Expert Speakers

Walter Anderson is the CEO of both Anderson Commodities and Hislop International. He has been actively involved in trading of reductants for the last 12 years and has a vast knowledge of global anthracite production with specific focus on South African anthracite. He heads up a company actively involved in the supply of thermal coal, anthracite, met coke and Carbon Neutral Reductants (CNR).

Vuslat Bayoglu is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Menar, a South African mining company with an actively managed and growing portfolio of diversified minerals, which has controlling stakes in Canyon Coal, Zululand Anthracite Colliery, Kangra and East Manganese. He holds an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering and has over 20 years of experience in the mining industry. During that period, he led the group’s subsidiaries from junior to mid-tier status through organic growth and acquisitions.

Bayoglu is a hands-on investor with a keen interest in bettering the South African economy. He is actively involved in seeking solutions to key issues faced by South Africa. Bayoglu also serves on the board of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) and recently became a director sitting on the board of Future Coal.

Siddharth Bothra holds a Master’s degree in Marketing with a specialization in foreign trade.
With over two decades of extensive experience across various business sectors, including the metallurgical industry, he has been instrumental in propelling IQ Minerals & Metals beyond international borders.

Under his leadership, the strategic roadmap has transformed IQ Minerals & Metals into an organization dedicated to creating sustainable value through a robust risk management framework, consistently delivering top-tier returns through astute strategic decisions. His exceptional public relations skills and ability to maintain close ties with clients across the spectrum make him the distinguished public face of the company.

Metallurgical Engineer. (B.Eng (Metal) )
Masters degree in business leadership (MBL)
Produced almost all ferro-alloys which include:
Ferrochrome, Medium Carbon Ferrochrome, Ferromanganese, Medium Carbon Ferromanganese, Silicomanganese and Ferrosilicon, eventually becoming the General Manager of a smelter.
40 years of experience in the ferroalloy industry.
Currently the Executive Technology Development at African Rainbow Minerals.
Led the development of the ground-breaking SmeltDirect smelting technology.

A qualified mining engineer, with a master’s degree, with Honours, from the Royal School of Mines at  Imperial College, London and having worked in both underground and open-cast mining operations in the  UK, Australia, Canada and South Africa. Experience with a number of major global investment banks,  including Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, NM Rothschild & Sons (Australia) Limited and Investec Bank  (Australia) Limited in London, Sydney and Perth, where he was responsible for structuring and arranging  corporate and project financing facilities for mining and exploration companies with a particular focus on  projects in Africa.  

Founder and principle of Gathoni Muchai Investments, an active, private equity-style investment  company, focused on the mining and metals sector opportunities in Africa. Headquarters in Nairobi; Kenya  and with offices in London and Perth. GMI, originates and structures transactions, provides early-stage  capital, and works closely with local partners, and private publicly listed companies to provide early-stage  capital, structure, management, and a clear path to international capital markets.  

Current CEO of Marula Mining Plc, a London listed battery metals focused company that is producing  lithium in South Africa, manganese in Kenya, developing a high-grade copper project in Tanzania and  advancing two graphite projects in Tanzania. 

Jason is also the Chairman of NEO Energy Metals, an exploration and development company specializing  in uranium and energy metals, with a focus on the Henkries uranium project in South Africa’s Northern  Cape province and the Beisa North and South Projects in the Free State Province, in South Africa.

Byron Falla Delgado, Chief Future Officer in Conexus Minerals SAS, “A Remarkable Business Platform focused connecting Mineral Producer’s in Colombia and Latin America with the Global Market”. With over 12 years of experience in coal and energy industry management and advisory roles, Byron has a rich background spanning the private sector and government. He played a key role at Minas La Aurora, the largest mining company in Norte de Santander, Colombia, overseeing 9 mines and the production of thermal and metallurgical coal. Byron served as the Secretary of Mines in the region, responsible for its mining sector, which includes phosphorus coke and coking coal. Following this, he worked as the Commercial Manager for Carbomax de Colombia, handling exports of coke and thermal coal. Currently, Byron operates a company connecting producers with the market, specializing in low phosphorus coke and coking coal exports. In addition to his industry expertise, Byron is a University Professor, covering subjects like SCM, CRM, sales, forecast, finance, HR, projects, and the manufacturing industry. His knowledge extends to coal markets in Central America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, fostering strong connections with thermal, steel, and cement plants. Byron excels in strategic planning, leadership in action plans, shipping operations, trade rules, customs regulations (Incoterms), and possesses skills in systems management, including programming, cloud, data analysis, business intelligence, and IT tools.

Rudi Dicks is the Head of the Project Management Office (PMO) in the Private Office of the President. He is responsible for supporting the implementation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES), the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) as well as unblocking regulatory challenges that impact on employment an economic growth. He also oversees the coordination and implementation of the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan. Rudi jointly leads Operation Vulindlela which has been established as a joint initiative between the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate structural reforms.
In his previous role, he was an Outcomes Facilitator at the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), responsible for monitoring the performance of economic and infrastructure outcomes and supporting various economic interventions across government. In this role he established the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS) that is currently applied across national government.
He also formally served as the Executive Director of the National Labour and Economic Development Institute (NALEDI), the research arm of COSATU from 2008 to 2013. Before 2008, he worked at COSATU and its affiliates, in various capacities since 1994.
Rudi has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Economic Principles as well as a Master of Science (MSc) Finance from the University of London. He also has a Management Advanced Programme qualification from the WITS Business School.

Thembelani Gantsho is the Chief Executive Officer of Kudumane Manganese Resources. Prior  to joining Kudumane, he was the VP of Mining and Metals at Absa Capital, and he was  responsible for several mining and metals clients across various commodities. 

He has managed, structured, and executed numerous corporate finance transactions within  South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa as part of the various executive and senior roles he has  held at Absa Capital, Xstrata (now Glencore) and Ernst & Young. 

Thembelani has and continues to be a regular speaker in international mining and metals  conferences. He holds a Business Science Honours Degree in Finance from the University of  Cape Town (UCT) and PGDip from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). 

Clifford Hallatt is the Chief Operating Officer for Menar, a South African mining company with an actively managed and growing portfolio of diversified minerals. He obtained a BSC Honours degree in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of Johannesburg in 2007 and holds an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch Business School which he obtained in 2023.

He has over 14 years’ experience in environmental, project management and mine development, and as the Chief Operating Officer, he oversees all projects for the group from planning, inception and execution through to commissioning while maintaining production targets and profitability. These projects include, amongst others, exploration programmes and mine development projects. He also oversees the statutory processes required to lawfully commence with these projects.

Jamie possesses deep experience in the transportation industry, gained over the 14 years that he has been in the rail industry. He has served at the helm of two private rail companies in South Africa first as the CEO of Grindrod Rail at 31 years old and now at Traxtion. Jamie took over as the CEO of Traxtion, then Sheltam, in 2016 and has since evolved the company into the largest private rail operator in Africa. 

Jamie is the representative for Africa on the Management Committee of the Rail Working Group which is a non-profit organisation promoting the adoption of the Rail Protocol to the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment.

Jamie is also the Chairperson of the Africa Railway Industry Association which represents the interests of the private sector in Railways in South Africa.

Jamie is a CA(SA) and completed his articles at KPMG in the Financial Services division. He attended Stellenbosch University and holds 5 financial degrees.

Appointed as the CEO of The Road Freight Association (RFA) in 2019, Gavin joined the Association in 2007, as its Technical and Operations Manager. 

He has been involved in the resource, strategy and operations field for 42 years: from operations leadership, co-ordination and training – to leadership development, lateral management, operations and business survival training.

Over the years, Gavin has played a key role in developing standards and procedures for the transport industry. These include driving licence training (driving school industry) and licence testing and issuing; the development of standards and procedures for vehicle equipment standards (non-OEM) and testing (vehicle testing industry); as well as the development of standards for the transportation of passengers, goods and dangerous goods. 

He has also actively contributed to the development of road traffic related legislation, as well as traffic policing initiatives, including the Short Term Implementation Programme (STIP), Arrive Alive, National Traffic Police (NTP) and the Code of Conduct, Traffic Officer (TO) Diploma, Examiner of Driver Licences (EDL), Examiner of Vehicles (EoV), AARTO, and finally road safety programmes (public target), formal school curricular programmes (Safety in Traffic Education Programme (STEP), Bridge, School Driver Education Programme (SDEP), Child in Traffic (TIC), Scholar Patrol) and industry targeted programmes (Captain Safety, Safe Driver, SafeCab & TruckSafe).

He was involved in various SANS standards committees and has served on various Agency Boards.

Gavin holds various degrees and diplomas – ranging from Curriculum Development, to Policing Ethics, and most recently completed a SACAS certified SANS17021 qualification (Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems).

He has written numerous articles for technical journals, trade publications and various media house periodicals, regularly appears on a number of TV channels and radio stations and is a sought-after speaker at industry events and leadership seminars.

Mr Bonginkosi Mabaso is an accomplished executive with global executive experience in new business development, commercial, risk and strategy and capacity creation in the freight, rail, finance, manufacturing, mining, and metals sectors. He is a strong implementor, who collaborates, negotiates, and solves complex commercial business matters.

Formerly Chief Commercial Officer for the rail division in Transnet, Bonginkosi has recently taken up the Group Commercial General Manager role for Transnet SOC Ltd. In this role, he is responsible for developing and leading the execution of the Group’s commercial and capacity creating strategies. This entails maximising profitability and growth through integrated business development.

He is also responsible for defining and selecting appropriate business/product opportunities. He is the custodian of customer relationships, and provides market insights which guide business modelling, strategic alliances, and partnerships for new client acquisitions. Bonginkosi serves as lead negotiator for the organization’s revenue contracts.

Peter Major was born in New Westminster, British Columbia on 16 May 1955. His family moved to Kellogg, Idaho, the ‘silver mining capital of the world’ in 1961, where Peter grew up and worked through 1981.

Peter graduated from Montana School of Mines in 1981 and came to South Africa in Jan 1982 to work for Harmony Gold Mine. He completed his South African Mine Manager’s Certificate,

an MBA from UCT in 1984 , worked as a consultant and as Marketing & Training Manager for Eimco Mining Machinery SA from 1986-1988.  

Peter began his investment career with Allan Gray in 1989 as a gold mine analyst.

He then spent 10 years as mining analyst & senior fund manager at Nedcor Investment Bank where he twice won South Africa’s Top Fund Manager,  2 Raging Bull Awards and 1 ‘Runner Up’ over 3 more years..

In 2001 as CIO he set up HBD Asset Management with Mark Shuttleworth, starting with $530m and worth $1.5bn by 2005. A 30% pa return.

Agnes Mlambo
General Manager, Eskom Distribution Division
Agnes Mlambo is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of experience at Eskom, South Africa’s primary electricity utility, where she currently serves as General Manager of the Distribution Division. Her expertise lies in Distribution and Retail, areas critical to Eskom’s operations, with a focus on ensuring efficiency, customer-centric innovation, and value creation for both the organization and its industrial customers.

Agnes has a strong academic foundation with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Economics) from the University of Cape Town and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. She is also a Chartered Management Accountant, registered with CIMA.
Throughout her career at Eskom, Agnes has driven strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the organization’s operational and financial performance. She has championed customer-centric innovations, leading programs to improve Eskom’s service delivery through the introduction of digitized systems that streamline processes and enhance customer interaction. Her leadership has been instrumental in transforming Eskom’s approach to retail customers and fostering partnerships with industrial clients.

Agnes’s experience extends to developing and implementing innovative solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of key energy users. By collaborating with industrial customers, she has led efforts to create cleaner energy attribute products and renewable energy solutions that align with the evolving energy landscape and Eskom’s sustainability goals.

Her ability to foster collaboration across various units within Eskom and build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders has positioned her as a critical driver of transformation in the Distribution and Retail sectors.

Mbulelo Yedwa is the General Manager of Eskom Distribution in the Cape Coastal Cluster which encompasses Western and Eastern Cape Provinces.
Mbulelo joined Eskom in 1991 and achieved his academic qualifications of
B. Com Hons and B Soc. Social Sciences.
He has extensive expertise in a wide array of strategic, business, human resources, and regulatory matters across several departments and therefore has immense experience in executive, management, and operational functions.
Mbulelo has a wealth of experience in engaging with the various levels of governmental structures, an area which is imperative to the success of our future business.

Melinda Moore is a seasoned C-suite executive with over 25 years’ experience across commodities analysis, trading, finance, and sector technology innovation. Her expertise spans international commercial, investment, operations, marketing, and advisory roles; grounded in strong governance, sustainability, and ESG principles. Melinda is renowned for navigating complex regulatory and cross-border environments, driving strategic change, and ensuring business success in fast-shifting markets. Melinda was the first woman to trade iron ore financial derivatives in 2012 and the first to forecast China would become a major steel exporter (ridiculed at the time!). Melinda has presented at numerous Commodities conferences and advised on LME & SGX steel/bulk derivative contracts and industry disputes. Melinda has been listed as one of the top 100 inspirational Women in Mining. Passionate about innovation, Melinda’s work continues to support the natural resources sector’s global transformation and energy transition.

Hlengiwe Motaung is McCloskey’s metals reporter based in Johannesburg, where she covers key news on manganese and other green metals, as well as rail and port activities in Southern Africa, producing monthly reports on trucking and rail pricing.

With nearly a decade of experience in journalism, Hlengiwe began her career in 2017 at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as a producer for a current affairs radio station. She developed her skills in delivering impactful content to audiences.

Her noteworthy contributions in television journalism were recognized while she worked as a reporter for Africa News Network. Driven by her passion for broadcasting, Hlengiwe served as the English correspondent and associate producer for Japan’s National Broadcaster in Johannesburg, covering humanitarian stories across Africa.

In 2021, she made valuable contributions as a freelance writer for the Washington Post, reporting on political tensions in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Her experience as a multimedia journalist for Mining Review Africa has further deepened her understanding of the African mining sector.

Hlengiwe holds a Financial Journalism qualification from The University of Witwatersrand and a National Diploma in Journalism from Tshwane University of Technology.

Gaurav currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer at ArcelorMittal South Africa, a JSE-listed large Steel engineering and production company in Sub-Saharan Africa. He has been in various senior roles with ArcelorMittal group for 20y across South Africa, UK and Europe, with transversal focus on commercial functions, strategy & corporate affairs, global shipping & logistics, finance, M&A, IT, BPO and legal. He also serves at the Board of the South African Iron & Steel Institute. Gaurav is a Metallurgical Engineer from MNIT (Jaipur) and has an MBA from IIM (Calcutta).

Tiisetso Nkosi leads iron ore and manganese research at McCloskey. She is a mining professional with over 18 years’ experience. She has held roles in strategy, business development, finance, sales and marketing in some of the world’s leading mining companies, including AngloAmerican, Tshipi e Ntle Manganese Mining and Assore. Ms. Nkosi has worked closely with producers and consumers of steel raw materials such as manganese ore and alloy, as well as iron ore.

Tiisetso holds a Bachelor of Business Science in Economics from the University of Cape Town, an MPhil (Futures Studies) from the University of Stellenbosch, and an MSc (International Business Administration), from the University of London.

She is passionate about the representation of all South African miners in significant global platforms that will enhance the value that is inherent in South Africa’s mineral wealth.

Hugo has 20 years’ experience as a macro economist. Before that, he was as an economics reporter at Die Burger newspaper in Cape Town. After leaving the media industry and helping to establish a newly formed economic consultancy firm, Hugo spent 17 years at the Bureau for Economic Research, the last five as chief economist. He was the Thomson Reuters South African Economist of the Year in 2014 and the Media24 Economist of the Year in 2021. 

In his current role, Hugo leads the economics department at the Minerals Council. He focuses on collecting and analysing data on commodity markets and the South African mining sector, as well as advocating for a more conduce domestic mining policy environment. 

Hugo holds a Master’s of Economics degree (cum laude), Stellenbosch University.

Michael joined Ninety One as a strategist in December 2002 and worked full-time for the company until 2023. His responsibilities included understanding how the shift in the centre of economic gravity from West to East is impacting on the world of investment and in particular how it is opening up new investment opportunities for Ninety One’s global client base.
Today he focusses his attention on the consequences of the fragmentation of the post-WW2 political and economic order and, within that, the Rise of the Global South.
He began his financial career working in the Middle East department of Chase Manhattan Bank before joining Anglo American’s corporate finance department in South Africa. Michael then worked in the London corporate finance department of NM Rothschild & Sons where his work had a strong natural resource emphasis. Having completed a 4×4 overland safari through Africa, Michael then worked for HSBC-Equator Bank in Kenya for four years. He returned to the UK to work at Baring Asset Management as a director in their emerging markets department, where he was head of Africa and the Middle East as well as heading the natural resources sector, and was also portfolio manager for the Pan African Simba Fund.
Michael graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Phd in Economics. He also holds an MA in International Business and Law from the Fletcher School at Tufts and a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford. Since he retired from Ninety One in March 2023, he has taken up a professorship in the Economic Department of UCT, writes regularly for the Daily Maverick and maintains his website and blog at https://www.kaskaziconsulting.io/

Olivia is a Director of Climate Legal with more than fifteen years’ experience specialising in climate change policy and law, climate finance, environmental law and carbon tax. She is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in environmental law at the University of Cape Town (UCT), and remains a visiting law lecturer at UCT’s African Climate and Development Initiative. She advises multiple governments, philanthropies and industries on the evolving international climate legal and geopolitical landscape, including on loss and damage, climate finance, trade, adaptation and mitigation. She has written widely on the topic of climate change legislative developments and design, and is responsible for drafting the South African Climate Change Act 2024.. She has advised various South African government Departments and Municipalities on climate change law; has supported numerous industries in navigating South Africa’s carbon tax legislation; and, has advised on the development of national climate change legislation in Zimbabwe, Mongolia and Thailand. She was on the drafting team of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Sixth Assessment Report, writing on climate change legislative developments internationally and on the African continent. Olivia has also been recognised as a leading environmental lawyer by Best Lawyers 2020 & 2021 and by Chambers and Partners 2021 – 2024 Environment, South Africa

Tanisha is a Senior Analyst who joined Project Blue in 2022 with a focus on the chromium and manganese supply chains. In addition to her role at Project Blue, Tanisha has consulted for industry organisations such as the IMnI and the ICDA on ESG practices. Tanisha has an MSc in Geology from Stellenbosch University.

Thabiso Sekano is the head of the Mining and Metals business unit at the IDC. He has spent the last 16 years at the IDC working on deals that cover, mergers and acquisitions, BEE structuring’s, project finance, standard term loan facilities, guarantees and more. Thabiso started his career as a mining graduate at Anglo Coal. Thabiso holds a BSc Eng (Mining) from the University of the Witwatersrand and a MBA from the University of Pretoria.

Anand Mohan Srivastava is a distinguished mining industry veteran with over 32 years of experience spanning Asia and Latin America. A graduate of Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee with an M.Tech (Applied Geology) and holding an MBA in Finance, Anand has combined technical expertise with strategic acumen to drive transformative outcomes in the sector.
As a leader in his current organization, Anand has successfully positioned Peruvian Anthracite on the global map, spearheading strategic and operational transformations that have significantly impacted the Peruvian Anthracite market. His deep industry insights and innovative approach make him a sought-after expert on mining strategies and market dynamics.
Beyond his professional achievements, Anand is an advocate for holistic well-being, actively practicing yoga, meditation, and running.

Franck currently serves as Commercial Executive at ArcelorMittal South Africa, a JSE-listed large Steel engineering and production company in Sub-Saharan Africa. In his role he oversees the company’s market analytics, commercial strategy, business development, customer experience, commercial stakeholders, branding and promotion. Franck boasts 16 years experience within the ArcelorMittal Group across Africa, Europe and SE Asia in various disciplines. Prior to joining the Group he also worked in the Banking and Audit sectors. He currently serves as Board member of the Manufacturing Circle and the SA International Steel Fabricators institute. Franck holds a Master of Science in Management from the Excelia Business School (France) and a Global Executive Programme from Duke University (USA).

Kenneth Williams is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in rail logistics, specializing in supply chain optimization and operational excellence. With a career spanning two decades, Kenneth has honed his expertise in the intricate dynamics of rail operations, including 15 years at Transnet SOC, where he held diverse and impactful operational roles.

Kenneth takes pride in having built his career by having “on the job experience” whilst he has augmented this experience with an International Executive Degree in Railway Operations Management from Glasgow Caledonian University, which has further strengthened his leadership capabilities and strategic understanding of global rail logistics systems.

As the Supply Chain & Business Development Lead at Makoya Supply Chain Holdings, Kenneth has been a driving force in developing innovative Pit-to-Vessel logistics solutions for the mining industry. Through his leadership, deep industry knowledge and collaboration, Makoya has successfully secured new reliable routes to market for the Big 5 Chrome Producers. This has included taking into consideration the key risks that impact the chrome logistics handling, whilst optimizing rail terminal operations and ensuring a seamless and cost-effective supply chain solution.

Kenneth’s ability to deliver strategic solutions, combined with his industry and product knowledge, has ensured he brings new innovative solutions that serve and build the rail logistics market. His passion for rail logistics has been evidenced by his peers recognising his contribution to the industry that where he continues to drive thought leadership and value creation across the logistics supply chain sector.