Sustainability

Kirsten Hund

GM Climate and Nature

Vale Base Metals

Kirsten Hund is an experienced sustainability leader with a strong track record on strategy development and implementation in climate change mitigation, nature-based solutions, renewable energy, strategic minerals and sustainable natural resource governance. She joined Vale Base Metals in August 2024 as GM Climate and Nature. She is responsible for overseeing and further developing the decarbonization and nature positive strategies and targets of the company across its operations. Kirsten joined Vale from the De Beers Group, where, as Head of Carbon Neutrality, she developed and lead the Groups’ climate Strategy.  Before that, she worked for over a decade on sustainable and climate-smart mining sector development in Africa and Central Asia for the World Bank Group in Washington DC, and for several development and conservation NGOs, including WWF and Action Aid in the Netherlands and Central and Southern Africa (based in Amsterdam, Libreville, Gabon, and Johannesburg, South Africa). She is currently based in The Hague, the Netherlands. 

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Mohamed Stevens

Legal Counsel

African Legal Support Facility (ALSF)

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Benitha Tambwe

Expert-Head of Strategic Partnerships

DRC Ministry of Mines (CTCPM)

Benitha Tambwe is a dedicated advocate for responsible mining and gender inclusivity in Africa's mining sector. She is pursuing a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Commodities Trading while serving as the Head of the Partnership Monitoring Service at CTCPM within the Ministry of Mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

One of Benitha's primary objectives is to investigate how mineral-rich countries in Africa, such as the DRC, can utilize the energy transition to improve the quality of life for their citizens over the long term. She aims to ensure that mining production, including artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), remains competitive and compliant in the international market.

In addition to her advocacy efforts, Benitha has joined the sustainability committee for the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2025. Here, she seeks to promote sustainable practices within the mining sector. Through her insights and leadership, Benitha is helping to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future for mining in Africa.
 

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Naseem Banu Lahri

Managing Director

Lucara Botswana

Naseem Banu Lahri is a seasoned Executive Leader with more than 18 years of experience in the mining industry. She has a Masters in Strategic Management (BCOM, FCCA) and has held key strategic roles throughout her career. In May 2018 she was promoted to the position of Managing Director at Lucara Botswana, being the first woman and the first Motswana woman to serve in this capacity for a diamond mining company in Botswana and the youngest female MD in mining in the world.Throughout most of her career, Lahri has taken strategic positions on different boards. She has served as a board member on the Debswana Pension Fund, Botswana Accountancy College and Pula Medical Aid. She was recently appointed as a board member at First National Bank Botswana which is rated the best bank in the country.

Lahri was labelled by Forbes, the New Yorker, Mining Weekly and Vogue as the youngest female to run a diamond mine in the world and a trailblazer in the industry. In November 2020, she was nominated as the Top 100 Women in Mining. In addition, Lahri was nominated under the Business Woman of the year category at the 2022 All Africa Business Leaders Awards. She was awarded the Forbes Woman Africa Impact Award at the 2022 All Africa Business Leaders Awards. The award honours female leaders who have transformed a market, company, product or service and who, through their work. This award has only been awarded to 4 women (Lahri included) in the 10 years history of the AABLA Awards. During the 11th African Leadership Magazine Awards in 2023, Lahri was conferred with the African Mining Personality of the Year Award. The award is in recognition of Naseem Lahri's strategic leadership pedigree in the mining sector which is marked by excellence, tenacity and dedication to duty. In 2023, Lahri was chosen to represent the Diamond, gold and/or platinum group metals producer forum on the RJC Board of Directors. Lahri has been named the African Female Leader of the Year 2024 by the African Leadership Organisation. Lahri has succesfully completed the Senior Executive Program - Africa with Harvard Business School in August 2024.
 

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Jill Cooper

Director, Responsible Investing

Orion Resources

Ms. Cooper is an environmental attorney with over 30 years of experience working on sustainability and ESG topics. Her experience covers a wide array of industries including mining, energy, water, manufacturing, consumer products, and government. Throughout her career she has managed teams of ESG and sustainability specialists in industry and government roles. Prior to joining Orion, Ms. Cooper helped Geosyntec Consultants create an ESG team and services. She served as a Director of Global Environment for Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (including ESG). Ms. Cooper has experience working with directly with executives, investors, financial institutions, and not-for-profits. She holds a BS in Marketing, an MBA from Thunderbird, and an JD in environmental law from the University of Colorado.

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