peter Ledwidge, Managing Director and founder of Mako Gold is a geologist with over 30 years’ experience in exploration and mining. His career has focussed primarily on gold in Canada, Africa and Australia.
Prior to founding Mako Gold, Peter was a senior manager with ASX-listed Orbis Gold whereby he secured all of Orbis’ permits in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. Peter played a critical role in the discovery of the Nabanga gold deposit and thereafter contributed geological ideas towards the discovery of the Boungou mine.
Peter is fluently bilingual in French, the working language of the majority of West Africa.
President and CEO Gam, Africa Institute for Leadership (GAIL)
Oley Dibba-Wadda is a strategic analyst and expert in international development policy and programming, particularly on education and gender equality in Africa. She is a mentor, a motivational speaker and a Certified Life and Spiritual Coach.
She is the Founder, President and CEO of the Gam Africa Institute for Leadership (GAIL) and has lead multicultural and multidisciplinary Pan African development organisations and is the current Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Oley is also the Author of the book titled, “Memoirs of An African Woman on A Mission”.
Executive Director, Walkabout Resources Ltd
Allan Mulligan is a mining engineer with 30 years of mine management and production experience.
Allan has specialised in technical assessment and production economics, feasibilities, project design and costing of underground mines and prospects. He has worked extensively in exploration, mine development and operations across Africa and Australia and understands the value of Australian expertise and African opportunity.
Allan was a founding director of Walkabout Resources Pty Ltd. He has previously been on the board of several West Australian explorers.
Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
Hon. Naana Eyiah is the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana and Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central in the Central Region of Ghana. She was born on 14th February, 1963. Hon. Eyiah holds certificates in negotiation and conflict resolution from Macquire graduate school of management in Australia, Governance and leadership from east London college, United Kingdom and certificate in Project Management from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. She is passionate about girl child education, women empowerment and especially women involvement in Mining, she also serves as a Member of the Health and Privileges Committees of the Parliament of Ghana.
Permanent Secretary
Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu is from Mayere Village, Kaduna Sate, Nigeria. He studied Medicine at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and also trained as a Specialist Sports Medicine Physician at the Prestigious Australian Institute of Sports and University of Canberra between 1994 and 1995.
He contributed to Policy Development that promote physical activity amongst citizens for the promotion of health and prevention of non-communicable diseases, National Anti-Doping Policy, Promotion of National Safe Sports Participation, He worked with UNESCO on the use sport to promote Sustainable Development and Peace within the frameworks of the 2030 Development Agenda.
General Director of Mines and Geology
Sylvain SOME is graduated from the National Polytechnic Institute of Lorraine (France) in 1987. Currently he is the General Director of Mines and Geology of the Ministry of Mines and Quarries of Burkina Faso.
He also worked for the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries where he was the General Director of Mines, Geology and Quarries. As a senior civil servant, Sylvain SOME is in charge of supervision of hundreds of prospecting licenses and about twelve gold mines in production as well. At the moment, his challenges are the formalization of Artisanal and Small scale Mining in order they contribute more to national economy and the implementation of the 2015 Mining Code and others laws pertaining to gold trade and explosives as well.
Prior to working at the Ministry in charges of mines, Sylvain SOME worked for a state run company called BUMIGEB where he was the General Manager in charge of water wells construction nationwide. He taught the water wells pumping tests at the prestigious International Institute for Water and Environment Engineering (2iE) at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He has 30 years’ experience in water wells construction and mine sector supervision.
Sylvain SOME holds a diploma as an Expert in prospecting and mining of mineral substances from the National Polytechnic Institute of Lorraine (France) in 1987. He also has a Master of Science in fundamental and applied geology from the University of Caen (France) in 1986.
Executive Director, African Gold Ltd
Steve is the Executive Director of African Gold Ltd and is an experienced geologist with a proven track record of mineral discoveries, corporate growth, international investor relations and creating shareholder wealth. He was the founding Managing Director of Gryphon Minerals, which he listed on the ASX and grew it to an ASX-200 company. Steve is the Managing Director of ASX listed Bellevue Gold Ltd, a successful gold developer in West Australia as well Non-Executive director of Blackstone Minerals and has advised a number of ASX listed companies.
Managing Director & CEO, Resolute Mining Ltd
John Welborn is the Managing Director and CEO of Resolute Mining Limited. A former successful investment banker and international rugby player, John has defined an ambition for Resolute to become a leading global gold mining company. Mr Welborn is a champion for responsible and sustainable mining development in Africa and was named by MiningMx as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Africa’s Mining Industry. A born and bred West Australian, John is a former Commissioner of Tourism WA, and is currently a Director of the World Gold Council, the Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group, and the Chairman of Orbital Corporation Limited.
Mr Welborn is a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Republic of South Africa
Minister Mantashe was an activist from a young age when he was involved in the Student Christian Movement and joined the migratory labour force to eke out a living in the mining industry. He began 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.
In 1982, he moved to Matla Colliery where he co-founded the Witbank branch and was chairperson of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), a position he held until 1984.
He was then elected NUM Regional Secretary in 1985, where he grew through the ranks and was appointed the NUM’s National Organiser from 1988 to 1993 and its Regional Coordinator between 1993 and 1994.
From 1994 to 1998, he served as the Assistant General Secretary of the NUM, where he was elected as the first General Secretary at the union’s congress in 1998.
After leaving the NUM in 2006, he was appointed as the Executive Manager: Strategic Initiatives at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, where he was the chairperson of the Technical Working Group of the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition for two years.
In 2007, he was elected chair of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and also served as a member of the Party’s Central Committee.
At the 52nd National Conference of the ANC in Polokwane, December 2007, he was elected as the Secretary General of the ANC. In 2012, at the 53rd National Conference of the ANC in Mangaung, he was re-elected as the Secretary General of the ANC, a position he held until the 54th National Conference of the ANC in Nasrec, where he was elected National Chairperson of the ANC.
Minister of Mines and Energy
H.E. Honourable Gesler E. Murray is a geologist by profession with 38 years of experience across the private, public, and academic sectors. He holds a B.Sc. degree in geology (1980) and a M.A. in International Relations (1998) both from the University of Liberia. He holds two post graduate certificates, one in Petroleum Economics from the Economic Development Bureau, New Haven Connecticut, USA (1981), and the other from the University of Michigan, USA (2015) in a research study on sedimentary processes, focusing mainly on the features and aquifer capacity of the Paynesville Sandstone of Liberia. He has also received numerous trainings through workshops, seminars and conferences both locally and internationally in the mineral and energy sectors. His last engagement was at the University of Liberia where he served as Instructor of Geology and Chairman of the Department of Geology and Mining Engineering of the College of Engineering. His vision is to see the Ministry of Mines & Energy (hereinafter called the Ministry for short) become a good example in the delivery of quality public services that will raise much needed revenues to improve the living standard of Liberians across the country. His mission is to coordinate the mobilization of all necessary resources (human, material, and financial) accompanied by their appropriate deployment thus allowing the Ministry to effectively deliver on its mandate and functions, i.e. to administer the Mining and Energy Laws of Liberia. One of his strengths is that he has climbed many ranks and files of the Ministry which allowed him to accumulate a good amount of institutional knowledge. Some of the positions he served at the Ministry include: Field Geologist; Senior Exploration Geologist; Chief Geologist; Director of Planning & Development; Assistant Minister of Planning & Operations; and Assistant Minister of Mineral Exploration & Environmental Research.
Director - Africa Group
Matthew heads the environmental practice in our Johannesburg office.
His expertise includes general regulatory compliance for all industries including mining, enforcement of environmental laws, drafting and reviewing contracts and environmental warranties and indemnities, apportionment of environmental liabilities, the implications of environmental issues in respect of project finance and Equator Principles, internal appeals and reviews and other environmental litigation, due diligence, opinions and general advice.
Recent matters include:
– Review applications against environmental authorisations for large linear projects and in respect of tailings dumps
– Advising various lenders and borrowers on the environmental requirements for the State’s IPP renewable energy projects
– Advising clients involved in emergency incidents in terms of the National Environmental Management Act; advising lessors and lessees on the apportionment of their respective liabilities.
Chief Executive Officer
Mr Baxter was appointed CEO of the Minerals Council in 2015. He has 28 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 has participated (and often led) discussions on all aspects of mining, economic, investment, transformation and tax policy with government. He previously chaired the BUSA’s Econpol and Growth Task Team. 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 Trust Board and he chairs the World Platinum Investment Council. He is vice-Chairman of the international Associations Working Group and vice-Chairman of the Mining Industry Association of Southern Africa (MIASA). He was recently awarded the SAIMM Brigadier Stokes Platinum medal for his contribution to the South African mining sector.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Development
Irene Margaret Nafuna Muloni is the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development in the Government of Uganda since June 2011. She graduated with an Honors degree in Electrical Engineering from Makerere University, Kampala, in 1986 and holds an MBA degree from Capella University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA (2004). She is a Registered Engineer, a Certified Public-Private-Partnership Specialist, and a Professional Balanced Scorecard Practitioner. Irene was the Winner of the “Sarah Ntiiro Award” 2003; a recognition as a “Model of Excellence” by the Forum for Africa Women Educationists (FAWE). She is an advocate for gender equality, women’s empowerment and utilization of science and technology for sustainable development. Since graduation, Irene has been gainfully employed in Leadership and Management responsibilities in Energy Sector for the last 26 years and Telecommunications sector for 5 years. Previously she served as a Board Member on numerous Government Institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations. She is married to Mr. Felix Muloni and they have been blessed with four beautiful children.
General Manager Industry Engagement
Peter Clarke has a Bachelor of Engineering from University of Western Australia and a Master of Science from the University of Surrey. He has been a co-founder of four tech companies.
In 2007 Peter was the founding CEO of Scanalyse Pty Ltd, a mining tech company spin out from Curtin University, which he grew to a global company and sold to Outotec in 2013.
He was the WA Innovator of the Year in 2007, was made a University of Sydney Innovation Hero in 2011 and accepted the Australian Museum Eureka Commercialisation prize for Scanalyse in 2013.
Currently he is General Manager for Industry Engagement with the METS Ignited Growth Centre, promoting the technology developers and suppliers to the Mining industry to both the Australian and global market.
Deputy Director - Mineral Affairs Division, Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and & Energy Security
Mr Moses Tshetlhane is the Deputy Director Secretary in the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security. He holds a BSc degree in Physics and Environmental Sciences from the University of Botswana, and MSc in Mineral and Energy Economics from Curtin University of Technology in Australia. He has worked for Government for 20 years and has been with the Ministry for 11 years. He has been Deputy Director since July 2018 and is responsible for Minerals Policy matters and Investment Promotion. He is a Board Member for Botswana Ash, a Soda Ash & Salt mining company.
Minister of Mines, Republic of Mali
Born on 5th November, 1976 in Bamako, she obtained her Baccalaureate in 1997 and went to the Earth Sciences Faculty where she obtained an undergraduate Diploma in 1999. She was admitted at the National School of Engineers in 1999, where she received an Engineering Degree in Applied Geology. From January 2008 to June 2008, she underwent training on mining environment and mining administration at the Paris École des Mines in Fontainebleau.
Professionally, she worked in private structures such as ETRUSCAN and EDM for the follow-up of surveys, before working at the PDRM (Mineral Resources Development Programme) and the DNGM for the execution of mining companies’ contracts. After entering the Public Service, she was appointed to the National Directorate of Geology and Mines (Direction Nationale de la Géologie et des Mines – DNGM), where she managed the Mining Cadastre.
From 2008 to 2011: Acting Head of the Studies and Legislation Division of the National Directorate of Geology and Mines (DNGM)
March 2011 to June 2013: Head of the Studies and Legislation Division of the National Directorate of Geology and Mines (DNGM)
June 2013 to May 2014: Assistant National Director of Geology and Mines.
From May 2014 to September 2018: National Director of Geology and Mines
Minister for Mines and Petroleum since September 2018.
In further training, she attended several training courses and mining conferences on mining cadastre management and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) management software.
Chairman
Professor Colin Roberts is a Chartered Mining Engineer, Chartered Petroleum Engineer, Chartered Scientist, Resources & Investment Legal and Policy Academic, International Commercial and Investment Arbitrator, Accredited International Commercial Mediator, Adjudicator, Expert Determiner and Dispute Board Member, with over 40 years of multi-disciplinary resource industry experience, most of which has been in the developing world.
He now mainly specializes in sovereign risk and the facilitation of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the resources, energy and infrastructure sectors.Colin is Chairman of Salternas Ltd and directs one of the World’s largest, emerging, Solar-Salt, SOP and Humanitarian food projects located in Somaliland.
Director
Hugh Morgan is Principal of First Charnock and Executive Chairman of Arete Capital Partners. He was Managing Director of WMC Limited from 1986 until 2003 and prior to that worked as Director of Marketing and Finance for North Broken Hill Limited. He was Chairman of Central Norseman Gold Corporation Limited from 1986 until 1994, Chairman of Hill 50 and KLVS from 1977 until 1998 and Director of Alcoa from 1998 until 2001. He was on the Council of the MCA (previously named the Australian Mining Industry Council) from 1976 until 2003 and became President in 1981.
Africa Development Director
Jason De Carteret, Africa Development Director has over 30 years of African experience and leads Solarcentury’s strategy across all three regional offices based in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. He was previously employed in complex thermal generation projects in Africa since 2012. He has an excellent grasp on the needs of heavy industries such as mining and has a clear understanding of innovative technical advancements that are quickly becoming more commonplace. Having negotiated and delivered challenging projects across EMEA he is enjoying have Africa as a focus.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Republic of Ghana
Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh is a Barrister at Law. He was the Local NUGS President from 1993 to 1994 whilst at the University of Ghana. He practiced law at Akyedee Legal Services in Sunyani from 1998 to 2004 and within that period lectured at Sunyani Polytechnic. He served as the head of the NPP’s campaign in the Brong Ahafo Region in 2012 and 2016 in his capacity as Chairman of the party in that region.
Minister for Mines and Quarries, Burkina Faso
Oumarou Idani is the Minister of Mines and Quarries of Burkina Faso graduated from the Interstates School for Rural Equipment Engineers in 1981, and obtained a Post-Graduate diploma (DESS) in technical management of companies in 1991 from Financial, Economics and Banking Studies Centre of Paris. For more than 35 years Mr Oumarou Idani has devoted his time to public service as well as involvement in the private sector. Early in his career, he served as an Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Tourism, and Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. From 1984 to 1987 he was General Manager of the prestigious National Electricity Company of Burkina Faso (SONABEL). From 1988 to 1993 he worked as a senior civil servant for ministries in charge of agriculture, breeding and water. From 1993 to 2015 he ran his own company the Ergeci-Development. From 30 December 2015 to 20 February 2017 he was a Member of Parliament of the National Assembly. Currently he serves as Minister of Mines and Quarries and his challenges are the formalisation of Artisanal and Small scale mining to enable them to contribute more to the national economy; and the implementation of the 2015 Mining Code and other laws pertaining to gold trade and explosives.
Premier of Western Australia
The Honourable Mark McGowan MLA is the 30th Premier of Western Australia.
Under his leadership the McGowan Labor Government is creating and securing jobs for Western Australians, providing quality education and health care, delivering METRONET across Perth, and restoring the State’s finances.
In his first two years in office, Mr McGowan has secured a fair share of the GST for Western Australia and driven job-creating initiatives such as METRONET, that will transform Perth, Infrastructure WA, a new approach to infrastructure planning for the state, and WA Industry Link, which gives local businesses better opportunities to tender for government work. He has also delivered significant reforms to the State’s public sector, including amalgamating government departments to drive positive change and improve collaboration.
Born in 1967 to a wool classer and a public school teacher in regional New South Wales, Mark McGowan’s parents taught him the importance of hard work and compassion, as well as the need to fight for those less fortunate than themselves. He studied arts and law at the University of Queensland, before joining the Royal Australian Navy and driving across the Nullarbor to Western Australia, serving as a Lieutenant at HMAS STIRLING.
Mr McGowan still lives in Rockingham, where he met his wife Sarah and they are raising their three children – Samuel, Alexander and Amelia.
Wanting to give back to his community, Mr McGowan served as a local councillor and Deputy Mayor, before being elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1996 representing the state seat of Rockingham.
Mr McGowan has previously served as a Minister in the Gallop and Carpenter Governments in the portfolios of Education and Training, Environment, Racing and Gaming, Tourism and the South West.
As a Minister, Mr McGowan delivered common-sense reforms; bringing Jetstar to WA, reintroducing the syllabus and traditional marking and reports to our school system, approving the Gorgon project, as well as delivering Perth’s small bar reforms, which liberalised and revitalised Perth’s nightlife.
Mark McGowan was elected Leader of the WA Labor Party in 2012, a role he has now served in for over six years, through two state elections.
Mr McGowan was awarded a Governor General’s Commendation for Brave Conduct for actions he took in 1995 rescuing an unconscious driver from a burning car. He remains a standby member of the Naval Reserves.
Consultant Geologist
Louisa Lawrance is a Consultant Geochemist and Principal of Louisa Lawrance and Associates. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the mining and exploration industries in Australia, Asia, Africa, and South America. She was a member of the Division of Mineral Exploration, CSIRO, in Australia from 1986 until 1991, and the Department of Mineral Exploration, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM), in France from 1991 until 1992. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Centre for Exploration Targeting at the University of Western Australia, where she was a Lecturer in Geochemistry and a Supervisor of postgraduate students from 1992 until 2007. She is a world leader in the area of supergene metal enrichment processes.
Executive Director - Structured Credit and Political Risk
Based in London, Rupert Morgan is Executive Director of the Structured Credit and Political Risk division of Gallagher. During a career of over 25 years as a political risk insurance broker, Rupert has designed, structured and placed PRI programmes in support of cross-border mining investors, project developers, contractors and their financiers in challenging markets throughout Africa. These include Burkina Faso, Republic of Congo, DRC, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia. In addition to commercial political risk insurance markets, Rupert has extensive experience of working with Multilateral and Export Credit Agencies.
Partner – Energy and Resources, Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers
A former General Counsel Iron Ore and Managing Director Australia for Rio Tinto, Phil is a resources and energy expert practising in unregulated M&A, State Agreements, complex joint ventures, native title, commodity sale agreements, investment approvals, and all aspects of development of, access to and financing of mining projects and infrastructure – both domestically and internationally, particularly in Africa. He is also a former director of the Business Council of Australia and Minerals Council of Australia, a former Chairman of the $5.5 billion Rio Tinto Staff Superannuation Fund and a former partner, Perth managing partner and head of international operations for another major law firm.
Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
H.E. Dr. Samuel Urkato, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Cabinet Minister since October 2018, is the Minister of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) – which is the mandated Federal Government Executive body responsible to promote and regulate the development of the mineral and petroleum resources of the country.Prior to his appointment as Minister, he held a high profile portfolio as the President of Wolaita Sodo University. H.E. Dr. Urkato possesses an extensive professional experience in resource governance and developmental economics.
H.E. Dr. Urkato holds MSc in Economics from Mekelle University (Development Policy Analysis), and holds a BA degree in Economics from Hawassa University. He completed a PhD exchange study in the Department of Resource and Agricultural Economics at Kangwon National University, the Republic of Korea. He also attended a PhD exchange study in the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance of McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass Boston, USA. H.E. Dr. Urkato finalized his PhD degree in Environment and Development Studies (AAU).
H.E. Dr. Samuel Urkato is highly committed to the transformation of Ethiopia’s Mining sector, striving towards elevating the sector’s contribution to the GDP.
Secretary of State for Geology and Mines, Republic of Angola
Jânio da Rosa Corrêa Victor completed a PhD in Geology (Petrography/Geochemistry) at the University of Hamburg in 1997 after earning Bachelor and Master’s degrees from the Technical University of Freiberg/Sachsen. For 1999 until 2006, he was a software support engineer for Schlumberger Oilfield Services before being appointed Deputy General Manager of the Diamond Cabuia Project – a joint venture between ENDIAMA and a private partner. Prior to his appointment as Secretary of State for Geology and Mines in October 2017, he was an administrator of the gold market regulatory agency by Presidential decree and an adviser of the Secretariat for Economic Affairs of the President. Since 2001, he has also been a lecturer at the Faculty of Sciences in the Department of Geology of Agostinho Neto State University.
General Manager – Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, Austrade
Mr Ian Halliday joined Austrade in July 2018 as General Manager – Middle East, Africa, and Turkey with responsibility for Austrade operations in the region. Mr Halliday also holds the position of Consul-General of Australia to Dubai.
Prior to joining Austrade Ian was Managing Director of Dairy Australia from January 2010.
Ian’s expertise includes an extensive range of management roles with SPC, Goodman Fielder, Kraft Foods, KR Castlemaine and Vesco Foods. At Vesco Foods and KR Castlemaine he was the CEO, responsible for leading transformational change at both organisations.
Whilst at Kraft Foods, Ian was Director of Operations responsible for all manufacturing and supply chain activities for the Kraft Australia organisation. He was also responsible for all Kraft Australia Export business, most of which included sales into Asia and the Middle East. His last appointment at Kraft Foods was the Director of Coffee Operations based in the United Kingdom.
Ian has a Bachelor’s in Applied Sciences (Food Tech) from Hawkesbury Agricultural College. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), and a former Director of Agrifood at Skills Australia, and GOTAFE.
Vice President - Corporate, Black Rock Mining Ltd
Raymond Hekima is an Environmental Scientist and management professional with over 13 years’ experience with government and corporate sectors. Currently Raymond is responsible for the overall business operations in Tanzania for the Mahenge Graphite Mining Project, managing relations and interactions with the National and Local Government as well as Community relations. Mahenge Graphite Project is a Blackrock Mining Tanzanian 100% owned company.
Principal Secretary - Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Seychelles
Dr. Marina Confait (PhD) is the Executive Head of the Seychelles Department of Foreign Affairs who provides oversight of the diplomatic service, the management and leadership of the Department. She is a specialist in Doctoral Education and Human Resources Development and is a career public servant with two decades of experience as chief executive in the Department of Employment, National Human Resource Development Council, and the University of Seychelles. She has formulated policies, developed strategic plans and served on several body corporates in the Seychelles and was the Chairperson (4 years) of the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) based in Arusha, Tanzania. She has conducted consultancies nationally and internationally.
Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Republic of Zimbabwe
Hon.Winston Chitando was appointed Minister of Mines & Mining Development Republic of Zimbabwe on the 1st December 2017.
Hon.Winston Chitando has served as Non-Executive Chairman of Hwange Colliery Company Limited since May 19, 2016. Hon. Winston Chitando is a seasoned executive whose experience in the mining sector spans close to three decades. He completed a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the University of Zimbabwe in November 1984 and in December the same year joined Anglo American Corporation as a graduate trainee based at Hwange Colliery Company, where he rose to the position of Chief Accountant.
For a total of 11 years, Winston worked for the Anglo American Corporation group. During this period he rose through the ranks to hold various positions and directorships in a number of industrial and mining companies which were part of the Anglo American group. At the time he left the group to join Zimasco in 1997, he held the position of Divisional Commercial Manager in the Mining and Industrial Division. From 1998 until September 2007, Winston was an Executive Director with responsibility for Finance for both Zimasco (Pvt) Ltd and Mimosa Mining Company. He at various periods also held Executive responsibility in Zimasco for Sales and North Dyke Mining during this time.
He was subsequently appointed Managing Director of Mimosa Mining Company effective 1st October 2007. In May 2013, Mimosa restructured and Winston was appointed to the position of Executive Chairman of Mimosa Holdings and Mimosa Mining Company. As Executive Chairman, Winston’s mandate includes driving long term strategies and effective stakeholder management. Winston served as Vice President of the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe from 2008 until 2011 and as President from 2011 to 2013. He continues to serve on the Chamber of Mines Executive Committee and is currently Chairman of the Platinum Producers Association. Winston sits on various other boards including Zimbabwe School of Mines where he chairs the Audit Committee.
Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, Kingdom of Morocco
Mr. Aziz Rabbah, the former Minister of Equipment, Transport and Logistics since January 2012, was appointed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI as Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development on April 5 2017. M. Aziz Rabbah is an engineer, specialized in new information technologies. He holds a Bachelor in Mathematics from the Mohammed V high school in Kenitra (1981), an engineering degree from INSEA (1985) and a Masters degree in Software Engineering from Laval University in Quebec (1992). M. Rabbah held several leadership positions in the Ministries of Economic and General Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Trade and Industry. He also served as an adviser in the offices of several Moroccan Ministers. Mr. Rabbah was elected Mayor of Kenitra city in 2009 and was re-elected in 2015. He was elected member of the Moroccan parliament in 2007, 2011 and 2016. M. Aziz Rabbah participated in several meetings concerning information technologies and communication, administrative reform, e-government, the upgrade of economy and the information society. He is Research and Expertise Center (CEREX) Executive Committee and founding member and a founding member of the Sigma21 association. He was also a member of the National Committee for the Upgrading the Economy (2002-2004), the Strategic Committee for Information Technologies (CSTI) (2004-2005), the Interministerial Committee for Electronic Commerce. On the political level, Mr. Aziz Rabbah is one of the leaders of the Moroccan Justice and Development Party, of which he is a member of the General Secretariat for four terms. He was elected national secretary of the youth section of the party for two terms and head of the party’s Executives section. Mr. Rabbah was born in 1962 in Sidi Kacem. He is married and has three children. He speaks Arabic, French and English.
Minister of Mines and Geology, Republic of Senegal
Geologist, Dr Aïssatou Sophie GLADIMA holds also a Master’s degree in Sciences and a Doctorate of State in Sciences in general Hydrogeology, applied Geophysics, isotopic hydrochemistry and is a teacher-researcher in the Department of Geology of the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar.
Former Person in charge of the ” Water et Research ” Commission of the follow-up committee of Global Water Partnership, Dr. GLADIMA was the national coordinator of the wetlands network of Senegal of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Dr GLADIMA was Technical adviser at the Primature, in charge of mines and hydraulics, President of the Board meeting of the National Institute of Pedology, then Minister of the Post offices, Telecommunications and ICTS (INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES).
In its appointment as Minister of Mines and Geology, in September, 2017, she was the general manager of the National Agency of the Scientific Applied Research ( ANRSA).
Real ecological activist, the geologist is member of several movements for the environmental protection and learned societies. She is member of the office of African Association of Women Geologist (AAWG), President of the Geologic Society) of Senegal ( SGF) and senegalese section of the African Association of Women in Geosciences (ASFEG). Dr Gladima was also an adviser for western Africa of Geological Society of Africa (GSAf).
Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Republic of Sierra Leone
Hon. Foday Rado Yokie is a Seasoned Politician and an entrepreneur of high pedigree. He has served as a Member of Parliament of the Government of Sierra Leone from August 2007 to December 2017 for the Sierra Leone People`s Party Constituency. During his tenure as Member of Parliament, he served several Committees and assisted the Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources in many oversight meetings.
Before his appointment as Minister, he served as the Special Trade Envoy of the Government of Sierra Leone responsible to globally present Sierra Leone as a suitable investment destination to potential investors.
As Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, his vision is to make the mining sector benefit the people of Sierra Leone while ensuring mining activities are conducted in a sustainable manner for generations yet unborn.
Managing Director, Force Commodities Ltd
Mr Jason Brewer has been appointed as Managing Director effective from 19th February 2018. Prior to being appointed Managing Director, Mr Brewer was a non-executive director of Force (appointed 6th June 2017). Mr Brewer has 18 years in mining, equity investment, corporate and project financing, capital raising, investment advising and evaluation of resource companies. Mr Brewer is a qualified mining engineer with a Master’s degree, with honours, from the Royal School of Mines, London. Mr Brewer has experience in a variety of commodities having worked in underground and open-cast mining operations in the UK, Australia, Canada and South Africa. In addition, Mr Brewer has worked for a number of major global investment banks including Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, NM Rothschild & Sons (Australia) Limited and Investec Bank (Australia) Limited in London, Sydney and Perth where he had responsibility for structuring and arranging corporate and project financing facilities for mining companies operating in Asia and Africa. Mr Brewer is currently a non-executive director of Cape Lambert Resources Ltd.
Head of International Program, Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)
Lisa Sharland is Head of the International Program at ASPI with research interests in the United Nations and multilateralism, peacekeeping reform, Australia’s engagement in UN peacekeeping, African security issues, Australia-Africa engagement, protection of civilians and women, peace and security.
Since commencing at ASPI in March 2014, Lisa has conducted field research on preventing and countering violent extremism in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Kenya, and UN peacekeeping missions in Mali, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. She has authored numerous research publications and provided expert commentary to media and news outlets.
Lisa has been a Visiting Fellow at the Stimson Centre in Washington DC and the National Institute for Defence Studies in Japan. She remains a non-resident fellow in the Protecting Civilians in Conflict Program at the Stimson Centre. She has also worked as a consultant for the International Forum for the Challenges of Peace Operations.
Prior to joining ASPI, Lisa worked as the Defence Policy Adviser at the Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations in New York, where she provided advice on peacekeeping and defence-related policy issues and represented Australia in multilateral negotiations in the UN Security Council and General Assembly bodies, including the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34).
Lisa is a member of the Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations (AGAAR), which is tasked by the Foreign Minister with informing Australia’s thinking and policies on Africa. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Western Australia’s Africa Research and Engagement Centre (AfREC).
Minister of Geology and Mines, Republic of Ivory Coast
Hon Jean Claude Kouassi is an economist, international trade, maritime transportation and transit specialist. He previously served as First General Manager of the Centre for Investments Promotion in Côte d’Ivoire (CEPICI) from 1994 to 1998 and was the country’s former Minister of Environment and Forestry. Hon Kouassi has more than 35 years of professional experience, including 12 years acting as an international consultant and 10 years as spokesperson on behalf of a group of 77 less developed countries. His career to date has involved high-level negotiations with international and inter-governmental organisations such as UNCTAD, UNIDO, Commission on Nuclear Energy, African Union and The World Bank.
Global Head of Hybrid, Juwi Renewable Energies Pty Ltd
Dave Manning, juwi’s Global Head of Hybrid, has 25 years’ international experience in power solutions for mines and remote energy consumers. He was also previously involved in the Australian DeGrussa Sandfire hybrid project as General Manager for the Thermal Power Station Owner, from initial contract negotiation through to project completion. Based in Perth, Dave is responsible for overseeing the installation and operation of hybrid installations worldwide, with Africa and Australia being the prime focus regions.
Managing Director, Battery Minerals Limited
Jeremy Sinclair is a mining engineer with 25 years of experience in a broad range of roles including executive, operational, project delivery, corporate leadership and consulting in Australia and Africa. Prior to joining Battery Minerals Limited, Mr Sinclair was the Chief Operating Officer at Atlas Iron, a position which he held from 2011 to 2018. Before this he was Atlas’ General Manager Pilbara Operations from 2007. Mr Sinclair oversaw the commissioning and ramp up of Atlas’ five mines from a production rate of 1Mtpa to a production rate of 16Mtpa. Prior to his time at Atlas Mr Sinclair held key management roles in the Pilbara iron ore operations of Rio Tinto.
Mr Sinclair holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) undertaken at the University of Queensland. He has over 15 years in management and leadership roles covering large and diverse teams. He has a demonstrated track record of delivering results.
Partner - London, Ashurst
Yann is a partner based in London and is global co-head of our international mining practice. He is qualified in England and Wales, and in France and specialises in M&A transactions and project development in mining and oil and gas. He has worked in more than 30 different jurisdictions (including extensive work in Africa).
Yann has extensive experience of negotiating the full suite of commercial and operational agreements required to operate mining projects, including host state agreements, joint venture agreements and offtake agreements.
Managing Director, Mali Lithium Ltd
Mr Evans is an experienced project delivery and operational management expert who has most recently held the role of Chief Operating Officer at Altura Mining. During his tenure with Altura he was responsible for building and bringing into operation a lithium mine and processing facility, covering all facets of commercial, construction and operational management. Mr Evans was also involved in establishing and maintaining key relationships with project finance and off-take partners.
Mr Evans has a Civil Engineering background with close to 20 years demonstrated success in managing large scale construction and mining development projects and operations across various commodities.
Mr Evans holds a Master of Engineering Science, Construction Management, (University of New South Wales), a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), Civil (University of New South Wales), and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Chairman, Theta Gold Mines Ltd
Bill is a professional geologist with over 25 years’ experience in exploration and resource development in Asia, Australia and Europe, most recently as the Managing Director of Longford Resources Limited. As MD of Longford Resources, he progressed the Keel zinc project in Ireland to its first JORC Resource within just a few months of securing an option over the project. He previously served as Exploration Manager of Jupiter Mines Limited, where he developed exploration protocols that enabled the projects to progress from grass roots to a viable resource.
Managing Director, Kibaran Resources Ltd
Andrew Spinks is a geologist with over 25 years of professional experience in a range of commodities in Australia and Africa. Andrew has worked with a number of mining companies including Resolute Mining, Plutonic Resources, Dominion Mining and Whim Creek Resources. He is a co-founder of TanzGraphite and was responsible for the strategy, target generation and acquisitions of that company. Andrew lived and worked in Tanzania at Resolute’s Golden Pride project for several years and was a key member of the management team that won the inaugural Presidential Award for Environmental Excellence and Leadership.
Director, Walkabout Resources Ltd
Andrew is a geologist with extensive cross discipline technical and management experience in the minerals industry predominantly in Africa and Australia and has worked in a range of commodities and geological styles including uranium, iron ore, graphite, diamonds, gold and base metals.
During the last 15 years he has managed all facets of exploration and development projects in Africa from project generation to the completion of feasibility studies and has been involved in the start-up of modular style processing operations in both Africa and Australia.
He has held senior geology and exploration positions with major international mining companies including BHPB, Rio Tinto and De Beers as well as with various ASX, TSX and AIM listed companies. Andrew has been working with Walkabout Resources since 2013 and brings a wide range of exploration, resource development, mine geology and management experience to the company.
He has BSc Hons in Geology from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and is a life member of the Geological Society of Namibia and a member of the Australian Institute of Geosciences.
CEO and Managing Director, Lucapa Diamond Company Ltd
Lucapa Diamond Company Limited Managing Director Stephen Wetherall is a qualified chartered accountant with more than 20 years’ experience in financial and operational management, corporate transactions, structuring and strategic planning. Stephen previously held senior roles with De Beers and Gem Diamonds, building significant experience in Africa, Indonesia, Australia, UK, Europe and the Middle East. Stephen successfully developed London listed Gem Diamond’s marketing and manufacturing division gaining invaluable insight and experience in the diamond sector well beyond the minegate.
Chief Executive Officer, Terramin Australia Ltd
Mr Taylor is a mining executive with more than 15 years’ experience in senior international and resource sector roles. He was most recently Managing Director of PanAust Ltd’s Asia business subsidiary, Phu Bia Mining Limited, where he held responsibility for business development initiatives in Myanmar and exploration in Laos. He has held senior executive roles with Mineral Deposits Limited, Oxiana Ltd, MMG and the World Bank. Richard is a graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and has held board roles with a number of companies and not for profit organisations. Richard holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge and is a qualified lawyer.
Partner - Corporate Tax, PwC
Olivier is a Partner at PwC with over 15 years’ experience in advising companies on tax related matters. Olivier is the tax leader of PwC’s Australia-Africa practice which was established to assist ASX listed companies invest into Africa.
Originally from Mauritius, Olivier’s practical experience of working with various PwC African firms, and his understanding of various African countries’ tax regimes, has proven valuable in assisting companies correctly structure their investment into Africa.
Olivier is also involved with the Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group (AAMEG) and has co-authored PwC’s recent Australia-Africa practice publications.
Managing Director and CEO, Orion Minerals Ltd
Errol is a geologist, registered with the South African Council of Natural Scientific Professionals, a Recognised Overseas Professional Organisation for JORC purposes. Errol has more than 24 years of industry experience across all aspects of exploration, mine development and operation, with a key focus on gold and base metals. Errol has a wealth of public and private company corporate experience and has been on the founding teams and managed a number of exploration and mining companies throughout Africa and has had strong exposure to Australian projects. Errol has held positions in Anglogold, Cluff Mining, Metallon Gold, Clarity Minerals, African Stellar Group and LionGold Corporation. Errol is Chairman of the Junior Leadership Forum of the Minerals Council South Africa and is a board member of the Minerals Council.
Investor and Entrepreneur; Director, Vector Global
Kojo Annan is a serial entrepreneur and investor, with an extensive global network and strong track record of growing new businesses across international markets. He is currently managing Vector Global, an investment holding company with interests in infrastructure, technology, sport, education and biotech. Kojo started his career in natural resources and infrastructure most notably by founding Meridian Port Services (MPS) in partnership with the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority, Bolloré and Maersk (APM Terminals) to develop a modern container terminal in Tema, Ghana. MPS is the largest public-private partnership in the history of Ghana.
Chief Executive Officer, Gold Fields Ltd
Nick Holland has been CEO of Gold Fields – the South African-based gold miner – since 2008. Prior to that he was CFO of the company for 10 years. Under Nick the company has introduced its vision of “Being the global leader in sustainable gold mining” and has made significant strides in becoming a truly global mining company with operating mines and projects in six countries.
Before joining Gold Fields Nick held senior position in other South Africa mining companies, including Impala Platinum and Gencor. He joined the mining industry in 1990 from accounting firm Deloitte where he spent the first 11 years of his professional career after graduating with a B.Com and B.Acc from Wits University in Johannesburg. Nick matriculated at King Edwards VII School, also in Johannesburg.
Head of Listings and Issuer Services, ASX Ltd
Eddie Grieve is the Head of Listings and Issuer Services at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). He has had extensive experience in all aspects of capital markets over a period of more than 30 years.
Eddie has served in a number of senior roles at ASX. He has been closely involved in major floats and primary equity market raisings throughout his career and in his current role at ASX he is responsible for growing the ASX listing business and developing and promoting access to the ASX equity capital market.
Eddie frequently presents on IPO and listing issues and works closely with companies considering listing on ASX to help them achieve their objectives.
Director - Exploration, First Quantum Minerals Ltd
Mike is a geologist and a graduate of the Camborne School of Mines in the UK. His experience spans some 30 years in the mineral industry including extensive involvement in exploration and mine development projects in Africa, Australia, Papua New Guinea and more recently Latin America. His career has included senior roles in the Rio Tinto group, Placer Dome and Resolute Mining as well as involvement with several junior exploration companies in Africa.
Mike joined First Quantum Minerals in 2008 as Exploration Director and has been closely involved in an exciting period of growth, assisting the company to take advantage of a raft of exploration and acquisition opportunities.
Managing Director, MOD Resources Ltd
Mr Hanna is a geologist with over 35 years’ experience in a wide range of activities including project acquisitions, exploration, development, mining and corporate growth. This includes 15 years in senior management roles with a number of gold mining companies in Western Australia. Mr Hanna was the Managing Director of Western Areas NL for 12 years before stepping down from that position in January 2012. He was a co-founder of Western Areas and led the company during its transformation from a $6 million junior explorer to become Australia’s third largest nickel mining company capitalised at more than $800 million. Mr Hanna was a Non-Executive Director of Western Areas NL until May 2016. Mr Hanna was appointed Non-Executive Director of the Company on 22 January 2013 and was then appointed Managing Director on 19 March 2013. Mr Hanna is also a Director of Metal Capital Limited and Tshukudu Metals Botswana (Pty) Ltd.
Chief Executive Officer, Australia Africa Minerals and Energy Group (AAMEG)
Mr Witham has broad experience over a 30-year career working in the technical, commercial, marketing and financial fields of the international exploration and mining industry. Mr Witham spent two years in the 1990s based in Africa as General Manager for World Geoscience Corporation. This gave him a broad perspective over many African countries where their geophysical surveys were conducted. Since then Mr Witham has worked for a number of international and Australian companies in Africa and Australia including DMC Mining (Congo), Waratah Resources (Congo) and Whinnen Resources Ltd (Cameroon and Namibia). Mr Witham holds a Bachelor in Science with Honours in Geology from the University of Western Australia, and is the CEO of the Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group (AAMEG).
Managing Director, Exore Resources Ltd
Mr Tremain graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Mr Tremain has over 10 years’ investment banking experience in the natural resources sector prior to founding Renaissance Minerals in 2010. Prior to Renaissance he held positions with Investec, NM Rothschild & Sons and Macquarie Bank and has extensive experience in the funding of natural resource projects in the junior to mid-tier resource sector.
CEO & Managing Director, Black Rock Mining Ltd
John de Vries is Chief Executive Officer of Black Rock Mining, a Tanzanian graphite development company developing the Mahenge project in the Morogoro region of Tanzania. John is a Mining Engineer with over 35 years-experience in business development, project development and operations. Previously, John was General Manager Technical Services with St Barbara and integral in the 2014 turnaround. John has held positions at BHP Ni West, and was Global Business Manager, Advanced Mining Solutions with Orica Mining Services. John’s geographic experience includes Africa, the Pacific, the FSU, North America and South America.
Chief Operating Officer, IronRidge Resources Ltd
With over 21 years’ of exploration, project studies and commercial experience in both the junior and major arena, Len Kolff has a proven track record in Africa, Europe and Australia. A key member of the Simandou iron ore discovery team and a grassroots iron ore discovery in Liberia, Len is an accomplished and proven explorer. Also accredited with the discovery of Cu-Au mineralisation at Northparkes, he has made discoveries and value-added in a diversity of geological settings. Len holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London and a Masters of Economic Geology from CODES, University of Tasmania. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, the Society of Economic Geologists and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and currently resides in Brisbane, Australia
Managing Director, Base Resources Ltd
Tim is an experienced mining executive, with a career spanning more than 20 years in senior resources-sector roles both in Australia and overseas. He has been Managing Director of Base Resources Limited since the Company’s inception in May 2008. During this time, it has acquired, designed, funded, developed and successfully operationalized the US$310 million Kwale Mineral Sands Project, Kenya’s first large scale mining project. It has also now acquired the world-class Toliara Sands Project in Madagascar.
Tim is also the Chairman of the Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group (AAMEG), the peak body representing Australian companies engaged in the development of Africa’s resource industry.
Managing Director, BlackEarth Minerals NL
With more than 30 years’ experience within the resources industry, Mr Revy is considered a corporate and project development specialist with an extensive international network in the mining sector. Having held senior operational and corporate positions within reputable organisations, including GRD Minproc, WorleyParsons and Ferrum Crescent, Mr Revy is now, as Managing Director of BlackEarth NL overseeing its development and listing on the Australian Stock Exchange. Currently, he is also chairman of Empire Resources and the rural and remote mentoring charity, True Blue Dreaming.
CEO & Managing Director, Cardinal Resources Ltd
Archie Koimtsidis has for the last 20 years been involved in all facets of gold exploration, discovery, production and refining in West Africa and South America.
His most recent appointment prior to joining Cardinal was as the Deputy Country Manager of Ghana for PMI Gold Limited, a joint TSXV and ASX listed company. During this time he was responsible for all field operational matters including coordination of exploration, drilling programs and human resource management relating to that company’s projects in Ghana.
Archie has been instrumental in acquiring the Ghanaian projects on behalf of Cardinal and has a unique knowledge and understanding of geopolitical and operational matters relating to resource projects in West Africa.
Managing Director, Golden Rim Resources Ltd
Craig Mackay is a geologist with 26 years’ experience and holds Bachelor of Applied Science – Applied Geology, Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Master of Science degrees. He is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Mackay has held positions with a number of major resource companies, including Shell, Acacia Resources and AngloGold. Mr Mackay has been a director of Golden Rim since 8 October 2004 and Managing Director since 19 February 2007.