Our 30 Future Leaders | Mining Indaba

Ada Thela

Founder and Managing Director Zoe Diamonds

Ada Thela is an entrepreneur in the diamond industry. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Zoe Diamonds which is based in Gaborone, Botswana. Zoe Diamonds is a diamond manufacturing services and rough trading services provider. She has over 7 years experience in the industry, having trained extensively under the tutelage of WDM-Botswana (a subsidiary of Constell Group). Ada is passionate about both diamonds and people, her company won 2nd place at the Facets 2023 pitch competition and she won the AU-UNDP Youth in Trade Challenge in November 2022. She aims to grow Zoe Diamonds into a Pan-African brand with a global footprint.

Agathe Bukasa

Executive Director Fair Cobalt Alliance

An experienced sustainability professional with a diverse background in strategy development, risk management, and implementing sustainability best practices across the mining and metals supply chain. She previously held various operational and corporate roles across different geographies at Anglo American. Prior to this, she worked at De Beers Group, where she focused on collaborating with stakeholders to address risks related to conflict minerals and the supply chain traceability of diamonds.

In her current role at The Fair Cobalt Alliance, Agathe leads this multi-stakeholder action platform together with its members which consistent of upstream mining companies like Glencore, EV battery manufactures and downstream actors like Tesla and Google. The Alliance mobilises resources across the entire copper-cobalt supply chain to deliver technical assistance and investment, aiming to realise the vision of a formal, fair, and safe artisanal and small-scale mining cobalt sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Agathe holds a Master’s in Regional and Urban Planning from the University of Cape Town and is trained as a social scientist. She is passionate about ensuring that mining activities unlock developmental outcomes for the communities that host mining operations.

Aristide Belemsobgo

Geologist Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries of Burkina Faso

A geologist in the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries of Burkina Faso. He is since 19 April 2023, General Director of Mines and Geology in the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries. Before to be in this position, he was the Director of Geology in the Ministry. He has more than 7 years of experience in Public Administration, where he contributed to the development and application of policies and regulations in the mining and geology sectors.

Mr. Aristide Belemsobgo holds a master degree in Mineral Resources from the University Joseph KI-ZERBO and he is a PhD candidate at the same University on the topic of porphyry copper deposits

In addition to training in 2023 through the LEAD program (South Africa), Aristide BELEMSOBGO has completed several training courses in the mining sector, including on Mines Governance in Africa with Australia Africa Awards short course and the University of Queensland (2023), Extractive Industries Governance in French-speaking Africa with NRGI (2021), mining IHEDD (2021), protected area management in Africa with IUCN (2019).

Betty Dufie Owusu

Policy Analyst Africa Centre for Energy Policy

Betty is a self-motivated Policy Analyst with the Africa Centre for Energy Policy. She hold a master’s degree in Development Policy and Planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Her educational background contributes to her understanding of the intricacies of development challenges and the opportunities available in her country and the African continent to promote sustainable development.

Her work is characterized by the commitment to excellence and innovation in the energy and extractive sectors. She contributes to thorough, evidence-based research aimed at promoting efficient management of energy sector institutions and ensuring transparency and accountability in resource revenue management. This involves analysis of policy frameworks and in-depth stakeholder consultations to solicit diverse inputs while churning out apt strategies and plausible, workable solutions.

She has been instrumental in shaping policy dialogue on transparency and accountability in the energy and extractive industries and my efforts have been towards laying the foundation for increased advocacy in the sector.

As a change-maker, she believe in embracing different challenges and adventures, while committing to enhancing my capacity to appreciate the relevance of good governance and internal control in shaping the affairs of my country and the continent.

Bright Foli

Program Manager Amira Global

Is a Program Manager at Amira Global. He currently manages global mineral processing, geosciences, sustainability and green energy, collaborative research projects within the mining space. He leads the Pan-African Decarbonization Institute program, an afro-centric decarbonization and skills improvement program and has oversight responsibility of the Amira center of excellence for full value chain processing.

Bright has over ten years’ experience in the extractive industry covering; mining, upstream and downstream oil and gas sectors; across multiple geographies in Africa, Europe and Australia. In recent years, he has helped governments within West and Central Africa to implement high revenue generating projects in the extractive sector, through partnerships with internationally reputed entities.

Bright is a certified Project Management Professional and holds a Master’s degree in Oil and Gas Chemistry from the University of Aberdeen, UK.

Charity Chitate

Coordinator Women in Mining Zimbabwe

Serves as the Coordinator at Women in Mining Zimbabwe (WIM Zimbabwe) and is actively involved in the mining industry in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. Her transition into this field showcases her versatility and commitment to contributing to a sector that is vital to Zimbabwe’s economy.

As a co-founder of Women in Mining Zimbabwe, Charity is dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering the girl child and youth. Her work focuses on creating opportunities for women in a traditionally male-dominated industry, highlighting the importance of female leadership and participation in mining.

Her initiatives not only aim to uplift women but also to inspire the next generation of leaders in mining, ensuring that young people are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in this field and advocating for a more inclusive and equitable and sustainable environment for all.

Dumisani Gift Hlongwane

Assistant Director Department of Mineral Resources and Energy

Dumisani is a professional environmental scientist with over 13 years of experience in Government, specialising in managing environmental sustainability across projects in the water, mining, and energy sectors. He currently works for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy as an Assistant Director responsible for Strategic Environmental Compliance and Enforcement. In this role, he contributes to developing and implementing strategies toward environmental compliance and enforcement of the mining sector. He also engages with various stakeholders to promote best practices in sustainable development, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in the mining sector across South Africa.

He holds a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management with a specialisation in Energy Leadership, which has enhanced his understanding of Sustainable development, Climate change, Just Energy Transitions, and Net Zero.

Jane Rose

Senior Environment Inspector in the Department of Oil and Gas, and Minerals National Environment Management Authority

Holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Management from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, and a BSc. Petroleum Geoscience and Production from Makerere University, Uganda. She has over 7 years of working experience in environmental management and auditing of the extractives industry.
Currently, she works at the National Environment Management Authority as a Senior Environment Inspector (Oil and Gas), in the Department of Oil and Gas, and Minerals where her responsibilities among others is to ensure sound management of the environment and sustainable resource utilization in the Oil and Gas, mining and energy sectors.

Katlego Letsoalo

Snr Specialist Regulatory Stakeholder Engagement Anglo American Platinum

Snr Specialist Regulatory Stakeholder Engagement (Anglo American Platinum)

Katlego is a qualified mining engineer with a Master of Science in Engineering (Majoring in Mineral Economics) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Witwatersrand. Part of his research focus included understanding and quantifying risk faced by the South African coal and gold sectors given the rise in renewable energy and overall commodity risk exposure. He is a member of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) and serves as a Council member of the Institute. Over the years, Katlego has presented at several industry conference and published peer reviewed papers focused on safety, risk, policy, mining technology maturity and operational readiness.

With over 10 years experience in the mining industry, he is currently employed as a Senior specialist at Anglo American Platinum (AAP) supporting the company with engagements for the acquisition and retention of various permits and the social license to operate. He previously worked as a Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist for the Minerals Council South Africa supporting the South African mining industry and Minerals Council member companies with safety strategies, performance monitoring and policy advocacy.

In 2019, he was selected as one of the young African Leaders under 40 considered as the next generation of thought leaders from 23 African countries in the Minerals and Metals sector by the University of Cape Town. Katlego was further nominated by Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) to represent the organisation at the 2019 ILO international conference on youth employment in Nigeria with a focus on policies that could assist with global youth unemployment on behalf of global employer organisations. Katlego was listed as the Mail and Guardian top 200 Young South African in the Business, Entrepreneurship & Tourism category in 2019.

Lightness Elemesheni Mushi

Head of Communication Tanzania Women in Mining and Mineral Industry

Lightness Mushi is the Head of Communication for the Tanzania Women in Mining and Mineral Industry, a platform advocating for gender equity and sustainable practices in the extractive sector. She leads strategic initiatives to amplify the voices of women in mining and foster collaboration across stakeholders, driving impactful change in the industry.

Her work with TWiMMI includes participating in mineral value addition training programs designed to enhance the skills of women miners, improving the quality and marketability of their products for economic empowerment. She also plays a vital role during a visits to different mines in remote areas of Tanzania where her team educates women miners on the health and environmental dangers of mercury exposure. The initiatives distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), promoting safer mining practices in vulnerable communities.

In addition to her role at TWiMMI, Lightness serves as the Director of Business Development at Raddy International Company Ltd, a leading safety and security services provider in Tanzania’s mining industry. She drives strategic growth, builds partnerships, and oversees client-focused solutions that prioritize safety and sustainability in mining operations.

Raised and educated in Uganda and Kenya, Lightness is a Tanzanian that has a deep understanding of regional dynamics and cultural diversity, which she leverages to address challenges and opportunities in East Africa’s mining and development sectors. Lightness envisions a mining sector that prioritizes safety, inclusivity, and sustainability, contributing to Africa’s socio-economic growth.

Lindo Khuzwayo

Sustainability Relations Principal Anglo American

Lindo Khuzwayo is an admitted Attorney, having practiced at Bowmans, one of South Africa’s Top 5 Law firms with a vast African footprint. Prior to obtaining her L.L.B (Bachelor of Laws) degree at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cape Town (UCT) with a double major in Media and Business French. She subsequently completed her L.L.M (Master of Laws) in International and European Business Law at the University of Lyon (Jean Moulin III) in France.

Lindo has experience in Legal Policy and Research from the International Bar Association in London, (Business and Human Rights and Cybersecurity in the legal profession). Upon returning to South Africa, she worked as a Legal Consultant at a business risk advisory firm that provides legal, business risk, and strategic advice to companies operating primarily in Francophone Africa and other regions. From this role, she then joined Anglo American’s Group Legal team as a Legal Specialist (Commercial, Regulatory, and Dispute Resolution advice to all the Anglo American business units). Through an internal transfer, she became the Strategic Engagement Principal at Anglo American Platinum and then the Sustainability Relations Principal at the Regional Office of the CEO (Africa & Australia).

Her role allows her to solidify the implementation of the positive impact of justice, advocacy, and law on communities in mining areas. She is responsible for Business and Human Rights, strategic Sustainability projects, and engaging with Civil Society on various issues, ultimately ensuring that the internal systems in the company align with the legal needs of society at large. She sits on the Board of Trustees of a company Provident Fund, and a large Anglo American Platinum Development Trust (Alchemy).

Maropene Rapholo

Head of the Department of Geology and Mining University of Limpopo

Head of the Department of Geology and Mining at the University of Limpopo, South Africa. With over 15 years of experience in academia, she has established herself as a dedicated geoscientist with expertise in environmental geology and the broader earth sciences.

Her research focuses on environmental management, with a particular emphasis on the impacts of small-scale mining and sustainable practices within the mining sector. She has a strong technical background, having worked extensively in geoscience laboratories specializing in X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis.

As a lecturer in environmental geology, she is passionate about equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address pressing environmental challenges in mining and beyond. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing sustainable mining practices and fostering responsible resource management. She combines academic leadership, innovative research, and hands-on technical expertise to contribute meaningfully to the geoscience community and the future of mining in Africa.

Ndeshihafela Ndivayele

President/ Founder Mining & Process Engineering Society/ NABO Innovations

Ndeshihafela Ndivayele is an award-winning Mining Engineering Leader, Strategic Advisory Board Member, and Africa Global Co-lead at Women in Green Hydrogen, driving sustainable solutions in mining and energy. Fluent in six languages and with a diplomatic upbringing, she brings a unique global perspective to her work.

As President of the Mining & Process Engineering Society, she fosters industry collaboration and professional growth. Ndeshihafela is also the Founder of NABO Innovations, a multinational engineering-tech startup recognized for addressing Sustainable Development Goals. Her accolades include awards from WomEng Southern African Fellowship (2021), BeChangeMaker (2022), and the Chelete Cage Competition (2024).

Named a Rising Star by the African Leadership Awards and inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Association of Women in Mining in Africa, Ndeshihafela continues to drive innovation and positive impact across the mining and energy sectors globally.

Prosper Pelo Isanda

Project Implementation Manager INGOs

Holder of a bachelor's degree (BAC+5) in geological sciences from the Official University of Bukavu. Prosper has taken several certificated courses, including social and environmental management in supply chains at the Centre of social excellence of the Earthworm Foundation in Yaoundé, natural resources governance at CEGEMI and IOB, respectively at the Catholic University of Bukavu and the University of Antwerp, and in extractive industries governance at CEGIAF of UCAC in Yaoundé. Professionally, Prosper is committed to promoting good governance of natural resources, is an ICGLR-accredited auditor for monitoring supply chains, and defends the rights of communities affected by extractive activities. His career has been marked by experience in the public sector, civil society, the private sector and currently with INGOs, where he is currently the Project Implementation Manager of the Madini kwa Amani na Maendeleo project for International Alert.

Robert Ali Tanti

Executive Director Center For Social Impact Studies

Heads the Center for Social Impact Studies (CeSIS), a research and advocacy Non-Governmental Organization primarily focused on providing a research backbone to Ghana’s extractive industry. Robert who is a Commonwealth Youth Development trained practitioner has worked in the youth space for the past 14 years. Robert holds a Bachelor of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of Education, Winneba and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Ghana. He has also undertaken several training courses both at home and abroad. He sought international exposure, obtaining an Executive Certificate in Local Economic and Social Development from Queensland University, Brisbane, in September 2019 with a focus on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining. Robert began his career in Obuasi as a volunteer for CeSIS and several other Community-based organizations before transitioning to natural resource governance, reproductive health, youth development, social inclusion, climate change, small-scale mining and human rights advocacy. In 2021, Robert became the Executive Director of CeSIS. Through CeSIS, Robert has led several projects that aim at influencing policy change in favour of communities impacted by the operations of extractive companies. He has also led a powerful team fostered a community of enthusiasm and innovation, and transformed CeSIS with strengthened organizational management strategies to new heights of sustainability.

Sidi Younga

West Africa Manager Automation & Digital Solutions Division at Epiroc

Currently serves as the West Africa Manager for the Automation & Digital Solutions Division at Epiroc, a leading equipment manufacturer specializing in the mining and construction sectors. In this role, he collaborates closely with mining and construction companies to shape their digital transformation strategies and provide solutions that enhance productivity and operational safety through technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Automation.

Before joining Epiroc, Sidi was the 4.0 Innovation Hub Orchestrator at Endeavour Mining, a leading gold producer in West Africa. In 2023, Sidi led a study for the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, assessing the impact of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, on employment, local content, and public policies in both emerging and developed countries.

Sidi began his career with prestigious international consulting firms such as Dalberg Advisors and Deloitte. Following his consulting experience, Sidi transitioned to public policy, serving as a technical advisor in strategic planning for a ministerial department in the Ivorian government. Sidi Younga holds a management degree from the ESCA Business School at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute in Yamoussoukro.

Unaswi Alfred Buka

Legal Advisor General's Chambers under the International and Commercial Division (ICD)

Seasoned legal practitioner who has served both in the private and public sector for over 10 years mostly in the mining, power and transport sectors. Mr Buka is currently a legal advisor with the Attorney General's Chambers under the International and Commercial Division (ICD). He has previously been seconded to the Ministry of Minerals and Energy for the larger part of his career in the public service where he served as a legal advisor on mining, energy and power projects. He holds an LLB from the University of Botswana, LLM in International Trade Law from the NorthWest University-Potchefstroom and is currently an LLM candidate (Extractive Industries Law in Africa) University of Pretoria. Buka has keen interest in issues of mine rehabilitation, sustainability in mining and mineral beneficiation.