Mpumi Zikalala
CEO Kumba Iron Ore
Mpumi Zikalala is the CEO of Kumba Iron Ore and Chairman of the operating entity, Sishen Iron Ore Company (Pty) Ltd. Mpumi started her career at De Beers in 2001 as a process engineer and held various leadership roles within production management. In 2007, she was appointed General Manager at De Beers Kimberley Mines, becoming the first female General Manager in the De Beers Group. In 2010, she was appointed General Manager of De Beers Voorspoed Mine and in 2013 became Senior Vice-President of De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa. Mpumi was promoted to Deputy CEO of De Beers Consolidated Mines in 2017 and to Managing Director, De Beers Group Managed Operations, in 2019, covering operations in South Africa and Canada.
Mpumi holds a BSc in chemical engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and completed a leadership development programme at the London Business School.
2025 Agenda Sessions
Iron ore: Green infrastructure catapults Africa into a new era
Part of the Redefining Critical Minerals programme (hosted as part of the Disruptive Discussions agenda on Wednesday)
- Could Africa become the green infrastructure capital of the world?
- What is iron ore's role In achieving this?
- A key driver in delivering true economic wealth and building great and financially strong African nations
Wednesday 05 February 16:40 - 17:30 CTICC1
Disruptive Discussions
Part of the Redefining Critical Minerals programme (hosted as part of the Disruptive Discussions agenda on Wednesday)
- Could Africa become the green infrastructure capital of the world?
- What is iron ore's role In achieving this?
- A key driver in delivering true economic wealth and building great and financially strong African nations