Disruptive Technologies

Bongi Ntsoelengoe

Executive Manager: Mining Cluster

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

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

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

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

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Gobona Lizzie Tau

Geologist and Strategic Advisor

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Mfikeyi Makayi

CEO Africa

KoBold Metals

Mfikeyi is a seasoned mining professional with 17 years experience in industry. She worked as a civil & mining engineer at First Quantum’s Kansanshi Copper-Gold mine, as well as global internal audit division covering Australia, Finland, Mauritania and Panama’s operations.

 She was also the Country Manager and Director of one of Zambia’s largest mining and construction equipment supply and services companies, running the Caterpillar dealership in Zambia, Barloworld Equipment Zambia Ltd. Her portfolio covered all large surface and underground copper mines on the Zambian Copperbelt as well as Gemfields’ Kagem mine, the world’s largest emerald mine.

Mfikeyi is a holder of 4 degrees. She has a BSc in Civil Engineering and an M. Eng in Environmental Engineering both from Old Dominion University, United States, an M.Sc. in Mining Engineering from Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, and an Executive MBA from the highly ranked African business school, Lagos Business School at Pan-Atlantic University, in Nigeria.
 

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Wicus Burger

Managing Director

Komatsu Africa Holdings

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Joseph Starwood

Global Mining Expert

Microsoft

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

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

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

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

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