2025 Advisory Board

Meet the MI25 Advisory Board and Committees

Alongside the theme, we are honoured to introduce the distinguished members of our 2025 Advisory Board and Committees.

Executive Committee Leadership Finance & Investment Technology & Innovation Sustainability Governance & Policy

Advisory Board

"The mining of today will never be like the mining of yester-year. The time for a dynamic, diversified, transformative, sustainable, safe, and technologically advanced mining industry is now,"

Frans Baleni, Chairman of the MI25 Advisory Board

Frans Baleni

Former General Secretary
NUM

Dr. Marit Kitaw

Interim Director
African Union-African Minerals Development Center (AMDC)

Kwasi Ampofo

Head of Metals and Mining
BloombergNEF

Tony Carroll

International Advisor

Advisory Committee: Leadership

"As the world transitions to a low carbon future, the African mining sector has a critical role to play in supplying minerals critical to global decarbonisation. It will need to do this in a sustainable manner, ensuring that ESG standards are maintained and that partnerships with local communities create shared value. For me, this work starts now. It is part of how we future-proof African mining today!"

Sinead Kaufman, Chief Executive, Minerals, Rio Tinto

Estelle Levin-Nally

Founder and CEO
Levin Sources

Rohitesh Dhawan

President and CEO
ICMM

Marie-Chantal Kaninda

President
Glencore DRC and Chairman KCC

Mzila Mthenjane

CEO
Minerals Council South Africa

Adam Matthews

Chief Responsible Investment Officer
Church of England Pensions Board

Sinead Kaufman

Chief Executive: Minerals
Rio Tinto

July Ndlovu

CEO
Thungela Resources

Sonia Scarselli

Vice President
BHP Exploration and BHP Xplor

Advisory Committee: Finance & Investment

“Inclusivity, transparency, and equity are crucial for a sustainable future in Africa's mining sector. This includes environmental sustainability, technological enhancements, and increased exploration for new tenements.”

Jito Kayumba Special Assistant to the President, Republic of Zambia

Jito Kayumba

Special Assistant to the President
Republic of Zambia

Colin Hamilton

Managing Director: Commodities Research
BMO Capital

David Baker

CFO
Elemental Altus

Semih Ozkan

Executive Director: EMEA Energy, Power & Renewables
JP Morgan

Karan Rathi

Managing Director
Chillerton Group

Taiwo Okwor

VP: Investments
AFC

Vuyo Ntoi

Managing Director
AIIM

Caroline Donally

Managing Partner
Sprott Streaming

Advisory Committee: Technology & Innovation

"Future-proofing mining, including Africa, requires digitally savvy, sustainability-focused leaders, a workforce with skills to address the 'Forever Labor Shortage', and resource portfolios to address the exhaustion of existing deposits and the increasing difficulty of discovering new ones."

Joseph Starwood, Worldwide Mining Industry Leader, Microsoft Corporation

Jean-Jeaques Verhaeghe

4IR and Business Sustainability Professional
Complex Programmes Delivery (MMP)

Bokang Kelepa

MD
Baletsema Mining Services

Joseph Starwood

Worldwide Mining Industry Leader
Microsoft Corporation

Prof Francis Peterson

Vice-Chancellor and Principal
University of Free State

Sandiso Sibisi

CEO and Founder
COOI Studios

Cela Lukhele

Senior Manager : Digital Data Transformation,Group Exploration
De Beers

Nivasha Sewpershad

Business Development Manager for the Mining Sector
Siemens Energy

Gobona Lizzie Tau

Manager
DSI-NRF CIMERA

Advisory Committee: Sustainability

“Risk management is crucial for the unpredictable future, requiring flexible systems and procedures. Our actions have immediate and long-term effects, and our actions impact future outcomes. Developing sustainable behaviors can make future building easier, less expensive, and more equitable.”

Estelle Levin-Nally, Founder and CEO - Levin Sources

Estelle Levin-Nally

Founder and CEO
Levin Sources

Raksha Naidoo

CEO/Chairperson, The Particle Group
Women in Mining South Africa

David Sturmes

Director
Fair Cobalt Alliance

Fabiana Di Lorenzo

Senior Director
Responsible Minerals Initiative

Louis Maréchal

Senior Advisor
OECD

Mamadou Bady Balde

Deputy Executive Director
EITI

J.J Messner de Latour

Sector Lead, Downstream Purchasers
IRMA

Kirsten Hund

GM Climate and Nature
Vale Base Media

Benitha Tambwe

Expert-Head of Strategic Partnerships
DRC Ministry of Mines (CTCPM)

Dr. Tsakani Mthombeni

Executive; Sustainable Development
Implats

Paul Sowley

Senior Director for Environmental Affairs
Newmont

Daniel Litvin

Founder, Critical Resource, Senior Advisor to ExCom
ERM

Isabelle Ramadoo

Deputy Director
Intergovernmental Forum of Mining & Metals

Shirley Hayes

Executive Chairman
Copper 360

Advisory Committee: Governance & Policy

“Mining development in Africa is critical to providing the materials required for the net-zero transition, but it must take place in an environment that values worker safety and community engagement while working to reduce emissions and maintain long-term economic sustainability.”

Marcus Courage, CEO, Africa Practice