Mining Indaba for Young Professionals

Shaping the future of Africa

At Mining Indaba 2027, the Young Professionals programme empowers emerging mining leaders through collaboration, mentorship, and meaningful connections between industry, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and higher education institutions. Together, these partnerships provide the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to drive innovation and shape the future of mining.

Aligned with the theme "Stronger Together: Partnership in Practice," theYoung Professionals programme demonstrates how collaboration can build a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient mining sector by investing in the talent that will lead Africa's mining industry into the future.

Influencers

The Mining Indaba Influencer Programme is designed to elevate the next generation of mining leaders and ensure young professionals have a meaningful voice in shaping the industry's future.

Young people are not just the future of mining. They are actively influencing how the sector evolves through technology, new skills, sustainability, innovation and fresh thinking. As the industry continues to transform, their perspectives are essential to building a more resilient, inclusive, and competitive mining sector.

Anchored in the Mining Indaba 2027 theme, Stronger Together: Partnerships in Practice, the programme demonstrates how collaboration between experienced leaders and emerging professionals creates stronger outcomes for the industry. By bringing together diverse perspectives across mining, government, academia and innovation, it reflects the partnerships needed to drive meaningful progress.

The programme forms part of Mining Indaba's Young Professionals platform, creating opportunities for emerging leaders to share their expertise, build their professional profile and contribute to industry conversations that influence Africa's mining future.

The MI27 Influencers represent a diverse community of engineers, geologists, ESG practitioners, entrepreneurs, researchers, digital innovators and mining professionals. Through thought leadership and authentic storytelling, they bring practical perspectives from across the mining value chain while highlighting the innovations, partnerships and people driving meaningful change.

The future of mining will be built by those prepared to think differently, collaborate openly and lead with purpose. The MI27 Influencer Programme exists to ensure those voices are part of the conversation and part of the decisions shaping the industry's future.

Meet the Minds Shaping Mining Indaba 2027

Akhona Pretty Shongwe

Head of Marketing & Sponsorships | Mentor | Tutor

Women in Mining Podcast (The Miner Group) | Edukasi NPO Tutor | Success Hub Tutoring

Asiphe Nhleko

Mining Intern | Mining Engineering Student

Lesego Platinum | University of the Witwatersrand

Ntombikayise Mlambo

Mining Engineer

Harmony Gold

Olwethu Pityana-Matji

Non-Executive Director

Phindile Merchant Investment

Sephela Makete Thema

Head of Operations

West Wits Mining

Akhona Pretty Shongwe Head of Marketing & Sponsorships | Mentor | Tutor, Women in Mining Podcast (The Miner Group) | Edukasi NPO Tutor | Success Hub Tutoring Akhona Pretty Shongwe

“The future of mining will not be built by one generation, one company, or one stakeholder group. It will be built through partnerships that bring together experience, innovation, diverse perspectives, and shared ambition. 'Stronger Together: Partnerships in Practice' reminds us that collaboration is no longer optional. It is a strategic necessity. The industry's most pressing challenges, from sustainability and inclusion to skills development and innovation, require collective action. The organisations that thrive will be those willing to listen, co create solutions, and invest in people as much as they invest in projects.”

Asiphe Nhleko Mining Intern | Mining Engineering Student, Lesego Platinum | University of the Witwatersrand Asiphe Nhleko

“As the next generation of mining professionals, we are inheriting an industry facing both immense opportunity and significant challenges. Stronger Together: Partnerships in Practice means recognising that progress is not driven by individual success, but by collective effort. The future belongs to industries that collaborate, innovate, and invest in people. By working together, we can build a mining sector that is more inclusive, more sustainable, and better positioned to create opportunities for future generations.”

Ntombikayise Mlambo Mining Engineer, Harmony Gold

“Mining cannot afford to operate in silos any longer. The industry's greatest challenge is not a lack of resources. It is a lack of alignment. Real progress happens when companies, governments, communities, and young innovators share ownership of both the opportunities and the outcomes. Partnerships in practice mean moving beyond consultation towards genuine collaboration. If Africa's mineral wealth is to translate into long term prosperity, we must invest as aggressively in skills, technology, and communities as we do in extraction. The future of mining will belong to those willing to build together, not compete alone.”

Olwethu Pityana-Matji Non-Executive Director, Phindile Merchant Investment Olwethu Pityana-Matji

“'Stronger Together: Partnerships in Practice' is a challenge to every stakeholder in the mining ecosystem. The real question is not whether collaboration is important. It is whether we are prepared to be accountable for its outcomes. Africa's mining future will not be determined by conference resolutions or policy declarations alone. It will be shaped by the quality of partnerships that can unlock investment, accelerate infrastructure delivery, create jobs, and generate shared value. The countries and organisations that succeed will be those that move fastest from intention to implementation and from dialogue to measurable impact.”

Sephela Makete Thema Head of Operations, West Wits Mining

“People build successful mines, but the true measure of success is whether those mines create lasting value beyond their operations. Mining cannot thrive where communities are left behind. The future of the industry depends on partnerships that connect economic growth with community development, ensuring that mining creates opportunity, prosperity, and shared progress for generations to come. Successful mines build thriving communities, and thriving communities sustain successful mines.”

Registration opens for Young Professionals in November

You’ll soon get early access to secure your ticket to Mining Indaba 2027. Stay tuned.

Testimonials

Prof Nikki Wagner DSTI-NRF CIMERA

“The sizes of the Disruptive and Sustainability venues were really good, the sound was great. It was handy having then adjacent. The ease of moving around MI25 has greatly improved (and ensured we reached our daily step target ;) ).”

Peace Zowa University of the Witwatersrand

“Creating spaces like this for young professionals to engage, learn, and share perspectives is invaluable in ensuring a stronger, more inclusive mining future.”

Khetani Tom Ramphabana University of Venda

“Speaking at Mining Indaba was the highlight of my experience, I got to learn and speak to a crowd of highly experienced people which instilled more confidence in me for future opportunities. I was happy to see people from different countries and jobs coming together. Ministers, business leaders, investors, and experts shared their knowledge and ideas for the future. Our conversations were meaningful and looked to the future of Africa.”

Phumudzo Munyai University of Venda

“This experience was invaluable, and I'm deeply thankful for the trust you placed in me. This opened doors of collaborations with many institutions and companies.”

Thabo Kgarabjang University of Limpopo

“The Mining Indaba 2025 lived up to its promise of engaging topics, extensive networking opportunities, and discussions that continue to shape the mining landscape. It is such a great opportunity to connect with potential employers, collaborators, and mentors alike. I have met with and exchanged contacts with some of the most prominent figures the mining industry has to give. Some approached me after the discussion to ask for contact details with prospects of future collaborations. In short, the event was a resounding success.”

Ronaldo Malapane University of Limpopo

“Overall, the Mining Indaba was filled with rollercoasters of joy, experience and insights on challenging topics involving the mining industry and the importance of research. Collaborations, research and engagement are key for the future if the industry of Africa is to have impact in the just energy transition.”

Merrily Tau University of Cape Town

“The great selection of stimulating and thought-provoking panel discussions, presentations, workshops, and exhibitions, which run concurrently, got me very conflicted as to how I spend my time. Very difficult decisions were made; I never wished I could be present at multiple places at the same time so badly! The platform also presents one with a rare and unmatched opportunity to network and mingle with industry leaders.”

Nthabeleng Ramotholo University of Kwazulu-Natal

“The exposure and networking opportunities with such a diverse range of industry and government representatives were invaluable, and I know this experience will significantly boost my professional profile.”