Mahene Benzane
CEO SmartOps Solutions
Mahene is a certified director, and a leading Technology Strategist, Digital Transformation Leader, and SafetyTech Innovator shaping the future of Africa’s digital economy in the mining industry. He is the CEO and Founder of SmartOps, a South African digital transformation and management consulting company delivering practical, high-impact solutions across the mining value chain, energy, and mobility sectors. Under his leadership, SmartOps has built pioneering platforms, including Thiba Ingozi, a first-of-its-kind community-driven safety solution redefining personal and mobility safety across the country. Mahene’s career spans digital innovation roles across mining and advanced operations, grounded in his early experience as a geologist, mining professional, and business optimisation. Apart from his honours in Geology and other mining and finance related qualifications, he holds a Master of Management in Digital Business & Digital Technologies from Wits Business School and is widely recognised as a visionary leader committed to technology-enabled safety, productivity, and human development within the mining industry.
2026 Agenda Sessions
Tech is ready – is your workforce?
One of the biggest stumbling blocks in mining’s digital transformation isn’t the technology, it’s training the workforce to use the technology. As advanced technology systems become more prevalent, the need for robust training and cultural adaptation grows more urgent. This session explores how companies are tackling the skills gap head-on and also examines the next training frontier: agentic AI. Join this session to unpack how training, cultural transformation, and OEM-led innovation are converging to make mining smarter, safer, and more human-centred.
Monday 09 February 16:00 - 17:00 Nubian Pyramids Stage (CTICC2 - Ground Floor - Exhibition Hall)
Disruptive technologies
One of the biggest stumbling blocks in mining’s digital transformation isn’t the technology, it’s training the workforce to use the technology. As advanced technology systems become more prevalent, the need for robust training and cultural adaptation grows more urgent. This session explores how companies are tackling the skills gap head-on and also examines the next training frontier: agentic AI. Join this session to unpack how training, cultural transformation, and OEM-led innovation are converging to make mining smarter, safer, and more human-centred.
Nubian Pyramids Stage (CTICC2 - Ground Floor - Exhibition Hall) Africa/Johannesburg
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